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diff --git a/35528.txt b/35528.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5cf619e --- /dev/null +++ b/35528.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11187 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Secret of the Sands, by Harry Collingwood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Secret of the Sands + The "Water Lily" and her Crew + +Author: Harry Collingwood + +Release Date: March 8, 2011 [EBook #35528] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECRET OF THE SANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Secret of the Sands +The "Water Lily" and her Crew +By Harry Collingwood +Published by Griffith and Farran, London. +This edition dated 1879. + + + +PREFACE. + +The attention of the public has been directed, on more than one occasion +within the last few years, to voyages of a more or less lengthy +character, undertaken in craft of very small tonnage; and a great deal +has been said and written concerning the foolhardiness of such +undertakings. This, however, is more apparent than real, though much +must necessarily depend, in such voyages, on the adventurer's skill as a +seaman and his nerve and self-possession in critical moments. Almost, +if not quite, as much will also depend upon the design, construction, +and equipment of the craft in which such an adventure is undertaken; but +where all these conditions are favourable, the actual danger may be +reduced in quite a surprising degree. + +Such voyages, however, if of any considerable length, are sure to abound +in adventure; and, in selecting one as the groundwork of my story, it +has been my aim to endeavour at once to make it interesting and readable +to those who have a liking for the sea and for nautical adventure, and +to convey a few useful hints (gathered from my own experience) +respecting the design and management of small craft, and of the +precautions which are so absolutely necessary in the navigating of them. + +But it must be distinctly understood that, in selecting this subject, I +have had no intention whatever of advocating, or recommending, such +voyages, or of underrating the risks which, under the most favourable +circumstances, they involve; my purpose has simply been to combine a +little information with, I hope, a great deal of interest and amusement; +and if my book serves but to while pleasantly away an idle hour or two +for the general reader, or conveys a scrap of useful information to the +young yachtsman, that purpose will be fully accomplished. + +Harry Collingwood. + +_October_, 1878. + +Volume One, Chapter I. + +THE WRECK. + +It was the last week in the month of November, 18--, when the event +occurred which proved to be the _primum mobile_ of the following +adventures. + +The weather, for some days previous, had been unusually boisterous for +the time of year, and had culminated, on the morning on which my story +opens, in a "November gale" from the south-west, exceeding in violence +any previous gale within the memory of "the oldest inhabitant" of the +locality. This is saying a great deal, for I was at the time living in +Weymouth, a most delightful summer resort, where, however, the feelings +are likely to be more or less harrowed every winter by fearful wrecks on +the far-famed and much-dreaded Chesil Beach, which connects the +mis-named _island_ of Portland with the mainland. + +We had dined, as usual, at the primitive hour of one o'clock; and with +Bob Trunnion--about whom I shall have more to say anon--I had turned out +under the verandah to enjoy our post-prandial smoke, according to +invariable usage. My sister Ada would not permit us the indulgence of +that luxury indoors, and no conceivable disturbance of the elements +could compel us to forego it altogether. + +We were pacing the verandah side by side, quarter-deck fashion, with our +hands behind our backs and our weeds between our teeth, making an +occasional remark about the weather as the sheeted rain swept past us, +and the trees in the distance and the leaf-denuded shrubs in the garden +bowed before the fury of the blast, when a coastguardman, whom I had +occasionally encountered and spoken to in my rambles, came running past, +enveloped in oilskins and topped by a sou'-wester. + +As he went by, seeing us, he shouted, "Ship coming ashore in the West +Bay, sir!" and was the next minute at the bottom of the hill, _en +route_, as fast as his legs could carry him, for the town. + +Our house was situated in a pleasant suburb called Rodwell; the +high-road which passed our door led direct to the Smallmouth Sands, at +the farther extremity of which was the Chesil Beach; and we conjectured +that the coastguardman had come from the beach along this road to give +notice to the chief officer stationed in the town. + +To run indoors, don our foul-weather rigging, and notify my sister that +we were off to the scene of the anticipated wreck, was the work of a +moment. The next we were in the road, inclined forward at an angle of +forty-five degrees against the wind, and staggering slowly ahead in the +direction of the sands. The coastguardman had a fair wind of it, and +was going a good eight knots when he passed us; but just at the top of +the hill, as we were exposed to the full strength of the gale, we did +not forge ahead at more than about one knot. However, matters mended +soon after, for we surmounted the brow of the hill, and began the +descent on the opposite side; here the road took a slight bend, which +brought the wind well abeam; so keeping close under the hedge to +windward of us, we rattled away as fast as we could go. + +After nearly an hour's severe exertion we reached the beach. The vessel +which was expected to come on shore was a full-rigged ship, apparently +of about eight hundred or a thousand tons, and evidently a foreigner, by +her build and rig. Some conjectured her to be French, some Spanish, and +others avowed their belief that she was a German; but she was still too +far off, and the weather too thick, to enable any one to form a clear +judgment as to her nationality. + +"Whoever she is," said the chief boatman, "the skipper of her is a +downright good seaman, and doesn't intend to lose his ship whilst he can +do anything to save her. He drove into the bay about two hours ago, +sir," said he, turning to me, "and this is the second time that he's +tried to fetch out again; but, Lord! he don't know this place so well as +I do, or he'd be as sartain as I be that she'll never go outside o' the +Bill o' Portland again. The ship don't float that, with her sails +alone, could get out of the bay, once she got into it, with the wind and +tide the way it is now; and afore the tide turns he'll be knocked into +matchwood, or my name's not Joe Grummet. There he comes round again," +continued the man, who had kept his eye on the vessel all the time he +was speaking; "but it's no good; he's more 'n a mile to leeward of where +he fetched last time, and he'd better give it up and run her ashore +whilst 'tis light enough to get the hands out of her, if so be as it +please God to let any on 'em come ashore alive." + +The vessel had, as Grummet remarked, altered her course; running off +rapidly before the wind, and consequently towards the land; and those +who knew nothing about nautical matters would have supposed that her +commander had at length given up the contest, and was about to run her +on shore. + +But we knew better. The vessel had merely been kept away in order to +_wear_ her; _staying_ in such a tremendous gale and sea being utterly +out of the question. And as we watched we saw her come slowly to the +wind on the opposite tack; her yards were braced sharp up, her sheets +flattened in, and once more the battle for life was resumed against the +hostile elements. + +But it was evident that the noble ship's career was ended. The +operation of _wearing_ had brought her into fearful proximity with the +land; and though she carried reefed mainsail and foresail under +close-reefed topsails, and fore and main topmast staysails, it was +evident that she was driving to leeward at a frightful rate, and that +the period of her existence must now be measured in minutes. + +"Now, lads! bear a hand!" shouted Grummet, "and let's signal her to run +in here. The beach is steeper here than anywhere within the next three +or four mile; and if he happens to come in on the back of a sea, he'll +run up pretty near high and dry; and we may get some of the poor souls +ashore alive, and cheat Davy Jones out of the best part of his bargain +this bout, anyway." + +A large red bandana handkerchief was produced and seized to the end of a +boat-hook; this extempore flag and staff Grummet took in his hand, and, +proceeding to the summit of the beach, commenced waving it to and fro, +to attract the attention of the people on board the doomed ship. She +was now so close that we could see the two men at her wheel, and a man, +whom we supposed to be the master, standing by the mizen rigging. + +Just abaft the mainmast, and huddled together under the shelter of the +weather bulwarks, we could see some seven or eight more of her crew, and +others were doubtless cowering elsewhere out of sight. + +Grummet waved his flag energetically from the crest of the beach, and +the coastguardmen busied themselves in making such slight preparations +as were in their power to assist the crew in escaping from the wreck. +Several coils of line had been brought down to the beach; one man who +announced himself to be a good swimmer, had secured an end of the +smallest of these to his waist; he now stood prepared to divest himself +of all his superfluous clothing at a moment's notice, and to attempt the +hazardous experiment of rushing into the boiling surf, to drag out any +poor unfortunate whom he might be able to reach. Others were engaged in +various ways in preparing themselves to render what assistance was in +their power, when a cry from Grummet announced that the crisis had +arrived; on looking up we saw that the stranger's fore-topmast had gone +in the cap; and now hung to leeward, with the topsail and topmast +staysail thrashing to ribbons; the latter threatening at every jerk to +take the bowsprit out of the ship. The foresail was also split from +head to foot; and, even as we looked, the overstrained canvas gave way, +and, fluttering for a moment in the furious gale, parted from the +bolt-ropes, and came flying like a shred of cloud to leeward. + +The ship, thus deprived of her head-sail, luffed into the wind: and the +moment that the rest of her canvas shook, away it came also, leaving her +helpless and unmanageable, with the sea sweeping her deck fore and aft. + +"Now stand by, men," shouted Grummet, "and each one do his best for the +poor souls; for they were never nearer to death's door than they will be +in another two minutes. If he had run her stem on to the beach they +might have stood a chance; but I fear it is all over with them now, for +she'll come ashore broadside on, and all on us knows what that means." + +Fortunately, the catastrophe had happened immediately to windward of +that part of the beach on which we stood; a spot, as Grummet had +observed, where the shipwrecked crew would have a better chance of +reaching the shore alive than they would have had if stranded on any +other part of it for some miles on either side; but the loss of their +sails had rendered the prospect of their escape considerably less than +it would have been had they been able to watch their chance, _sail_ the +ship in on the crest of a wave, and so beach her. + +The next half minute or so was one of most intense and painful +excitement to us spectators on shore. Each man moved nearer to the +water, and cast off some article of clothing, or gave a last look to the +line, or a final adjustment to the life-buoy round his waist. For +myself, I had stripped off my jacket and waistcoat, and placed them, +together with my hat, in the hands of my friend Bob, who could not swim; +and I now stood with the end of a line, knotted into a bowline, in my +hand, ready to do anything which the emergency of the moment might +require. + +The master of the vessel appeared to be aware of our intention, and the +meaning of the signal which Grummet had shown; and as it was now +impossible to run the ship _stem_ on upon the beach, he did the next +best thing; and waving his hand to the men who, like true seamen, still +stuck to the wheel, they put the helm hard up, that she might come in +stern on. + +The manoeuvre was partially successful; but unfortunately she came +ashore between two seas; and the undertow of the one taking her stern, +whilst the succeeding sea struck her bow, she fell broadside-to in an +instant, her three masts went by the board, and the sea made a clean +breach over her. + +One poor fellow was seen to leap overboard at the moment that the ship +struck; and half-a-dozen of the men on the beach rushed down into the +water, making frantic efforts to get at him. But he could not swim; and +those who tried to reach him were flung back, bruised and senseless, +upon the beach, only to be dragged away again as the sea receded; and +had it not been for the ropes and life-buoys round their waists, by +which their comrades hauled them on shore, they must have lost their +lives. As it was, one of them, in some way or other, got out of the +life-buoy, and we saw him swept away almost from our very feet. + +I was an expert swimmer; and as soon as I saw the poor fellow being +swept away, I slipped my head and shoulders through the bowline knot I +held in my hand, dashed into the surf, and, resorting to my usual +tactics of diving through the breakers, managed to get hold of the man +with one hand, while I raised the other above my head, as a signal to +those on shore to haul away upon their end of the line. + +As soon as I felt the line tighten round me, I grasped the man round the +body, and in another moment we were both on the beach, in the arms of +those who had run down to meet us. By these we were dragged up out of +reach of the sea, and, on staggering to my feet, I had the satisfaction +of seeing the man who had jumped overboard from the wreck being hauled +on board again. + +Loud were the thanks and praises I received for my conduct in bringing +the other on shore; but without waiting to listen to them, I hastily +explained that I would try to take a line on board the wreck, as, if I +could succeed in this, there might possibly be some chance of saving the +major portion, if not the whole of the crew. Accordingly I dashed into +the surf once more; and at length, after the most superhuman efforts, +though the distance was barely thirty yards, I reached the ship's side, +and was drawn on board by a line which her crew threw to me. The men +crowded round me, rapidly talking in some language which I could not +understand, and looking as much relieved as though I had the power of +taking them all on my back at once, and swimming on shore with them. I +stood for a moment to recover my breath; and at the same time looked +about to see what resources might be at my command. I noticed a towing +hawser coiled away upon what had originally been the deckhouse forward, +but which was now stove in and battered almost out of recognition. An +eye was spliced in one end of this hawser; and taking it up, I signed to +the men to pass it over the stump of the foremast. + +They understood me, and, seeing my object in wishing it done, they had +it over in a twinkling; in another moment, they had the heavy coil +capsized, the other end bent on to the line which I had brought on board +with me, and were paying it rapidly over the side. + +As I turned to address the master of the vessel, who, I noticed as I was +hauled up the side, was then standing at the break of the poop, issuing +instructions to his crew, I saw him in the act of descending the +poop-ladder, and I stepped towards him. At this moment the ship was +lifted up by a perfect mountain of a sea, and hove over on her +beam-ends; all hands of us were flung violently to leeward; and before +apparently any of us had time to recover our feet, another sea swept +down upon us; there was a terrific--an ear-splitting crash, a wild, +agonised cry, and I found myself clear of the wreck, struggling wildly +for life, with the body of the master within arm's length of me. + +He was apparently dead, and floating face downwards; but I grasped him +by the hair, turned him on his back, and struck out for the beach. +Twice were we flung like corks upon the pebbles of the strand, and twice +dragged off into deep water again by the merciless undertow. The first +time I dug my fingers, knees, and the toes of my boots into the pebbles, +in the hope of bringing myself and my senseless charge to an anchor; but +I might as well have attempted to grasp the air. The whole of that +portion of the beach which was exposed to the action of the sea was a +vast moving mass, the shingle being alternately thrown up and sucked +back again in tons, as the water hurled itself high upon the beach and +then rushed back into the foaming abyss. + +The second time we were thrown up with such violence that I was stunned; +but the third time the brave fellows on the beach, who had been making +the most frantic efforts to get at us, would take no denial. They +watched their chance, and as they saw us again drifting in two, with +ropes round their waists, rushed into the sea, grasped us, one each, +firmly round the body; and, though they were lifted off their feet and +dragged away to seaward like feathers by the retiring breaker, never let +go their hold until we were hauled up high and dry, clear beyond the +reach of the heaviest wave. + +The efforts made to restore me to consciousness were soon successful, +but my fellow-sufferer, the master of the vessel, appeared to be +seriously injured. It was nearly half an hour before the faintest signs +of returning animation were perceived; and when at length consciousness +returned, the poor fellow appeared to be suffering the most excruciating +agony. + +As soon as I was once more able to look about me, I found that the wave +which had washed the master and me overboard, had broken the wreck in +two just abaft the mainmast, flinging the stern portion much nearer the +shore, whilst it had turned the other half fairly bottom up, +precipitating, of course, all the poor fellows, who were so busy paying +out the hawser, into the sea. The people on the beach watched eagerly +for their reappearance above water, but not one of them was ever seen +again. It afterwards transpired that there was not a swimmer amongst +the entire crew, which, all told, amounted to fifteen hands. + +The intelligence of a wreck had attracted a large concourse of people to +the spot, notwithstanding the discomfort attendant on being abroad in so +violent a gale; and one gentleman had taken upon himself to despatch +omnibuses from the town, well supplied with blankets, etc., for the +relief and benefit of any poor sufferers who might reach the shore +alive. Into one of these vehicles the unfortunate master of the ship +was now placed with the utmost care, a couch being extemporised for him +in the bottom of the 'bus by piling together all the blankets which had +been sent. In spite, however, of the utmost care in driving, the jolts +were frequent, and sometimes rather heavy, and the poor fellow's groans +indicated such intensity of suffering, that by the time we were half way +to town I decided I would take him to my own house, whereby he would be +spared nearly half an hour of anguish. + +It fortunately happened that, just as I had come to this resolution, a +gentleman rode up, and learning who we had inside, volunteered his +services. I immediately accepted them, desiring him to ride back to the +town, and despatch to my house the ablest physician he could find. When +the 'bus drew up at our door, the doctor was there in readiness for his +patient, whom we lifted out, apparently in the last stage of exhaustion, +and carried carefully into the house and upstairs into my own room, +where my sister (advertised by Bob, who had made the best of his way +home on foot) had a cheerful fire blazing in the grate, hot water in +abundance, and everything else ready that her womanly sympathy could +suggest. + +Volume One, Chapter II. + +THE SECRET. + +The doctor remained with the sick man more than half an hour; and when I +heard his footstep descending the staircase I went out and met him. + +"The poor fellow is sinking rapidly," said he, in reply to my inquiries; +"he has received severe internal injuries, and is bleeding to death +inwardly. I can do nothing, absolutely _nothing_ for him. Keep him +quiet, and humour him as much as you can; excitement of any kind will +only hasten his dissolution." I cheerfully promised to do all I could +for the dying man; and the doctor took his leave, promising to call +again the last thing in the evening. + +As soon as the doctor was out of the house I went upstairs and into the +sick-room, where I found the patient in bed, and Bob, with his boots +off, gliding as quietly about the room as a trained hospital nurse, +doing all he could to contribute to the comfort of his charge. + +The opening of the door attracted the sick man's attention, and he +feebly turned his head in my direction. As soon as he recognised me, he +beckoned me to approach; and I drew a chair to the side of the bed, +asking him how he felt. + +"Like one whose moments are numbered;" replied he in perfectly pure +English, but with a sonorous ring in the articulation of the words, +which betrayed the fact that he was not speaking in his mother tongue. +"Senor," he continued, "I am dying; the doctor has candidly told me so, +though I needed no such assurance from him. The dreadful pangs which +shoot through my tortured frame, are such as no man could long endure +and live. I am a true Catholic, senor, and I would fain see a priest, +or some good man of my own creed; that I may confess, and clear my +guilty soul from the stains which a life of sinful indulgence and +contempt of Heaven's laws has polluted it with. I know there are many +of my faith in England, it may be that there are some in this place. +Know you of any such?" + +I replied that there certainly was a Catholic church in the town, but it +was situated at some distance from the house in which he now lay; +consequently it would perhaps be an hour before the priest could be +found and brought to him; "but," added I, "I will send for him +forthwith, and until he arrive I will sit here and keep you company." + +So saying, I called Bob on one side, and directed him to proceed, as +quickly as possible, into town, and bring the Reverend Father without a +moment's delay, to the house. + +As soon as Bob had departed, I resumed my seat by the bedside. +Extending his burning hand towards me, he clasped mine, and endeavoured +to raise it to his lips. "Senor," said he, "since it is the will of God +that I am to die, I can but bow to that will in submission; but I would +I could have been spared for a few years to testify my gratitude to you +for your brave and noble efforts in behalf of my crew and myself--my +poor people, my poor people," he sobbed--"all, all lost!" + +He was silent for nearly five minutes; and I took advantage of the +opportunity to explain to him that what I had done was no more than any +other Englishman would do if he had the power, under similar +circumstances; that such conduct was thought nothing of among our +nation; being regarded as simply a duty which each man owed to every +other, in like circumstances of distress with his own. + +"I know--I know," replied he, "the English are as generous as they are +brave; but still I would I had it in my power to express my thanks +otherwise than in words. But I am alone in the world which I am so soon +to leave. Not one have I of my own name or blood to whom I can bequeath +my debt of gratitude; and when my ship went to pieces to-day (she was my +own property, senor), I became a beggar. I have not so much property +left as will pay the expenses of my burial; and here I lie, indebted to +a stranger, and that stranger a foreigner, for the shelter which covers +my dying head, as I soon shall be for the coffin and the grave which +await my lifeless clay." + +I was beginning to say something, with the intention of diverting his +mind from so painful a train of thought, when he interrupted me eagerly. + +"And yet," continued he, "poor as I am, it is in my power to make you +rich--ay, beyond the utmost scope of your imagination. And I will, I +_will_! Why should I take this secret to the grave with me? In a few +hours I shall be beyond the want of earthly riches, but you, senor, are +young, and look forward to a long life; doubtless, like other men, you +have already indulged in many a bright day-dream which the possession of +wealth would go far to realise. Listen, gentil senor; I must be brief, +for I feel that I have no time to lose. I have been shipwrecked once +before. It is now nearly three years ago since I sailed from Valparaiso +for Canton, whence we were to proceed to Bombay, and so home round the +Cape of Good Hope. I was then chief mate. We met with nothing but +calms for the first three weeks of our passage, after which the weather +changed, and we had a succession of adverse gales until we were within +fifteen degrees of the line. Here we were worse off than ever, for at +one moment we were lying in a glassy calm, and perhaps in five minutes +afterwards were under close-reefed canvas, or possibly bare poles. At +length a furious squall threw the ship on her beam-ends, and we were +compelled to cut away all three of her masts to save her from +foundering. And then the squall settled down into a perfect hurricane, +and we could do nothing but suffer the ship to drive dead before it. +Near midnight we were flung violently to the deck by a tremendous shock. +The ship was on shore, dashing her bottom out upon the rocks. And it +was so dark, senor, that we were unable to see each other. Oh! the +horror of that night; it is as fresh upon me now as it was at the moment +that it happened." + +The poor fellow's face was streaming with perspiration. I begged he +would not distress himself by recalling such painful recollections, but +in spite of my remonstrance he continued his story. + +"The ship broke up beneath our feet, and I found myself swimming, I knew +not where, in the midst of a quantity of floating wreck, to a piece of +which I clung. I was surrounded on every side by breakers; but not far +from me I could perceive, by the absence of the phosphorescence, that +the water was smooth. I urged myself, and the plank to which I clung, +in that direction, and soon reached the smooth water; after which I +suffered myself to drift. The water was quite warm, and I experienced +no inconvenience whatever from my immersion. After the lapse of perhaps +an hour, possibly more, I felt the ground beneath my feet, and +staggering out of the water, I flung myself upon the dry land, and, +notwithstanding the howling of the wind and the roar of the breakers, I +fell into a deep and dreamless sleep. + +"When I awoke the sun was beating fiercely down upon my uncovered head; +the sky was cloudless; and a calm had succeeded to the gale of the night +before. I rose to my feet, and on looking about me, discovered that I +had been cast upon one of those coral islands which so thickly stud some +portions of the Pacific. I was--as I am now--the only one who escaped +the wreck alive. The bodies of my shipmates lay scattered along the +shore; and a long and arduous day was spent in burying them where they +lay, in such shallow graves as I could scoop in the sand with the aid of +a piece of splintered plank. The beach was strewed with wreckage which +had been washed over the reef and into the smooth water; and I was +overjoyed to find amongst this the long-boat, perfectly uninjured. In +her I visited the scene of the wreck; and there, after diligent search, +I found the means and a sufficiency of appropriate materials to enable +me to fit her for a lengthened voyage. + +"I was more than two months on the island before my preparations were +complete, for life was very enjoyable in that delightful spot, and I +felt in no hurry to get away. At length, whilst walking along the beach +one evening, my attention was attracted to three or four pieces of old, +worm-eaten, weather-worn timber, which I had often noticed before, +projecting above the sand; and curiosity now impelled me to walk up to +and examine them. A careful scrutiny revealed to me that they formed +part of the framework of a ship; and I resolved that I would return the +next day and ascertain whether what I saw was merely a detached piece of +wreck, or whether the entire hull lay there embedded in the sand. + +"The next morning I repaired to the spot, armed with a primitive +substitute for a shovel, which I had contrived to manufacture, and an +iron bolt, to serve the purpose of a crow-bar, which I had procured the +previous night by burning it out of a piece of wreck. I had worked for +perhaps an hour, when I reached some planking, which I immediately +recognised as the deck of the ship. This I proceeded to clear of sand, +uncovering the deck in an extending circle from the spot where I had +first encountered it, until I had an area of about fifteen or sixteen +feet laid bare. And now I met with a breach in the deck; so instead of +clearing away further, I began to dig down again; I toiled thus for four +days, senor; by which time? I had discovered that the wreck was that of +a small vessel, of perhaps one hundred and thirty tons (though, small as +she was, she had been built with a full poop); that she was a very +ancient craft indeed; and that her cargo consisted of nothing but +_gold_, senor, that is, with the solitary exception of a strong wooden +box (which, even after so long an interment, offered considerable +resistance to my efforts to open it), containing an assortment of what I +took to be pebbles of different kinds, but which I afterwards found were +unpolished gems. Yes, senor; there lay the gold in ingots, each wrapped +in matting, and each ingot as much in weight as I could well lift. The +matting was decayed in the first three or four tiers, and the metal +discoloured almost to blackness; but towards the centre of the cargo +(which is, probably, not more than twelve tiers deep altogether), the +matting, though so rotten that it crumbled to dust as I touched it, had +preserved the colour of the metal; and there it lay, bar after bar, +gleaming with the dull yellow lustre peculiar to virgin gold. + +"I ballasted my boat entirely with ingots; selecting the most +discoloured I could reach, so that they might be less easily +recognisable as gold, and the risk I ran of being ultimately robbed of +them reduced in the same proportion. I also took a few of the pebbles +(as I thought them) out of the box; after which I set to work to cover +in the whole once more. I completed my task by burning down the timbers +which had at first attracted my attention (and which I found were a +portion of her stern frame), so that nothing remained above the surface +of the sand to betray the whereabouts of my treasure. I then carefully +marked the spot in such a manner that I could find it again; and +completed my preparations for departure with all speed. + +"I had been at sea ten days, when I was taken ill. Whether it was the +effect of excitement or exposure I know not; but I fell into a raging +fever, which left me almost at the point of death. I was so weak that I +had not strength to crawl to the water-cask; and the feeble efforts I +made to reach it so exhausted me that at length I fell in a swoon to the +bottom of the boat. In this condition I was discovered by a passing +ship, the crew of which took me on board; but, as a smart breeze +happened to be blowing at the time, they would not wait to hoist in my +boat; and she was set adrift with enough gold on board her to have +purchased a principality. + +"Regrets were useless, and the loss, heavy as it was, troubled me +little; I knew where to find sufficient to satisfy my utmost needs. At +length I reached home, and, by the merest accident, bethought myself one +day of my pebbles. I suspected they were valuable, or they would not +have been found where they were. Judge of my surprise when I learned +that the four I had left (for I lost the rest somewhere) were worth a +sufficient sum to enable me to do exactly what I wished; viz., buy a +ship of my own. I did so; and was on my way in her to my +treasure-island, when the gale sprung up which has reduced me to my +present condition. + +"And now, senor, I am about to put _you_ in possession of such +information as will enable you to find my island. It is in latitude +about--S., and in longitude about--W., as nearly as I had the means of +ascertaining; and is uninhabited, and, I should say, unknown; for during +my entire stay there, I never observed one solitary sign of man's foot +having ever pressed the soil. You will readily recognise the island +from the fact that it has a remarkable isolated group of seven cocoa-nut +trees growing closely together on the extreme northernmost point of the +island. The central tree of this group, and one of the others, bears a +mark (made by the removal of a piece of bark) as large as a man's two +hands. When you have identified these trees, walk away from them, +keeping them _in one_, until you open, clear of the trees on the +southern end of the island, a portion of the reef which you will observe +just rising above the water's edge. When you have done this, you will +be standing, as nearly as possible, immediately above the hole in the +deck of the wreck, through which I burrowed to her golden cargo." + +The Spaniard (for such I found him to be) then went on to describe the +manner in which I should find the passage through the reef into the +lagoon, giving me as much information as he could from memory of the +various dangers to be avoided. He had carefully prepared a chart of the +channel before leaving the island; but this was on board the vessel he +had just lost. + +I could see that the excitement produced by so much talking was +fearfully reducing his strength, and I more than once endeavoured to +persuade him to postpone the completion of his narrative, but he was +sensible that he had but a short time to live, and so anxious was he to +give me all the information necessary to enable me to discover this +strangely buried treasure, that my endeavour to stop him did more harm +even than the talking, so I was compelled perforce to suffer him to +proceed. And though I felt it my duty to urge him not to excite +himself, I must confess that I was deeply interested to learn how I +might become possessed of the wealth to which he had referred in such +glowing terms; for since it was manifest that he could not live to enjoy +it himself, and as he had declared he had no relative in the world, I +thought I might as well become his heir. + +He continued to talk for some time longer, until he had explained to me +everything he could think of which would facilitate my efforts to reach +the buried treasure; and then, with a sigh of mingled exhaustion and +relief, he closed his eyes, and seemed to sink into a half sleep, from +which he roused himself at frequent intervals, to crave the refreshment +of a draught of lemonade. + +At length the sound of carriage wheels was heard; and almost immediately +afterwards Bob returned, accompanied by the Catholic priest. The sick +man opened his eyes, and feebly welcomed the good old man who had so +readily answered his appeal for spiritual consolation. I then retired, +leaving them alone to engage in the most solemn rite appertaining to +their religion. + +Rather more than an hour elapsed before I was recalled to the sick-room. +When I stood once more at the bedside of the dying Spaniard, I saw that +he had but a few minutes longer to live. He was so weak, the clergyman +said, that it was with the utmost difficulty he had succeeded in +expressing his wish to see me again before he died. + +As I drew near his eye brightened, and a faint smile of welcome lighted +up his face. His lips moved, but so faint was the whisper which escaped +them, that I was obliged to bow my face close to his ere I could +distinguish the words. With a painful effort he gasped, "Senor, promise +me that, if you succeed, you will have two hundred masses said for my +soul?" + +When I assured him that his request should be faithfully complied with, +the contracted brow relaxed; the expression of anxiety vanished; and in +its place a smile of satisfaction and perfect happiness slowly spread +itself over the pinched and pallid features, where, the next moment, it +was indelibly fixed by the hand of death. + +I have dwelt at such length upon this introductory episode of my story +that I must now "turn the hands up and make sail" in earnest, for we +have a voyage of many thousands of miles before us; and, like all +thorough seamen, having once shipped for the voyage, we are impatience +personified until the anchor is atrip, the canvas sheeted home, the +watch set, and the lively little barkie dashing merrily away over the +heaving billows, her snowy canvas gleaming in the setting sun, and the +cliffs of Old England fast fading into purple mist astern. + +Volume One, Chapter III. + +BOB'S PROPOSITION. + +After we had reverently laid the Spaniard to rest in his alien grave, I +gave my friend Bob a full and accurate account of all that had passed, +showing him at the same time the copious notes I had, at the earliest +opportunity, jotted down to assist and refresh my memory in case I +should ever find myself in a position to seek the hidden treasure. + +But it is now necessary that I should introduce the _dramatis persona_ +who have already cast their shadows on the curtain; and this I will do +with all possible brevity. + +"_Place aux dames_." Ada Collingwood, my darling and only sister, was +at this time approaching her seventeenth year, and was a dainty specimen +of lovely girlhood just budding into still lovelier womanhood. Her +figure was petite, promising in due time to develop into the most +faultless perfection of shape: and her laughing blue eyes and rich +profusion of silky golden hair set off to perfection a face which, +perhaps, no one would have dreamed of calling _beautiful_, any more than +they would have dreamed of denying that it was charmingly piquant, and +irresistibly _pretty_. Her temper was equable; she was gifted with a +rich flow of animal spirits, and a keen perception of the ludicrous, +which would have upset the gravity of the most confirmed hypochondriac. + +Nevertheless, if occasion required it, her merry ringing laugh could be +hushed, her joyous elasticity of movement could be subdued, and no one +better than she could assume the _role_ of the sick-nurse, or the tender +and sympathising confidante of distress. And lastly, she adored, with a +blind unreasoning idolatry for which there was no excuse, your humble +servant, her unworthy brother. + +Of myself, it becomes me not to say very much. I was just turned +twenty-one: six feet high: and vanity whispered, in confirmation of my +sister's energetic and oft-repeated assertions, a trifle more than +moderately good-looking. I was an only son (as my sister was an only +daughter), and I had received my education at the Royal Naval School at +Greenwich, with the understanding that I was to join my father on its +completion, when he would continue and finish what is there so well +begun, thus making me "every inch a sailor." + +On leaving school I joined my father (who was master and part owner of a +fine dashing clipper), in the capacity of midshipman, and went some six +or seven voyages with him: on the last of which, or rather a few days +after its termination, I was seized with a violent attack of rheumatic +fever, from which I had not recovered sufficiently to rejoin the ship by +the time that she was once more ready for sea. I was consequently left +at home under Ada's care (my dear mother had been dead some years), to +recover at leisure, and amuse myself as well as I could, until another +voyage should be accomplished, and an opportunity once more offered for +me to repossess myself of my quarters in the old familiar berth. That +opportunity never arrived, for at the time my story opens, my father had +been two years "missing." He sailed from Canton with the first cargo of +the new season's teas, and from the moment that the good ship +disappeared seaward she had never been heard of; not the faintest trace +of a clue to the mystery of her fate having, so far, been discovered. + +Bob Trunnion was a middle-aged man, of medium stature, great personal +strength, and no very marked pretensions to beauty; but he was as +thorough an old sea-dog as ever looked upon salt water. His visage was +burnt to a deep brick-red by years of exposure to all sorts of weather; +and his hair and beard, which had once been brown, were now changed to +the hue of old oakum by the same process, except where, here and there, +a slight sprinkling of grey discovered itself. He had been a sailor +almost all his life; having "crept in through the hawse-pipe" when he +was only twelve years old; since when, by close application, and +perseverance, he had gradually worked his way aft to the quarter-deck. +He joined my father's ship as second mate, on the same voyage as I did, +and on the following voyage took the chief mate's, berth, in place of a +man whom my father was compelled to discharge for confirmed drunkenness. + +The last time that my poor father passed down Channel, outward-bound, +Bob had the misfortune (as we thought it then), to fall off the poop and +break his arm. It was what the surgeons call a compound fracture, and +certainly looked to be a very ugly one; so, as the ship happened at the +time to be off Saint Alban's Head, my father ran into Weymouth roads, +and sent Bob ashore to our house to be cured, and to bear me company; +shipping in his stead the second mate, and picking up a new second mate +somewhere about the town. + +Thus it happened that Bob and I, old shipmates as we were, happened to +be both away from our ship when her mysterious fate overtook her. As +soon as we were both recovered, we sought and obtained berths, always in +the same ship, for short voyages; returning home about once in every six +weeks or two months, with the hope of hearing either that my father had +returned, or that some news had arrived of him. For the last twelve +months we had abandoned the former hope, but the latter would probably +be many years before it finally took its flight. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +This introduction and explanation are necessary to the understanding of +what is to follow; and now, having fairly weathered them both, we may +take up the thread of the story, and follow it out to the end without +further interruption. + +I have already said that I took an early opportunity to give Bob a +detailed account of the Spaniard's revelation to me. This was on the +evening of the day on which we laid the poor fellow in his grave; and I +told my story while we and my sister were seated comfortably round the +fire after tea, with the curtains drawn close, and everything made snug +for the night. + +Bob listened with the utmost attention to my story (as did also my +sister), occasionally requesting me to "say that again," as some point +in the narrative was reached which he wished to bear particularly in +mind; and when I had finished he sat for some time staring meditatively +between the bars of the grate. + +At length, "Well, Harry, my lad, what do you intend to do?" said he. + +"That," replied I, "is just the point upon which I want your advice. If +this story be true--" + +"No fear about that," said Bob. "It's true enough. The thing's as +plain and circumstantial as the ship's course when it's pricked off upon +the chart. There ain't a kink in the yarn from end to end; it's all +coiled down as neat and snug as a new hawser in the ropemaker's yard; +and besides, dyin' men don't spin yarns with no truth in 'em, just for +divarsion's sake like." + +"Well," said I, "I am disposed, with you, to think that the story _is_ +quite true; the man could have no object in telling it if it were not +so. The question is, what is to be done in the matter?" + +"Done!" exclaimed Ada, "why, what _should_ be done, Harry, except that +you go to this island, dig up the gold, bring it home, and live like a +gentleman ever afterwards?" + +This was Ada's great ambition; that I should be placed in the position +of a gentleman. She had a theory--whence derived I know not--that it +was my destiny to become a man of unbounded means; and that my life was +to be passed in an atmosphere of splendour and luxury only equalled by +that enjoyed by the most favoured heroes of the "Arabian Nights." And +this was an entirely disinterested feeling on her part too; for though +she would often laughingly prophesy what would happen "when I should +become a rich man," I never knew her to utter a word which suggested the +idea that _she_ would in any way be a gainer by my acquisition of +wealth. + +"More easily said than done, pet," replied I, patting her soft cheek. +"What is to become of you whilst I am gone?" + +"Why, I shall stay here with Mrs Moseley (our housekeeper) until your +return, and be the first to welcome you back," said she. + +"Well," replied I, "I think suitable arrangements for your comfort and +safety could be made without much difficulty; but," said I, appealing to +Bob, "how is this gold to be got at and brought home in safety? I have +not the means of purchasing a ship of my own; and if I had, do you think +it would be safe to trust so much treasure with a crew, picked up though +ever so carefully?" + +"Ah! now you 'pawls me," replied Bob, rubbing the back of his head +reflectively. "I've sailed with crews as you might ha' trusted with +untold gold, at least I've thowt so at the time I was with 'em; but +mayhap, if temptation was throwed in their way, they mightn't be able to +stand out agin it; there's no gettin' to the bottom o' the heart o' man. +As to the ship, that's easy enough. If you ain't got the cash to +_buy_, you can always _charter_?" + +"True," said I, "and if I could _make sure_ of finding a sufficient +number of thorough good men, that is the course I should be inclined to +pursue. Do you think, Bob, that by diligent search we could find some +six or eight really reliable men? The craft need not be a large one, +you know--" + +"There you've hit the solution of the enigmy, as the schoolmaster said," +replied Bob, bringing his clenched fist down upon my knee with an +emphasis which impressed me for the remainder of the evening: "How much +of that gold now do you reckon would make your fortune, lad? you're +pretty good at figures; just cipher it up and let's hear?" + +"How much!" exclaimed I; "oh, a very small portion of the whole cargo +would satisfy me if I had it here at this moment." + +"How much?" persisted Bob. "Would a _ton_ of it be enough for you, +boy?" + +"Yes, indeed," laughed I; "a ton of pure gold--why, what do you suppose +that would be worth, Bob?" + +"Hain't much of a idee," replied he. + +"A ton of pure gold," said I, "is worth over one hundred thousand +pounds, Bob; I believe one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds is +nearer it's value; though I cannot say for certain." + +"Then," said Bob, "if we can manage to get, say, a couple of tons of it +home, you will be satisfied--eh?" + +"Perfectly," I replied; "but how do you propose to accomplish this?" for +I saw he had a scheme to bring forward. + +"Nothing easier," replied Bob. "Build a little craft big enough to +accommodate the two of us; with room to stow away our grub and water, +and the two tons of gold; and up anchor and away." + +"But," said I, "you forget that this island is somewhere in the Pacific. +Such a craft as you speak of would be totally unfit for the voyage we +contemplate." + +"Why?" inquired Bob. + +"Why?" repeated I, astonished at the question. "Simply because we +should never get across the Bay of Biscay in her, to say nothing of the +remainder of the voyage." + +"Why not?" demanded Bob, rather pugnaciously. + +"Do you mean to say," I retorted, "that you can sit there and propose in +cold blood such a hair-brained scheme as that we two should undertake a +voyage to the Pacific in a mere _boat_?" + +"I do," replied Bob emphatically. "That's a simple way out of all your +difficulties. The craft will be your own; there will be no risk of the +crew rising upon us for the sake of our cargo; and nobody to say `What +are we doing here?' or `What do you want there?' Why, it will be a mere +pleasure trip from end to end, all play and no work, leastways none to +speak on!" + +"But, my dear fellow, _do_ be serious," protested I. "You know, as well +as I do, that we should be swamped the first time we fell in with a +capful of wind." + +"Maybe we should, if we went to work like a couple of know-nothing +land-lubbers," retorted Bob; "but if we went to work like seamen, as we +are, I should like to know what's to purvent our sailing round the world +if we like! Answer me that." + +"Come, Bob, old man, let us hear the full extent of your proposition," +said I. "I know that, whatever it may be, it will be the proposal of a +thorough seaman, for if any one could carry out the wild scheme you have +suggested, you are the man." + +"'Tain't such a very wild scheme neither," replied Bob. "Answer me +this. How many people was saved from the _London_ when she foundered in +the Bay of Biscay?" + +"Nineteen, if I remember rightly," replied I. + +"Very well; now if a small boat of about twenty-five feet long or +thereabouts, _open_, mind you, from stem to starn, could live twenty +hours with nineteen people in her, as the _London's_ pinnace did, in +weather that the old ship herself couldn't stand up agin, how long will +a full-decked boat of, say, thirty to thirty-five feet long, carefully +constructed, and in good trim, live with only two men in her? And +warn't I," continued he, "nineteen days _alone_ in an open boat in the +South Atlantic; and didn't I make a v'y'ge of a thousand miles in her +afore I struck soundings at Saint Helena?" + +This last question referred to an adventure which had befallen Bob in +his younger days, on an occasion when he had been cruelly deserted in a +sinking ship by the rest of the crew, and had made his escape, as +described by himself, after enduring unheard-of suffering. + +"Then," questioned I, "you seriously entertain the belief that the +scheme you have suggested is practicable?" + +"With ease and comfort," replied Bob. "Now look here, Harry. You can +afford to build a craft such as I have described, and fit her out for +the v'y'ge, and still leave money enough at home to keep sauce-box here" +(indicating Ada, who was to him as the apple of his eye) "comfortable +and happy like till we come back. You've a rare eye for a sea-boat, and +mine ain't bad, for that matter; let's draught her out ourselves, since +it's our own lives as we are going to trust in her; and if we don't turn +out, between us, as pretty a sea-boat as ever floated, why, turn to and +lay me up in ordinary for the rest of my days for a useless old hulk, +that's all. A boat thirty feet long, decked all over, and carefully +designed, _can't_ sink, boy, because we can easily arrange matters so as +to keep her dry inside; she'll ride as light as a gull and as dry as a +bone when big ships is making bad weather of it, and as for the matter +of capsizing, bein' run down, or cast away, why they're dangers as we +are liable to in any ship, and must be guarded against in every craft, +large or small; and our little barkie would carry comfortable all we +should want for the v'y'ge, for we could touch here and there out and +home to make good deficiencies, and we two are men enough to handle her +in all weathers. Rig her as a cutter, boy. I was once't aboard a +cutter yacht in a trip up the Mediterranean, and you've no idea what a +handy rig it is, once you're used to it. And the way them cutters 'll +hug the wind--why 'twould make a difference of nigh on a couple of +thousand miles, out and home, in the length of the passage." + +I began to be infected with Bob's enthusiasm. The scheme, which had at +first appeared to me as the very acme of fool-hardiness, now, under the +influence of Bob's eloquence, gradually assumed an appearance of +reasonableness, and a promising prospect of success, which was very +fascinating. Nevertheless, I could not but remember that the proposed +voyage would take us into latitudes subject to the most frightful and +sudden tempests, and I could not help thinking (as I pointed out to Bob) +that our cockle-shell would stand but a poor chance in a cyclone or a +black squall. + +"Look here, Harry, my boy," remarked Bob gravely, "as I propose to ship +on this here v'y'ge as chief mate, I ain't likely to forget that there's +such dangers as them you've just mentioned. But suppose you was to cork +up a bottle, or clap the lid on an empty biscuit-tin, and heave 'em +overboard, do you think they'd live through one or t'other? In course +they would, because salt water can't get inside of 'em, and as long as +they keep dry holds they'll float, let the weather be what it will, and +so 'll our craft, for the same reason. And when the weather's too bad +to sail the barkie, we can heave her to, and when it's too bad for that +we can _anchor_ her, my boy, go below, slide on the top of the +companion, and turn in until the weather clears up." + +"But," said I, "we cannot anchor in the middle of the Atlantic. Suppose +we should be caught in a cyclone there, for instance?" + +"We _can_ anchor _there_, lad, with a _floating_ anchor, which will keep +her head to wind; and with everything snug aloft and on deck, and a +floating-anchor ahead with about sixty fathoms of cable veered out, she +would ride out _in safety_ any gale that ever blew out of the heavens." + +This last remark closed the case, and secured a verdict for the +defendant. I _knew_ that every word Bob spoke was literally true, and +the audacity of the enterprise so fascinated me that I resolved on the +spot to undertake it, if it should be found, on going into details, that +a craft, capable of being handled by our two selves, could stow away, +without being overloaded, such provisions, etc., as we should need for +the voyage. + +The following morning, immediately after breakfast, I got out my +drawing-board, strained a sheet of paper upon it, and, with Bob at my +side to give me the benefit of his opinion upon every line I traced upon +the paper, set to in earnest to design the little craft in which we +proposed to embark on our adventurous voyage. + +Before putting a line upon paper, however, we settled the plan of her +internal arrangements. It was our intention to make her lines as fine +as her respective dimensions would permit; she was to be, in fact, a +small _yacht_. We knew that every vessel with sharp lines must +necessarily be wet, unless the weights she would have to carry were all +concentrated about her midship section, or broadest part, so we decided +that as far as was practicable such should be the arrangement with us; +and we knew that, if we could succeed in this, our barkie might be as +sharp as we could make her, and still be dry and comfortable. We +accordingly prepared a list of our requirements, as far as we could +think of them, calculated the space they and the ballast: would occupy, +and then roughly sketched out the proposed lines. These were altered, +rearranged, and improved upon time after time, until at length we felt +we had got them as near perfection as the dimensions of the boat and our +own knowledge would carry us. And I may as well say at once that +throughout the entire voyage we never had the slightest reason to think +our little vessel could be in any way improved upon by alteration. + +It is not probable that so long a voyage as ours will be often +undertaken again in such a very small craft as we accomplished it in; +but there are many men, I have no doubt, who would gladly receive a hint +as to the most advantageous form for a small boat in which they might +safely adventure, alone, or with a friend, a cruise, say round the +British Isles, or across the Channel and along the French coast; and +therefore, as this story is written for the amusement only of such +people as love boats, I think I may venture to trespass so far on my +readers' patience as to give such a hint in the shape of a brief +description of the _Water Lily_, as Ada christened her. + +She was, then, thirty-six feet long, and twelve feet beam on the +water-line; but, in designing her midship section, we caused her sides +to swell out boldly _above_ water, so that her greatest beam was +fourteen feet, at a point one foot six inches above the water-line. At +this point her side _tumbled home_ two inches as it was carried upwards +to her deck, and from the same point the side curved quickly inwards and +downwards until it met the water-line, when it swept under water with an +almost imperceptible curve for some distance, and then took a moderately +quick bend downwards to meet her keel. This gave us a vessel in shape +very much like the centre-board model of boat, but with a deep keel, and +consequently great lateral resistance, and space low down in the hull +for the stowage of ballast. We thus secured a _very_ small +displacement, a light buoyant hull, extraordinary stability, and a fair +amount of _power_. + +The hull was divided into three compartments by bulkheads with wide +doors which, if necessary, we could close _water-tight_. In the _fore_ +compartment we decided to place _nothing_ except the smallest and +lightest cooking-stove we could find. In the midship compartment it was +intended to stow our ballast, water-tank, provisions, the chain-cables, +and in fact everything which we could possibly place there, leaving only +a narrow passage amidships to pass to and fro. The after compartment we +intended to make our cabin, and there we arranged also to sling our +hammocks. It will easily be understood that there was not an inch of +spare room anywhere; but as our lives would be spent almost entirely on +deck, we did not mind that very much. + +Having designed our craft, the next question was, who should build her? +Bob was strongly in favour of having her built in the town, so that we +might oversee the laying of every plank, and the driving of every nail; +but I knew there were firms who could safely be trusted to honestly put +the best of work and material into the little vessel without being +watched; and I determined to put her into the hands of a very celebrated +firm of London boat builders. + +Accordingly, Bob and I ran up to town, taking my sister with us for a +holiday, and on the morning after our arrival, having seen Ada safely +disposed of for the day with some friends of ours, we two men set out +for the building-yard. + +I placed our design in the hands of the principal, telling him at the +same time that we wanted a boat of those dimensions, and, if possible, +built on those lines, and that she was intended to keep at sea in _all_ +weathers. + +He looked rather surprised at the last stipulation; but after carefully +examining the drawing, and asking us our reasons for certain little +peculiarities of shape, he confessed that, as far as his experience +went, he could frankly say he had never seen a model better adapted for +the purpose. + +"And yet, gentlemen," said he, "she will be wonderfully fast, for, in +the first place, her _hull_ is of such a shape that it will offer but a +trifling resistance to forward motion; and, in the next place, these +overhanging top-sides will give her such extraordinary stability, as +soon as she begins to heel over, that you will be able to carry enormous +sails." + +We were very glad to hear our own judgment thus confirmed by a man, part +of whose business it was to form a correct opinion with respect to the +points upon which he had touched, and we said as much. + +He took a great deal of interest in what must, after all, have been a +very trifling matter to him; and both Bob and I had reason often +afterwards to congratulate ourselves that we had confided the building +of our boat to such good hands. + +He proposed that she should be _composite_ built; that is, that for the +sake of lightness and strength combined, her frame should be of steel, +with an inner skin of thin steel plate, and an outer planking of two +thicknesses of mahogany. The ribs were to be arranged _diagonally_, +crossing the keel at an angle of forty-five degrees, and intersecting +each other at right angles, thus converting her entire frame into a sort +of lattice-work girder. + +It was arranged that all the fastenings of the inner thickness of +planking should be of iron, whilst the outside planks should be secured +with copper fastenings. The utmost care was exercised (and, as +experience proved, with complete success) to prevent the slightest +approach to galvanic action, and one of the precautions taken was, I +remember well, the painting of the inner planking with melted +india-rubber, which was laid on coat after coat until there was about +one-sixteenth of an inch of the rubber between the outer and inner +planks. + +As we did not intend to sail until the following summer, the builder had +about eight months in which to put our little ship together, a +circumstance at Which he expressed great satisfaction, as he said it +would enable him to pick and choose his materials, and put careful work +into her. + +We arranged, at the same time, for the construction of a boat to take +with us, as we felt that in the event of any untoward accident +happening, we ought to have something to take to for the saving of our +lives, and we knew also that there would be many occasions when we +should require something to answer the purposes which a boat answers +with regard to a ship. + +The designing of this boat was beset by difficulties, all originating in +one, viz., want of space in which to stow her. To think of carrying her +on deck was out of the question, as the deck was not spacious enough, in +the first place, to receive such a boat as we wanted; and even had it +been, there was no chance of its remaining there; it would have been +carried away by the first sea which swept over us. We required +something large enough to carry us both, and a stock of provisions in +addition, so that should it be necessary to abandon the _Water Lily_, we +might hope to reach land, or fall in with a ship. We also wanted +something that should be essentially a _life-boat_, whilst she should +also be very fast. How to obtain all these desiderata, and at the same +time overcome the difficulty in respect to room, we knew not. But, +resolved not to be baffled, we set our wits to work, and at length +schemed out a design of an exceedingly novel character, which proved in +all respects a most brilliant success. + +Two hollow steel cylinders, of very thin metal, twenty-six feet long and +one foot diameter in the centre, tapering gradually away to nothing at +each end, were constructed in thirteen lengths of two feet each. These +lengths, being of different diameters, stowed one within the other, thus +taking up very little room indeed. In either end of each length was +inserted a narrow band of metal thick enough to allow of a worm and +screw, so that all the lengths of each cylinder could be screwed +together perfectly water-tight. A light steel framework of simple +arrangement connected the two cylinders together, at a distance of six +feet apart, with their centre lines parallel, and supported, at a height +of two feet above the top of the cylinders a light stage ten feet long +and six feet wide. On the top of the stage, and connected with the +framework, was a step for a mast, and a gammon-iron for a bowsprit, and +underneath the stage was a centre-board which we could lower or raise at +pleasure. A broad rudder, fixed to the after-part of the stage, +completed the design. + +We spent a fortnight in London, and, having witnessed the laying of the +_Water Lily's_ keel, and inspected some of the timber which the builder +proposed to use in her construction, I saw Ada safe home again, leaving +Bob in London to look out for a ship, which, when I rejoined him a +couple of days afterwards, he had found. + +We shipped in her for a voyage to Constantinople and Trebizond, which +occupied us for eight months, and when we returned to London, on the +termination of this voyage, we found the _Water Lily_ completed, with +the exception of a few finishing touches, which the workmen were then +giving her. + +Volume One, Chapter IV. + +OUR TRIAL TRIP. + +Mr Wood (as we will call him, for the sake of giving the gentleman a +name) took us into his office, and there laid before us a sail draught, +which he had carefully prepared for the guidance of the sailmaker, in +making the _Water Lily's_ sails. + +"You have never told me, gentlemen," said he, "_why_ you are having this +little craft built; but the great pains which you have taken in the +preparation of her design, and the whole tenour of your remarks when +giving us the order to build her, impressed me at the time with a +conviction that her destiny is to be something beyond that of most +vessels of her size. As we proceeded with our work, I could not fail to +be struck (as you will perhaps remember I was at my first glance at your +drawing) with the fact, that whilst she is eminently calculated to prove +a wonderfully fine little sea-boat, she is equally certain to develop +most extraordinary sailing powers; and so great is the interest I take +in her that I could not be satisfied with intrusting the preparation of +her sail draught to any other than myself; for I foresee that she will, +in all probability, become a `public character' so to speak, and in that +capacity she will undoubtedly reflect great credit on her builders. I +have therefore calculated, with the utmost nicety, the proportion of her +various sails, so that they may take effect to the greatest advantage; +and this is the result of my labours," producing at the same time the +drawing to which I have referred. + +I must confess that, for my own part, I was staggered at the enormous +spread of canvas Mr Wood proposed to pile upon our little boat; but he +declared that she would carry it with the greatest ease. "In fact," +said he, "I have kept rather _within_ the limit of her powers, bearing +in mind a remark you made to the effect that she would have to keep to +sea _in all weathers_; and so confident am I that she is not +over-sailed, that if you find I am wrong I undertake to bear all the +expense of a new outfit of sails, and the necessary reduction of spars. +With regard to your `boat' (though to my mind she looks much more like +an ingeniously designed _raft_), the idea is so new that I cannot take +it upon myself to utter an opinion about her, though I can see no reason +why she should not be as fast as she undoubtedly is safe." + +We sent off the sail-drawing to Lapthorn of Gosport (determined to have +the best made suit of sails it was possible to procure), with +instructions to prepare them without delay, and then started off, by the +first train, to Weymouth. + +I found my dear sister safe and well, and more lovely than ever; but her +spirits were subdued by contemplation of the dangers attending the +voyage upon which we were now so soon to embark. The poor girl had been +thinking of little else it seemed during our absence, until the +liveliest alarm had taken the place of that confidence with which she +had viewed the expedition when it was first broached. + +But Bob and I had talked matters over together in many a quiet +night-watch, canvassing the various emergencies which might arise, and +the best mode of meeting them; and we were now confident that, with only +the ordinary perils of the ocean to contend with, our adventure was not +only feasible, but that it would certainly be crowned with success. And +so we were well prepared to do battle with Ada's apprehensions, which we +did so vigorously that we at length succeeded in restoring, in a great +measure, the confidence she had lost. + +We arranged, after a considerable amount of discussion, that our own +house should be let, furnished as it was, during my absence, and that my +sister should take up her quarters with an aunt who resided on the +Esplanade, Mrs Moseley accompanying her, with unlimited leave of +absence from time to time to visit her own relatives. + +These arrangements completed, Bob and I set out for London again, to +superintend the rigging of our boat and to bring her round to Weymouth, +from whence we intended to take our final departure. + +On our arrival we found the little craft already in the water, with her +mast stepped and her ballast (which was of lead, cast to fit the shape +of her bottom) in. A portion of her ballast, consisting of a piece of +lead weighing five hundredweight, was let into her keel about the +midship section, and this, with two tons of lead inside, we thought +would prove sufficient, after our "cargo" was stowed. Part of this +cargo we intended to take from London with us, viz., the water-tank, +filled, second suit of sails and flying-kites in the shape of spinnaker, +jib-topsail, square-headed gaff-topsail, etc., also a four-pound rifle +gun, with a stock of powder and shot, and a few percussion shells. + +These we decided to take in case of our being obliged to assume a +warlike attitude towards any savages we might come into contact with, as +we had heard that the natives of some of the Pacific islands are +particularly ferocious, and require to be dealt with promptly. We also +provided ourselves with a couple of air-guns of improved construction +and decidedly formidable character, four six-chambered revolving rifles, +and the same number of revolver pistols, also a small but excellent +chest of carpenter's tools, a medicine-chest, etc. + +But when these and our boat were all stowed away, there still remained +more room than I expected in our midship compartment, and the little +craft floated with her load-line nearly a foot above the waters edge. I +proposed ballasting her down to her proper depth with sand-bags, but Bob +seemed anxious to test her sail-carrying powers light as she was, urging +that though we should start well down in the water, she would lift as +our provisions grew short; and it was desirable to know by experiment +beforehand how far we could lighten her with safety. + +Our sails had arrived, and we proceeded to bend these forthwith, and set +them; as the weather being fine, with light air, a very favourable +opportunity offered for stretching them gently and uniformly. We were +as pleased with these sails as we were with the hull of our little +craft. They were perfect masterpieces of the sailmaker's art, the jibs +being angulated, and the mainsail, square-headed gaff-topsail, and +trysail being made with gored cloths. + +This latter arrangement was an extravagant one as to the amount of cloth +used in the making of each sail, but we were more than repaid for it by +the perfection of _set_ in the sails, which stood as flat as boards. +Our storm-sails were made of stout canvas, and the fine-weather ones of +American cotton canvas, a most beautiful material, extremely light, yet +so close woven that not a breath of the faintest breeze was lost, and +they were white as snow. + +Our standing rigging was of wire, this being lighter, and offering less +windage than hemp-rigging of the same strength; but, in order to +counteract its rigidity and give play to the spars, we adopted the +expedient of connecting the dead-eyes to the chain-plates by a bolt and +shackle arrangement, interposing a thick india-rubber-washer between the +shackle and the bolt-head. This plan answered most admirably, and I +would strongly recommend it to all users of wire-rigging. I am +confident that, in a fresh breeze and a chopping sea, we gained fully a +knot per hour in speed by it. + +Whilst our sails were stretching, Bob and I occupied our time in looking +about us for a few things which we thought we could better obtain in +London than anywhere else. Amongst these was a couple of air mattresses +for our hammocks, which, when fully inflated, were capable of sustaining +the weight of three men each in the water. Another article was a +cooking-stove, the smallest, lightest, and most compact thing of the +kind I ever saw. + +It had a boiler capable of heating a quart of water, and an oven large +enough to bake a fowl, with kettle, saucepan, etc., for the top. The +grate proper was filled with fragments of some substance, the name of +which I have forgotten, and underneath the grate was a sliding tray +which held a six-wicked lamp. The lamp being lighted and placed in +position, speedily raised the substance in the grate to a state of +incandescence, and there was our fire, which gave out a tremendous heat +for the size of the grate. As an aid to this stove, and an economiser +of fuel, we purchased also a most extraordinary invention, which was +named the "Norwegian cooking-stove" if I remember rightly. + +This was not a stove at all, though it performed the functions of one. +It was simply a _box_, so constructed that it retained all the heat your +dish might happen to contain when placed in it. The mode of operation +was to place your fowl or pie, or what not, in the oven until it was +thoroughly hot through, then take it out, place it in the "Norwegian," +shut it up for two or three hours, take it out, and lo! your dinner was +cooked to perfection. The fuel which this affair saved us during the +voyage would have bought a dozen of them. We spent a week looking about +for such things as these, and I am confident that, but for the economy +of space which we were able to secure through the aid of these +contrivances, our voyage must have come to a sudden and ignominious +conclusion. + +At length we were all ataunto; sails stretched to perfection and +properly bent, our _impedimenta_ all carefully and snugly stowed, and +everything ready for a start. At the instigation and through the +kindness of some yachting friends of mine, I had been introduced to and +was elected a member of the Royal--Yacht Club; so one fine morning +towards the latter end of July we loosed our sails, set them, ran our +Club burgee up to the mast-head and the ensign up to the peak, and made +a start for Weymouth. At the last moment Mr Wood, the builder of our +little craft, came on board, saying that as he had nothing very pressing +for the day, and was curious to see something of the way in which the +_Water Lily_ behaved, he would take a passage with us as far as +Gravesend, if we had no objection. + +We were only too pleased to have his company, and of course gave him a +cordial welcome. The moment he came on board we cast off our moorings, +ran up the jib and foresail, and slid rapidly away from the shore. The +wind was moderately fresh from the northward, so we started under +mainsail, foresail, and jib, but with the topmast lowered, as, being in +very light trim, I did not think it advisable to run any risks by +crowding sail upon the barkie. + +We found, as I had expected, that on an even keel she was crank, though +hot to the extent I had anticipated; but as she began to heel over her +overhanging topside supported her; so that, as the breeze freshened +(which it did gradually), the more she lay down to it the stiffer she +became. + +As our confidence in her stability and sail-carrying powers thus became +established, we grew anxious to try her paces, and forthwith got her +topmast on end, the rigging set up, and put the square-headed +gaff-topsail upon her. This was a very large sail for the size of the +vessel, though, like the mainsail, it was not particularly high in the +_hoist_; but both sails were very much peaked, the gaff-topsail so much +so that the yard was almost straight up and down. + +With the setting of our big topsail an immediate and very marked +improvement in speed became manifest. Before this we had been darting +along at a very respectable speed, passing some smart-looking schooners +as though they had been at anchor; but now the little craft fairly +rushed through the water, making it hiss and smoke under her sharp bows, +and leaving a long wake of bubbles behind her. She heeled over still +more of course, but it was with a steady kind of resistance to the force +of the wind which did finally away with any lurking fears we might have +had that we were over-sparred or over-sailed. + +We hove our patent log, and found that we were spinning along a good +eight knots through the water; and indeed we came up with, and passed +with ease, several vessels which were being towed down the river. Bob +and I were enchanted, and Mr Wood scarcely less so; and when, shortly +after luncheon, he stepped into the boat which he had hailed to put him +on shore at Gravesend, he said, "I am sure the little craft will come +with credit out of the ordeal through which you are going to put her, +whatever it may be; so, gentlemen, I hope you will favour me on your +return with a full account of your and her adventures." + +We took leave of him with a hearty shake of the hand, and a faithful +promise that we would do so (a promise which I intend to fulfil by +sending him a handsomely-bound copy of this "log" as soon as printed); +let draw the fore-sheet, and resumed our course down the river. + +We met with no adventure worthy of record on our passage down, unless I +except the amusement we derived from the chagrin of the crew of a French +steamer bound to Havre, who, to their amazement, found that the little +English yacht, by cutting off corners, skimming across shoals, and +similar manoeuvres, was slowly drawing ahead of them; and though, after +passing Sheerness, she gradually crept ahead of us at first, yet as the +wind freshened, and we continued to "carry on" until the water was over +our deck on the lee side half way up to the companion, we actually +overtook and passed her, until, to escape an ignominious defeat, she set +her own sails, and so drew away from us. + +By eight o'clock that night we were off the North Foreland, bowling +along at a slashing pace, with our mainsail boomed out to starboard, and +our spinnaker set on the port side, jib and foresail stowed. + +It was a glorious summer evening, and there was every prospect of its +being a fine night; the aneroid evinced, if anything, a tendency to +rise, and there was a good slice of the moon left, though he would be +rather late in rising, so we determined to keep going all night. + +By ten o'clock we were flying through the Downs; and very ticklish work +it was to thread in and out between the ships at anchor there and those +beating up, without experiencing a jibe, but by dint of a sharp look-out +we did it. + +By midnight we were off Dover, and here we took in the spinnaker, jibbed +the boom over to port, and set our jib and foresail. Bob wanted the +spinnaker set again on the starboard side; but I would not agree to +this, as, though we had both been on deck hitherto, he insisted on +taking the middle watch alone, while I went below for a four hours' +sleep, and I did not think it prudent to leave him alone with so large +and unmanageable a sail. + +I wanted to take in the gaff-topsail also, but Bob would not hear of +such a thing. He insisted that she was under easy and manageable +canvas, and that there was nothing like making a passage while we had +the opportunity. In this sentiment I fully agreed with him; but still I +thought it better to err on the safe side, at least for the present, +until we had become better acquainted with the capabilities of the +craft. But Bob was obdurate, and at last I had to give in and rest +content with the assurance that he would give me timely warning if it +should become necessary to shorten sail. + +When I came on deck at four o'clock I found we were just off Dungeness, +and in the midst of an outward-bound fleet of ships of all sizes and +almost all nations. The wind appeared to have freshened somewhat during +Bob's watch; but the morning was beautifully clear and fine; and, as our +spars seemed to bear with the utmost ease the sail we were carrying, I +thought we might venture to try the effect of a little extra "muslin." + +Accordingly, before relieving Bob at the tiller, I roused out our +spinnaker again; and as we had hauled up a couple of points for Beechy +Head just as I came on deck, I got it to the bowsprit-end and set it, +with its sheet led aft to the main-boom end, in place of the jib, which, +with the foresail, I stowed. Bob then went below and turned in, first +giving me strict injunctions to call him at "seven bells," that he might +turn out and prepare breakfast, for it now appeared that he intended to +unite the functions of chief mate and cook and steward, on the voyage we +had just started upon so auspiciously. + +The substitution of the spinnaker for the jib and foresail made a very +great difference in our rate of sailing. When I first came on deck I +noticed some distance astern a splendid clipper-ship, bowling along with +every stitch of canvas set that would draw, up to skysails and royal +studding-sails. By the time I had got my spinnaker set she was abreast +of us, about half a mile outside and consequently to leeward. But _now_ +she was unable to draw away from us an inch, so great was our speed +through the smooth water; and when Bob came on deck at "seven bells," +she still lay as nearly as possible in the same position with regard to +us as when he went below. + +"Phew!" whistled he, as his eye fell on her, "so the big chap has found +his match, has he, in a craft the size of his own long-boat. My eyes! +Harry, but this here _is_ a little flyer, and no mistake. Why the +post-office people 'll be wanting us to carry their mails for 'em if so +be as they gets to hear on us, eh, lad?" + +Closing this remark with a chuckle of intense satisfaction and a leer at +our big neighbour, Bob dived below again; and shortly afterwards a +frizzling sound from forward, and an odour strongly suggestive of bacon +and eggs, which was wafted upwards from the companion, informed me that +he had entered upon the duties of the less dignified but equally +important part of his combined self-appointment. + +We made a hearty breakfast off the aforesaid bacon and eggs, with _soft +tack_ laid in the day before, and washed all down with some most +excellent coffee, in the concoction of which beverage Bob was an adept, +and then, as soon as he had washed up, and put matters to rights in his +pantry, and made arrangements for dinner, I went below and turned in +until noon. + +When I went upon deck again, I found that the breeze had softened down +very considerably, and we were slipping along barely five knots through +the water. Our big neighbour, the ship, could do nothing with us in +such light airs, and he was now a good six miles astern. + +During the afternoon, the wind dropped still more, and by eight o'clock +in the evening we had little more than steerage-way. + +The water was absolutely without a ripple; our sails flapped, the +main-boom swung inboard with every heave of the little craft over the +long, gentle undulations of the ground-swell; and the different vessels +in sight were heading to all points of the compass. + +It was, to all appearance, stark calm; yet there must have have been a +light though imperceptible air, for on looking over the bows there was a +smooth unbroken ripple stretching away on each side, showing that we +were moving through the water still, though very gently; and the fact +that the little craft answered her helm was additional testimony to the +same effect. + +During the night a little air came out from off the land, and we mended +our pace somewhat; but it was not until the following noon that we got +fairly abreast of Saint Catherine's Point. + +About eight o'clock the same evening, the wind still being light, we +were abreast of the Needles; about a couple of miles to the westward of +them, and apparently steering pretty nearly the same course as +ourselves, we saw a cutter yacht about our own size. + +By midnight we were abreast of Durlstone Head, and had gained so much +upon the other cutter that we could make out that she had a large and +apparently a very merry party on board. Hearty peals of laughter came +frequently across the water towards us from her, and occasionally a +song, generally with a good rattling chorus. + +We continued to creep up to her, and at length got abreast of and so +near her that, with the advantage of a good run, an active man might +have leaped from one vessel to the other. + +As we ranged up alongside, a most aristocratic-looking man stepped to +leeward, and, grasping lightly with one hand the aftermost shroud, while +with the other he slightly lifted his straw hat in salute, he inquired: + +"What cutter is that?" + +"The _Water Lily_, Royal--Yacht Club," replied I. "What cutter is +that?" + +"The _Emerald_, Royal Victoria," answered our new acquaintance. "You +have a singularly fast vessel under you," continued he; "I believe I may +say she is the first that ever passed me in such weather as this. I +have hitherto thought that, in light winds, the _Emerald_ has not her +match afloat; yet you are stealing through my lee as if we were at +anchor. I presume, by the course you are steering, that you are, like +ourselves, bound to Weymouth. If so, I should like to step on board you +when we arrive, if you will allow me. I am curious to see a little more +of the craft that is able to slip away from us as you are doing, in our +own weather. I am Lord --," he explained, thinking, I suppose, that we +should like to know who it was who thus invited himself on board a +perfect stranger. + +I shouted back (for we were by this time some distance ahead of the +_Emerald_) that I should be happy to see his lordship on board whenever +he pleased to come; and then the conversation ceased, the distance +between the two vessels having become too great to permit of its being +continued with comfort. + +It was now Bob's watch below; but the night was so very close that he +had brought his bed on deck, and was preparing to "turn in" on the +weather side of the companion for his four hours' sleep. As he arranged +the bedding to his satisfaction, he cast his eyes frequently astern to +the _Emerald_, whose sails gleamed ghostly in the feeble light of the +moon, which, in her third quarter, was just rising. + +"By George, Harry," exclaimed he, "if they _Emeralds_ bain't shifting +topsails, I'm a miserable sinner! Ay, there goes his `ballooner' aloft. +His lordship don't like the looks of our tail, seemin'ly; but I doubt +whether, in this light breeze, his big topsail will enable him to catch +us. My eyes! how we _did_ slip through his lee, sure enough! Tell ye +what, Harry lad; that topsail of our'n is a good un--a _rare_ good un +for a reach, and in a moderate breeze; but we ought to have a +`ballooner' for running off the wind in light weather--a whacking big +un, with a `jack' as long as the bowsprit, and a yard as long as the +lower-mast. I'm beginning to think we are under-sparred and +under-sailed." + +I could scarcely agree with Bob in this. It is true that in fine +weather we could carry considerably more canvas than we had; but I had a +thought for the heavy weather also, and I knew that as soon as it came +on to blow we should find our present sails quite as large as we could +manage. Nevertheless, I made up my mind that we _would_ have a +balloon-topsail, as the voyage would be a long one, and it was possible +that we might have spells of light winds for days together, when such a +sail could be carried to the utmost advantage. + +Notwithstanding the change of topsails, we still continued to creep away +from the _Emerald_, and when we let go our anchor in Weymouth Roads, +about six o'clock the next morning, she was still a good three miles +outside of us; the wind had, in the meantime, fallen away so light, that +it was not until after we had breakfasted that she drifted slowly in and +brought up close to us. + +Shortly afterwards, Lord--came on board, accompanied by two or three +friends; and his astonishment was great when he found that we only +mustered two hands, all told. He noticed the absence of a boat from our +decks, and inquired whether we had lost ours, and was still more +astonished when we informed him that it was taken to pieces and stowed +snugly away below. + +This led to a request that he might be allowed to see it; and gradually +it all came out that we were bound on nothing less than a voyage to the +Pacific. + +He was by no means inquisitive; his questions were merely such as one +yachtsman would naturally put to another. But we knew beforehand that +it would be difficult to conceal the fact that we were not merely +cruising for pleasure; so we had come to the conclusion that it would be +best to put a bold face upon the matter, and state at once that we were +going a long trip; and Bob had proposed that, in the event of any +questions being asked, we should give out that we were going to seek for +some traces of my father. + +To this I willingly agreed, as I really meant, if possible, to endeavour +to find some clue to his fate; though I could not help acknowledging to +myself that, if we _did_ make any discoveries, it would be by the merest +accident. + +Lord--seemed to be singularly struck with the model of the _Water Lily_; +the only fault he found with her being the deficiency of head-room +below. This fault, however, was inseparable from her peculiar shape, +for, as I have already stated, she had a very shallow body, and a flat +floor; and although she drew seven feet of water aft, her depth below +her platform was entirely taken up with the ballast and water-tank, +leaving only a height of four feet between the top of the platform and +the under side of the beams; she was, in short, an exceedingly small +craft for her tonnage. + +We went ashore in his lordship's boat at his invitation; and as I +casually mentioned that I meant on the morrow to put our "boat" together +and give her a trial, he very kindly offered to accompany us in the +_Emerald_. + +My sister was, of course, delighted to see us both, and equally +delighted to hear how thoroughly satisfied we were with our little +vessel. It was evident that she had not quite conquered her +apprehensions on the score of our long voyage in so small a craft; but +our eulogiums upon the _Water Lily's_ many good qualities were so +enthusiastic, and the confidence we expressed in her sea-going powers so +thorough, that Ada soon came to regard the voyage as in no degree more +perilous than it would have been if undertaken in a vessel of four or +five hundred tons. + +We did not think it necessary to point out to her that we should +probably be exposed to many perils besides those of the sea; and so the +dear girl became satisfied, and learned to contemplate our speedy +departure with comparative equanimity. + +The next morning we made arrangements with a boatman for the hire of his +punt during the short time that we intended to remain in Weymouth, as we +wished our tubular boat to come into use only when we had no other to +fall back upon. + +Having struck our bargain, Bob and I jumped into the hired punt, and +rowed off to the _Water Lily_, which lay at anchor in the roadstead. + +It was necessary to pass close to the _Emerald_ to reach our own craft, +and as we pulled under her stern, Lord--hailed us to know whether we +still intended to make our trial trip, and, if so, how long it would be +ere we should be ready. + +I replied that I hoped to be ready in about an hour, whereupon his +lordship jumped into his boat to pay a visit to the post-office, saying +he would be back in time to go out with us. + +As soon as we got on board the _Water Lily_, we got our tubes on deck, +screwed the different sections together, and launched them overboard. +The framework connecting the two tubes together, and supporting the +stage or deck, was next fixed; then the deck itself, which was in three +pieces, and so contrived that, when properly put together and laid in +its place, a single bolt secured the whole immovably. Our centre-board +and rudder were soon in their places, and nothing remained but to step +the mast and bowsprit, set up the rigging, bend sails, and be off. + +These latter operations took but a very short time, as every device had +been adopted which would facilitate the boat's equipment; and, having +timed ourselves, we found that our boat was ready and under weigh +_within_ an hour of the time at which we had first begun to work at her. +We considered this very smart work, but we hoped to shorten the time +considerably after a little practice. + +We took a few turns in the bay, whilst the _Emerald_ was getting under +weigh, and tried a few manoeuvres with perfect success. There was only +one thing about which we had any doubt, and that was whether she would +_stay_ or no. In the smooth water close to the shore (the wind was +strong, from the south-west that day) she tacked beautifully, +head-reaching a long way in stays; and later on in the day we found that +in this respect rough water made very little difference to her, owing to +the peculiar shape of her tubes. + +It was blowing a strong breeze from the south-west, as I have already +said, and we took down a reef in our mainsail, whilst the _Emerald_ +started under trysail and jib, keeping her mainsail stowed so as not to +run away from us. + +We intended to run out round the _Shambles_ light-ship and back; but as +soon as I got clear of the bay, and from under the lee of the _Nothe_, I +hauled sharp upon a wind to test the stability of my craft. To my +astonishment, she did not appear to feel the effect of the wind at all, +except as it tended to urge her through the water. She skimmed along +very fast, but stood quite upright. Under these circumstances we, of +course, shook our reef out and bore up for a run away to leeward. + +The _Emerald_ could do nothing with us at this game, much to the chagrin +of her noble owner; so she was obliged to in trysail and set her +mainsail, whilst we hove-to and waited for her. But even after her +mainsail was set we had the advantage of her. + +She was a regular racer--long, lean, and deep in the water; whilst we +floated entirely upon the surface, the tubes being exactly half +submerged, as we noticed when we first started. The consequence was +that we skimmed along like a feather, whilst the _Emerald_ had to +displace many tons of water with every foot of progress which she made. + +We passed through the opening in the magnificent breakwater which +shelters the roadstead at Portland, and soon afterwards began to feel +the heave of the Channel. Our tube-boat rushed along over the crests of +the waves with a very easy and steady motion, but the _Emerald_ started +rolling; and as we drew farther off the land, and got more into the +influence of the rough water, this rolling motion became so violent that +her boom had to be topped up pretty high to prevent it from dipping and +dragging in the water every time she rolled to leeward. + +Bob sat watching her attentively for some time, and at length-- + +"Aren't this here _Emerald_ the little eight-tonner as took so many +prizes last year in the regattas?" said he. + +I replied that she was. + +"Well," said he, "we beat her all to nothing in a calm, or next door to +it, last night in the _Lily_, and I'm thinking we could run her under +water in a breeze like this here, with such a jump of a sea as we shall +get when we rounds to on our road back. What's your idee, my lad?" + +"I think we could," replied I. "She is so long and narrow that she must +be a regular wet one close-hauled, as I expect we shall see shortly. If +I remember rightly, all her prizes were won in light winds or smooth +water; and though I do not believe we could do anything with her in a +staggering whole-sail breeze in _smooth_ water, I fancy we could give a +good account of her in a Channel match. But you must bear in mind, Bob, +that the _Lily_ is the larger craft of the two." + +"That I deny," retorted Bob. "Heavier we may be as to tonnage, +accordin' to the way tonnage is measured; but she's got double our +power. I'll bet my 'lowance of grog for the next month to come that +she's got good seven ton or more of lead stowed away under her cabin +floor; whilst we've got two, besides the trifle in our keel; and +_power_, as you know well, Harry, is what tells in a breeze. Take us +all round, and, in spite of our difference of tonnage, I reckon we're +pretty much of a size, and consequently a very fair match, so far as +that goes. I should like to be alongside of her in the _Lily_ in such a +breeze and such water as this." + +By this time we were close to the light-ship, still leading, and in +another minute we shot under her stern and hauled up on the port tack. +We now felt the full strength of the breeze, and I was somewhat alarmed +to find how fresh it was blowing. But we were as stiff as a house, and +could have carried half as much sail again, had there been more to set. +We lowered our centre-board just before hauling up, and now we found +ourselves tearing along in a manner which perfectly astounded me. + +Our long, slender, pointed tubes appeared to offer no resistance +whatever to our passage through the water. The motion was delightfully +easy and gentle, the tubes piercing the body of each wave, as it rolled +towards us, without the slightest shock, and lifting us gently and +easily over the cap of it just as it seemed upon the point of coming in +upon our deck. There was not an atom of spray; we were as dry going to +windward as when running free. + +With the _Emerald_ it was very different. Her huge mainsail was almost +too much for her now that she was hauled close upon a wind; and as we +looked astern, we could see her taking plunge after plunge, and sending +her sharp bows clear through the seas at every dive, until her jib and +foresail were wet half way up to their heads, whilst her lee-rail was +completely buried in the boiling surge. + +Now that we were close-hauled, the _Emerald_ walked up to us, though by +no means so rapidly as might have been expected. There was no +comparison between the powers of the two craft, yet, though we certainly +dropped to leeward a little more than she did, it was _only_ a little; +and the difference in our speeds was very trifling, considering the +great difference in size between the cutter and ourselves. + +About a quarter of an hour after we rounded the light-ship, the +_Emerald_ passed us close to windward. She presented a most beautiful +sight, at least to a nautical eye, as she swept by. She was heeling +over to such an extent that the water was up over her deck, on the lee +side, nearly to the skylights and companion; and her immense sails were +driving her so irresistibly through the short, jumping seas, that she +had no time to rise to each as she met it. Her bowsprit plunged deeply +into the advancing wave, her sharp bows cleft it asunder, and then, as +they rose through it, amidst a blinding shower of spray, the water +shipped forward, rushed foaming aft and to leeward like a swollen +mountain torrent, until it mingled with the water which flooded her +decks to leeward. + +As soon as she was past us, her crew hauled down a couple of reefs in +her mainsail, and set a smaller jib. This, of course, relieved her very +materially, and, if anything, rather increased than diminished her +speed, as she kept sailing round and round us with ease, until we were +well over towards Weymouth Roads once more, and it had become perfectly +evident that we needed no looking after. + +As soon as he was quite satisfied of this, Lord--made the best of his +way to the anchorage, and brought up, having had such a dusting as ought +to have satisfied him for some time to come. + +As for Bob and myself, we were as pleased with our novel boat as it was +possible to be. She proved to be a perfect success in every way; and +when we took the tubes to pieces to stow them away, we found that, so +accurately had the joints been made, that not a drop of water had +penetrated to the interior of either. + +One alteration, however, we resolved to make, and that was in the size +of the sails. The boat was stiff enough to carry much larger sails than +we had provided for her; and as we did not know but that a time _might_ +come when speed would be a matter of the most vital importance to us, we +determined to furnish her with sails as large as it was prudent to +carry. + +We also decided to alter her rig somewhat, by substituting what is known +among the initiated as a "sliding gunter" for a gaff-mainsail. This +gives you a mainsail and jib-headed topsail in one, whilst it does away +with the gaff altogether, whereby you obtain a much flatter standing +sail; indeed, when this sail is properly cut (and it is not a difficult +sail to shape), there is nothing to beat it in this respect. + +Accordingly, we despatched an order to Lapthorn that night for the new +suit of sails, and also for a balloon-topsail for the _Water Lily_, the +dimensions of which satisfied even Bob, greedy as he was for canvas. + +Meantime, the remainder of our stores were ordered, received, and +shipped, and ten days after our arrival in Weymouth Roads we had +everything on board which we could think of as necessary or likely to be +in any degree useful to us on our voyage. + +But when all was shipped, we found we had made a mistake somewhere in +our calculations, and not only had rather more room than we expected, +but our little craft still floated rather higher than her regular +load-line. We therefore took in half a ton more lead ballast, which +brought her down to within an inch of her proper trim, and with that we +determined to rest satisfied. + +Volume One, Chapter V. + +A GALE IN THE BAY OF BISCAY. + +On the evening of Wednesday, August 8th, 18--, having wished all our +friends good-bye, and pressed my last kiss upon the lips of my sobbing +sister, I ran hastily down the flight of stone steps before my aunt's +front door, crossed the road, and walked briskly down the Esplanade +until I overtook Bob, who had gone on before me; we then proceeded +together to the New Quay end, found the man of whom we had hired our +punt, paid him his money, and got him to row us on board the _Water +Lily_. + +We had arranged to start at daybreak on the following morning; but as we +pulled off to the cutter we remarked that there was a nice little breeze +blowing from the westward, and as the evening was beautifully fine and +clear, with the promise of a brilliant starlight when the night should +have fully set in, the idea occurred to us both that we might just as +well be getting on down Channel at once, as be lying at anchor all +night. + +Accordingly, as soon as we got on board, we loosed and set our canvas, +hove up our anchor, and in half an hour afterwards were slipping through +the opening in the Portland Breakwater. + +In little more than half an hour after that we were clear of the dreaded +Bill, when, noticing that a small drain of flood-tide was still making, +we hauled our wind on the port tack, and stood in towards Bridport for +an hour; then tacked again, and stood out towards mid-Channel, so as to +obtain the full benefit of the ebb-tide, which by this time had begun to +make. + +By "six bells," or seven o'clock, on the following morning we were +abreast the Start, about six miles distant. We stood on until eight +o'clock, when we tacked again towards the land, having now a flood-tide +against us, and had breakfast. + +By noon we were in Plymouth Sound, when we made a short leg to the +southward until we could weather Rame Head; then went about once more, +stretched across Whitesand Bay until the ebb-tide began to make again, +and then again hove about and stood to the southward and westward, on +the starboard tack. + +At six o'clock that evening we passed the Lizard lighthouse, distant two +and a half miles, and here we _took our departure_. + +For the benefit of those who may be ignorant of the meaning of this +expression, I may as well explain that the commander of a vessel _takes +his departure_ from the last _well-known_ point of land he expects to +see before launching into mid-ocean, by noting, as accurately as he +possibly can, its compass-bearing and distance from his ship at a +particular hour. + +With these data he is enabled to lay down upon his chart the exact +position of his ship at that hour, and from this spot the _skip's +reckoning_ commences. The courses she steers, and the number of _knots_ +or nautical miles (sixty of which are equal to sixty-nine and a half +English miles) she sails every hour, together with certain other items +of information, such as the direction of the wind, the direction and +speed of the currents, if any, which she passes through, and the state +of the weather, the _lee-way_ the ship makes, etc., etc., are all +entered in the log-book; and at noon every day, by means of certain +simple calculations, the ship's position is ascertained from these +particulars. + +The entering of all these particulars in the log-book is termed _keeping +the dead reckoning_, and the working out of the calculations just +referred to is called _working up the day's work_. + +This, however, only gives the ship's position _approximately_, because +it is difficult to judge _accurately_ of the amount of lee-way which a +ship makes, and it is not at all times easy to detect the presence of +currents, both of which produce a certain amount of deviation from the +apparent course of the ship. + +To correct, therefore, all errors of this kind, which are otherwise +impossible to detect when the ship is out of sight of land, various +observations of the sun, moon, or stars are taken, whereby the _exact_ +latitude or longitude (or sometimes both together) of the ship at the +moment of observation is ascertained. + +This short lesson in navigation over, we will now rejoin the _Water +Lily_, which we left at six p.m. off the Lizard, on the starboard tack. + +It was my "eight hours out" that night, and when I took the tiller at +eight o'clock we were dashing along a good honest eight knots, under +whole canvas and a jib-headed gaff-topsail. The night was as fine as +the previous one, but with a little more wind, and we were just +beginning to get within the influence of the Atlantic swell. There was +no sea on, but the long, majestic, heaving swell was sweeping with +stately motion towards the Channel, rising like low hills on either side +of us as our little barkie sank between them, and gleaming coldly, like +polished steel, where the moon's rays fell upon their crests. But the +little _Lily_ sprang gaily onward upon her course, mounting the watery +ridges and gliding down into the liquid valleys with the ease and grace +of a sea-bird, and without throwing so much as a drop of water upon her +deck. + +The serenity and beauty of the night, the brilliancy of the stars which +studded the deep purple vault above me, and the gentle murmur of the +wind through the cutters rigging, combined to produce a sensation of +solemnity almost amounting to melancholy within me, and my thoughts flew +back to the beloved sister I had so recently parted with, wondering +whether she was at that moment thinking of me, or whether we should ever +meet again, and, if so, how long hence and under what circumstances; and +so on, and so on, until I was recalled to myself by a sprinkling of +spray upon my cheek, whereupon I awoke, in the first place, to the fact +that the breeze had so far freshened that the _Lily_ was flying through +the water with her lee gunwale pretty well under; and, in the second, to +the knowledge that I had outstayed my watch a good half hour. + +I lost no time in calling Bob, and as soon as he came upon deck we got +our gaff-topsail down and our topmast housed. + +I then went below and turned in; but I had time, before leaving the +deck, to notice that we went through the water quite as fast (if not a +trifle faster), now that our lee gunwale was just awash, as we did when +it was buried a couple of planks up the deck in water. + +When Bob called me at the expiration of his watch, I found, on going on +deck, that the wind had continued to freshen all through the four hours +I had been below, and it was now blowing quite a strong breeze. It had +gradually hauled round to about north-west, too, which brought it well +upon our starboard quarter, and we were flying along at a tremendous +pace, with all our sheets eased well off. + +But although by this change we were running _off_ the wind, and +consequently did not feel its full force, I decided to take down a +single reef in the mainsail, and shift the jib; for there was a windy +look in the sky that seemed to promise a very strong blow shortly. I +did not wish to disturb Bob when perhaps about half way through his four +hours' sleep, so I got him to assist me in making my preparations before +he left the deck. And the promise was amply fulfilled as the sun rose +higher in the sky, the wind freshening rapidly, but hauling still +farther round from the northward as it did so. + +By the time that Bob came on deck again, at seven bells, to prepare +breakfast, I had my hands full. The sea was fast getting up, and I +began to tremble for my spars and gear. The glass had fallen rather +suddenly, and altogether there seemed to be every prospect of a regular +summer gale. + +Bob was of the same opinion as myself in this respect, so we decided to +get everything snug and in readiness for the blow before thinking of +breakfast. + +This was rather a ticklish job, for it was now blowing far too strong to +round-to and shorten sail, and it required something more than +freshwater seamanship to get our big mainsail in without getting into +trouble. But Bob seemed perfectly at home. He set the +weather-topping-lift up hand-taut, and took a turn with the lee one; +then dropped the peak of the mainsail until the end of the gaff was +pressing against the lee-lift; triced the tack right up to the throat; +then let run the throat-halliards, and hauled down the throat of the +sail by the tack tripping-line; whilst I rounded in upon the main-sheet. +Then, by lowering away the peak, and carefully gathering in the canvas +as it came down, we got our big sail snugly down without any trouble. +This we carefully stowed and covered up with its coat. + +Next, Bob got the jib in, close-reefed the bowsprit, and set the +smallest or _storm_ jib, with its sheet eased well off. I hauled in the +weather fore-sheet until it was just in the wake of the mast, and our +little barkie was then left to take care of herself whilst we got the +trysail bent and set. + +This done, we filled away again upon our course, with reduced speed, it +is true, but very comfortably indeed. + +It was well we took these precautions when we did, for by noon that day +it had hardened down into a regular summer gale, with a really +formidable sea for so small a craft. Still, we continued to run away +very nearly dead before it, and that too without deviating from our +proper course. + +I managed, with the utmost difficulty, in consequence of the violent +motion of the boat, to get an observation at noon, by which I found that +we had run, since six o'clock on the previous evening, a distance of no +less than one hundred and sixty-four miles. This placed us at about the +entrance to the Bay of Biscay, which we were thus running into in a gale +of wind. Still, I did not experience the slightest degree of alarm: our +little craft was behaving beautifully--_angelically_, Bob termed it, and +really it almost merited the expression. As she fell away into the +trough of the sea, our low sails would become almost becalmed under the +lee of the following wave; but as she lifted with it, the wind would +again fill them out, and she would dart away again just in time to +escape the mishap of being _pooped_ by its breaking and hissing crest. + +At four p.m. I again succeeded in obtaining an observation, this time +for the longitude. On working it up, we proved to be rather to leeward +of our proper track; so we hauled up a point or so, and at six o'clock +decided to try what she was like when hove-to. + +Watching an opportunity, we brought her to the wind on the starboard +tack, first stowing our foresail, and found, to our great delight, that +she rode like a gull. Beyond an occasional shower of spray, she shipped +not a drop of water, although the gale was still increasing, and the sea +rising rapidly. + +We took a reef in our trysail, afterwards hoisting the gaff as high as +it would go, so as to avoid, as much as possible, being becalmed in the +trough of the sea, and then we were snug for the night. + +Bob was a veteran seaman, and I had been in many a heavy blow before +this--in gales, in fact, to which this was a mere nothing, comparatively +speaking; yet neither of us could help feeling impressed--and for myself +I may say somewhat awe-stricken--at the sublimity of the scene as the +evening closed in. Hitherto, our experiences of gales of wind had come +to us with a good, wholesome ship under our feet; but now we found +ourselves face to face with one in a mere _boat_, little more than a toy +craft. The sea, though nothing like as high as I had frequently seen it +before, now wore a more formidable aspect than I could ever have +believed possible. The hackneyed expression of "running mountains high" +seemed strictly applicable; and I fairly own to having experienced, for, +I believe, the first time in my life, a qualm or two of _fear_ on that +night. + +The liquid hills, their foaming ridges as high as the top of our +lower-mast, swept down upon us with an impetuous fury which seemed +irresistible; and the effect was further heightened, as darkness closed +around us, by the phosphorescent glare and gleam of their breaking +crests. But the _Lily_ rose lightly and buoyantly to each as it rushed +down upon her, surmounting its crest in a blinding shower of spray, and +then settling easily into the trough between it and the next one. + +The roaring of the gale, too, and the angry hiss of the storm-lashed +waters, contributed their quota to the feeling of awe with which we +looked abroad from our pigmy ark. + +But confidence returned after a while, as we watched the ease with which +the little craft overrode the seas; and when I at length turned into my +hammock, it was with a sense of security I could not have believed +possible a couple of hours before. + +We hoisted a carefully-trimmed and brilliant lamp well up on our +fore-stay as soon as night closed in, for we were in the track of the +outward-bound ships going to the southward, and should one of these +gentlemen come booming down upon us before the gale during the night, it +would be rather difficult to avoid him. + +It was well that we took this precaution, for no less than five passed +us in Bob's watch, and three more in mine, one of them coming near +enough to hail; but what he said it was impossible for me to hear, the +howling of the wind and the hissing of the water so close to me utterly +drowning the words. + +I conjectured, however, that it was some inquiry as to whether we wanted +assistance of any kind, and on the strength of this supposition I roared +back at the top of my voice: + +"All right; very comfortable." + +A figure in the mizzen-rigging waved his hand, and the noble craft (she +looked like an Australian liner, and was carrying topmast and lower +stunsails) swept onward, and was soon afterwards swallowed up in the +darkness and mist. + +The falling in with so tiny a craft so far at sea, and in a gale of +wind, and the announcement that she was "all right and very +comfortable," must have been rather a novel experience for them, I +imagine. + +About noon next day the gale broke, and by four o'clock the wind had +gone down sufficiently to justify us in making sail and filling away +upon our course once more. This we did by setting our reefed mainsail, +foresail, and Number 2 jib. The wind had continued to haul round too, +and was now pretty steady at about north-east. This rapidly smoothed +the water down, so that we had a comparatively quiet night; and the wind +continuing to drop, we shook out our reefs next morning at eight bells, +and got the big jib and small gaff-topsail upon her. + +The evening but one following we got a glimpse of Cape Finisterre about +six o'clock, and this enabled us to corroborate our position. From this +point we shaped a course for Madeira, and after a splendid run of seven +days from the Lizard and eight from Weymouth we arrived at Funchal at +half-past five o'clock on the Wednesday evening following that on which +I took leave of my dear sister. + +As Bob was busy below getting tea, and I was stowing the canvas, a +steamer came in with a flag flying, which, on taking a look at it +through the glass, I recognised as the distinguishing flag of the Cape +mail-boats, so I left everything just as it was, dashed down below, and +penned a few hasty lines home, giving a brief outline of our adventures +so far, and taking care not to lay too much stress upon the gale, whilst +I was equally careful to do full justice to the _Water Lily's_ sea-going +qualities, that my sister's apprehensions might be as much allayed as +possible. + +As soon as I had finished and sealed the epistle I joined Bob upon deck +to assist him in putting our novel boat together, which done, we pulled +on board the mail-boat, where we were very kindly received; and I gave +my letter into the hands of the captain, who promised (and faithfully +redeemed his promise too) to post it on his arrival home. + +I afterwards found that he reported us also, so that the _Water Lily_ +duly appeared in the "shipping" columns of the various papers, and my +yachting friends thus got an inkling of our success thus far. + +I shall not attempt any description of Madeira, or indeed of any other +of the well-known spots at which we touched. The places have been so +often and so fully described in the many books of travel which have been +written, that any further description, or at all events such description +as I could give, is quite superfluous. It will suffice for me merely to +say that Bob and I spent three days stretching our somewhat cramped +limbs in this most lovely island, and discussing which route we should +take to the Pacific. + +We had often discussed this question before; but it was with a feeling +of indifference which precluded our arriving at any definite and +absolute decision upon the matter. It was now, however, time that this +point was settled, as it would affect our course soon after leaving the +island, or, at all events, when we came to the Cape de Verdes. + +The eastern route would be much longer than the western; but I felt +disposed to adopt it, in the belief that we should be favoured with much +better weather. I entertained a very wholesome dread of the "Horn"--the +notorious "Cape of Storms." Bob, on the other hand, was all for the +western route. + +"I'm willin' to allow," observed he, "that a trip round the Horn ain't +like a day's cruise in the Solent--all pleasuring; but I've knowed ships +to come round under r'yal stunsails, and that more than once. The place +is bad enough; but, like many another thing, not so black as it's +painted. It's got a bad name, and that, we know, sticks to a place or +to a body through thick and thin. I've been round five times, twice +outward-bound and three times homeward, and we always had plenty of +wind; but only once did I round it in a reg'lar gale, and then, had the +_Lily_ been there, I'll lay my grog for the rest of the v'yage she'd +have made better weather of it than the old barkie I was aboard of. +It's risky, I know; but so's the whole trip for that matter, though, so +far, by what I've seen of the little craft, I'd as lieve be aboard _her_ +in a gale of wind as I would be in ere a ship that ever was launched. +She's cramped for room, and when you've said that you've said all as any +man can say ag'in her. Besides, see how 'twill shorten the v'yage. +Once round the Horn and you're there, as you may say, or next door to +it. And then, there's `Magellan;' if, when we get down about there, +things don't look promising for a trip round outside of everything, ram +her through the Straits. I've been through 'em once, and an ugly enough +passage it was too, blowing a whole gale; but there's _thousands_ of +places where the _Lily_ would lie as snug as if she was in dock, but +where a large ship dursen't venture for her life." + +I yielded, as I generally did in such matters, to Bob's judgment; and it +was settled that the _Water Lily_ should brave Cape Horn with all its +perils. On the fourth day of our stay at Funchal we filled up our +water-tank, made a few additions to our stores (among others, a small +stock of the famous wine produced by the island); and towards evening +stood out to sea again, with our main-boom well garnished with bunches +of bananas and nets of various kinds of fruits; the wind at the time +being light, from about east-south-east, with a fine settled look about +the weather. This lasted us for four days, and ran us fairly into the +"trades," and on the third day following, just as the sun was dipping +beneath the horizon, we sighted Saint Antonio, the westernmost of the +Cape Verde Islands. + +The "trades" were blowing very moderately as it happened, and the +weather was as fine as heart could wish, with a nearly full moon into +the bargain, so we were able to carry not only a jib-headed topsail, but +also our spinnaker at the bowsprit-end; and under this canvas the little +beauty made uncommonly short miles of it, tripping along like a rustic +belle going to her first ball. We fell in with several homeward-bound +ships, all of whom we requested to report us on their arrival as "all +well." So fine a run had we from the Cape de Verdes, that on the +morning of the fifth day after sighting them we ran into the "doldrums" +or region of calms and light variable airs which prevail about the line. + +Here our light duck did us valuable service, for though the wind soon +fell so light that it became imperceptible to us, and not a ripple +disturbed the glassy surface of the water, by getting our enormous +balloon gaff-topsail aloft we managed to catch enough wind from +_somewhere_ to fan us along at the rate of nearly three knots. True, +the breeze was very variable, our boom being sometimes on one side and +sometimes on the other, sometimes square out (at least as far as the +little air of wind had power to project it), and sometimes hauled close +in as the flaws headed us, and broke us off two or three points one side +or the other of our course. But, in spite of the baffling airs, such +good progress did we make, that by two o'clock that afternoon we were +gliding slowly through a fleet of about forty sail of vessels which were +so completely becalmed that they were heading in all directions, utterly +without steerage-way. + +We reported ourselves to such as we passed within hail of, and finally, +about four o'clock, ranged up alongside of and boarded a beautiful +little barque of about three hundred and fifty tons, whose monkey-poop +we saw full of passengers (some of whom were ladies), regarding us with +die utmost curiosity as we approached. She turned out to be from Natal, +bound to London; and her captain (a perfect gentleman both in appearance +and manner) not only promised to report us, but gave us a hearty welcome +on board, and so cordial an invitation to dinner that there was no +resisting it. + +Our story, or at least as much of it as we chose to tell (which was +simply that we were taking the cruise partly as an adventure, and partly +with the object of seeking intelligence of my father), was of course +soon drawn out of us; and, naturally enough, it excited the liveliest +astonishment in the minds of our hearers, and soon got all over the +ship. We excited some curiosity on board the other ships too, for no +less than four captains lowered their boats and pulled alongside to +learn where the pigmy cutter had sprung from. + +The little craft was regarded with the greatest curiosity and +admiration, especially by the ladies (who are of course good judges of +the model of a vessel), some of them declaring that they would be +_delighted_ (with strong emphasis) to make a voyage in such a little +_darling_ of a yacht. + +We mustered quite a strong party at the dinner-table, what with the +regular party, the four visiting captains (who were also pressed to +stay), and our two selves, and a very merry one withal. _We_ +contributed to the dessert from our stock on the main-boom; and they +only who have enjoyed it can say what a luxury is fresh fruit on the +line, especially when one has been a long time on board a ship. + +The skipper produced unlimited champagne (of which, for a wonder, he +still had a very fair stock) in honour of the occasion, and "a +prosperous voyage, and success to the _Water Lily_" was drunk over and +over again that evening. We kept it up until nearly midnight, the poop +being converted into a ball-room by merely hanging a few lamps in the +mizzen-rigging; the orchestra consisting of one of the seamen, who +played the concertina better than I ever heard it played before or +since. + +The weather being as I have described it, with out any signs of a +change, such a departure from the ordinary routine of the ship was +permissible, and I have no doubt everybody on board was glad enough of +an occurrence which gave such an excuse for breaking in upon the +monotony of the voyage. + +Tedious enough they must have found it, for it appeared that they had +already been becalmed five days, and had not altered their position as +many miles; and there seemed every prospect of their being becalmed five +days more, for the glass was as steady as if the mercury had been solid. + +At last we visitors made signs of moving. The captains of the other +vessels ordered their crews into their boats, and I was just about going +over the side on my way to our small cabin to write a hasty line to Ada +(our kind host having promised to post my letter for me immediately on +his arrival), when a seaman stepped up to me, and with the usual +nautical scrape of the foot and a respectful "Beg pardon, sir," +intimated a desire to speak to me. + +"There's a strange yarn going the rounds of this here craft's fo'c'sle," +said he, "about your bein' on a sort of v'yage of discovery a'ter your +father, sir." + +I said, "Certainly; it was perfectly true." + +"Well, sir," said he, "maybe I might be able to help you in your search. +It needs no prophet to tell that you are Captain Collingwood's son, +when a man gets a fair squint at your figure-head, axing your pardon, +sir, for my boldness; and if you'll just give me your word that nothing +I may say shall tell agin me, I'll tell you all I knows about it, and +gladly too; for I sailed with your father, sir, and a kinder skipper or +a better seaman never trod a deck than he was, as I've had good reason +to know." + +"_Was_?" exclaimed I, with a sudden sinking of heart. + +"And is still, for aught I know, sir; at least I hope so; there's no +reason why he mayn't be still alive," replied the man, fully +understanding all the meaning of my exclamation. + +"Thank God for that," replied I fervently. "But why is this strange +pledge required? Surely, fellow, you will not have the temerity to tell +_me_--his son--that he has been the victim of any foul play? If so--" + +"Not on my part, sir, I'll take my Bible oath," said he. "What I did I +was _forced_ to do to save my own life. Gladly would I have helped the +skipper if I could; but what can one man do agin a whole ship's crew." + +"_Much_, if he have the will," replied I. "I will give no pledge +whatever, beyond this. Tell me your story, and if I find you were +powerless to prevent the evil which I begin to suspect has befallen my +poor father, you have nothing to fear; but if I find that you have in +any way aided--" + +"Never, sir. If I could have had my will the skipper would not be +where, I suppose, he is now; but you shall hear all I have to say, and +then judge for yourself whether I could prevent anything that happened +or no." + +Volume One, Chapter VI. + +THE FATE OF THE "AMAZON." + +The man who, in this unexpected manner, brought me intelligence of my +father, belonged to the crew of one of the visiting captains' boats, and +a word or two of explanation was sufficient to procure the delay in the +boat's departure necessary to permit the fellow to tell his story. + +In order to be a little more alone, Bob (who was, in a few words, made +acquainted with the facts of the case), the seaman, and I went down over +the side to the _Water Lily's_ deck, when, as soon as we had comfortably +bestowed ourselves, the man thus began: + +"You must know, gentlemen, to commence with, that I was shipped, among +others, on board the _Amazon_ at Canton. Dysentery was awful bad among +the crews just at that time, and no less than seven was ashore from our +old barkie bad, when she left. Two chaps run as soon as she got in, and +couldn't be found agin; so there was nine berths in the fo'c'sle to be +filled when she was ready to sail. As I was sayin', I was one of the +new hands shipped. Englishmen was scarce somehow just then, and the +skipper had to take what he could get. Consequence was, he shipped +three Portuguese, a Spaniard, a Greek, two Frenchmen, and a Yankee, +besides myself. The third mate was ashore bad, and the second mate had +died, so the Yankee (who seemed a smartish sort of chap) was made second +mate, and one of the old fo'c'sle men was put into the third mate's +berth. When we got aboard, we found the hatches on, and all ready for a +start, and that same a'ternoon we unmoored, and away we went. + +"We was the first ship as went away with any of the new teas, and the +skipper was awful anxious for a quick run home. We carried on night and +day; but the weather was light with us, and we didn't get along half as +such a smart ship ought to ha' done, for she was a reg'lar flyer, as +perhaps you gentlemen both knows. + +"Well, we hadn't been out above a week when, whether 'twas worryin' at +the light winds, or what 'twas I can't say, but the poor skipper was +laid on his beam-ends with fever, and it took the chief mate all his +time to prevent his jumping overboard. However, it didn't seem to +matter so much, so far as the ship was consarned, for the Yankee second +mate turned out to be a first-rate navigator, and he in a way took +charge of the craft. + +"Well, gentlemen, how it all came about, I can't say, for I never +noticed anything wrong. True, some of the chaps talked a bit queer to +me at times; but I thought 'twas all a bit of a flam; but, howsomever, +one fine night my Yankee gentleman and the new hands takes the ship. At +eight bells in the first watch, the watch below was called; and as soon +as they came on deck three on 'em goes straight over and jines the +mutineers without a word; so it was clear as 'twas all planned afore +among 'em. That left only three whites out of the plot--the Lascars had +all been bribed or frightened into jining in with t'others--and, out of +us three, two was lying on deck, lashed hands and heels together when I +come up through the fore scuttle. + +"The minute my foot touched the deck, I was tripped up and secured +before I was fairly awake, and stowed alongside of the two other chaps. +Then my noble Yankee, he steps up and stands in front of us three, and +he says, says he, `Now you chaps, you see how it is; we've got the ship +and we means to keep her; and we've made up our minds to do a little bit +of pirating; make our fortunes; and then cut the sea and live like +gentlemen for the rest of our days ashore. If you've a mind to jine us, +well and good; if not, there's a plank sticking over the bows, and I'll +be obliged to trouble you to take a short walk on it for the benefit of +your constitooshuns. You've got five minutes allowed to make up your +minds.' + +"When the time was up, one of the chaps was unlashed, and the Yankee +asks him what he intends to do. + +"`I'll walk that--plank, if I must,' says he; `but I hope I'm too honest +to turn my hand to your--pirating,' says he. + +"`All right,' says the Yankee; `just as you please; there's no +compulsion; only if you're so confounded honest,' says he, `you'll have +to leave this here ship,' says he, `for we can't afford the room to stow +away sich a bulky article as honesty. That's your road, and a pleasant +passage to ye,' says he, pointin' to the plank. + +"Poor Bill--I can see him now, it seems to me--he stood for about half a +minute looking far away into the moonlit sky, thinking of his friends, +maybe, if he had any; and then, without a word, he steps to the rail, +puts his hands upon it, jumps up on to the top of the bulwarks, and next +minute there was a splash alongside, and he was gone. + +"T'other chap was then cast adrift, and _he_ was asked the same +question. + +"`I've sailed with Bill,' says he, `for nigh on six years, and never +knew a truer-hearted shipmate, or a better seaman,' says he; `and since +it _must_ be, here goes,' says he, `to take our last cruise in company.' + +"And he too jumps upon the rail just as Bill did, and, without waitin' a +second, launches himself overboard a'ter him. + +"It was now my turn. I'd been thinking matters over in my mind whilst +all this was going on; and I'll confess I found it hard to make up my +mind to die. `Whilst there's life there's hope,' thinks I; `and it can +but come to a launch over the side at last, if the worst comes to the +worst,' so when they asked me what I intended to do, says I, `Tell me, +first of all, what's become of the skipper?' says I. + +"`He's below in his bunk,' says the Yankee, `and the mate with him, and +there they're welcome to stay so long as they don't interfere with us,' +says he, `and I'll take good care they don't,' says he. `But what's +that to do with you?' + +"`Well,' says I, `I likes the skipper; he's been a good friend to me, +and I couldn't be content to see harm come to him. If you'll promise to +shove him ashore all safe,' says I, `I don't mind taking a hand in your +little game.' + +"`Very sensible indeed,' says the Yankee; `you've a darned sight better +notions in your head than they two stupid cusses as has just gone over +the side with nothin' to ballast 'em but their--honesty,' says he; `and +as for the skipper--make your mind easy. We've no grudge agin him; all +we wants is the ship; and now we've got her, we means to put the skipper +and the mate both ashore somewheres where they can be snug and +comfortable like together, but where there'll be no chance of our +hearin' anything more from 'em for the rest of their lives.' + +"And that's the way it was all settled," continued the man. "I made up +my mind I'd never do no pirating if I could help it; and I thought maybe +if I stuck to the craft, I might be able to help the skipper a bit +somehow, and if ever I got a chance, why, I'd make a clean run for it, +and I reckoned I should find a way to do that the first port we touched +at. + +"Well, as soon as matters was arranged, the Yankee takes the command, +and makes the Greek chief mate; the watches was divided, the course +altered, and away we goes to the east'ard, on the starboard tack, with a +taut bowline and everything set as would draw, from the skysails down. +One hand is told off from each watch to keep a look out in the cabin; +and the steward has his orders to do everything he could for the poor +skipper. He had a hard time of it, poor man, for when he was getting +better, and the truth couldn't any longer be kept from him, the mate +told him what had happened, and the news took him so completely aback +that he got as bad as ever again, and the wonder is that he didn't slip +his cables altogether. However, he managed to hold on to 'em, and at +last the fever left him; but he was that weak he hadn't strength to turn +over in his berth without help. + +"All this time we were going to the east'ard, or about east-south-east, +with everything set that the spars would bear. At last, about a month +or maybe five weeks after the mutiny--I didn't keep much account of the +time--we fetches up, all standing, one dark night, upon a coral reef, +before we knowed where we was. There warn't much sea on, and we +happened to touch where there was nearly water enough to float us; so we +bumped and thumped gradually right over the reef into deep water--at +least about ten fathoms--on t'other side. The well was sounded, and we +found five feet of water in the hold; so, as there was land of some sort +close aboard of us, the Yankee rams her straight on to it to save her +from sinking under us. + +"When daylight broke, we found ourselves oh the sandy beach of a small +island, with reefs all round us; but a space of about a quarter to half +a mile of clear water everywhere between the reefs and the island. + +"The cargo was roused out, and the ship examined, as well as it could be +done, to learn the extent of the damage, for the Yankee talked about +careening her to repair her bottom; but we soon found that the job was +too much for us. So we stayed on the island about a week, fitting out +the launch and the pinnace; and when all was ready, and everything +stowed in the boats that it was thought we should want, we made sail to +the nor'ard and east'ard; not, however, until the rest of the boats had +been destroyed, and the skipper and mate made all snug and comfortable +like in a tent ashore." + +"Then you were inhuman enough," exclaimed I, "to leave my poor father, +sick as he was, on a desert island?" + +"He was better off there than he would ha' been with us," replied the +man. "The island was a first-rate spot, with cocoa-nuts and bananas, +and lots of other fruits, no end; plenty of fresh water, and the bulk of +the ship's stores to draw from. It was a _lovely_ spot; lots of shade, +pure air, and pretty nigh everything a man could want, what with the +stores, and the fruit, and so on. He _must_ have died, had we taken him +away in the boats, for the sun beat down upon us _awful_, and the heat +was reflected back from the surface of the water to that extent we was +nearly roasted. + +"Well, we'd been to sea nigh on to three weeks, and was getting pretty +short of water, though we touched at a couple of islands and filled up +again, on our way, when one evening--there wasn't a breath of air +blowing--we sighted a sail to the nor'ard of us. She was becalmed, like +ourselves. + +"The Yankee takes a good long look at her, or at least at her +to'gallants'ls, which was all we could see, and then tells us he'd made +up his mind to have a slap at the chap during the night. We carefully +took her bearings, dowsed our canvas, and pulled leisurely towards her. +At last, when we thought we were beginning to near her, we muffled our +oars, and then paddled on again, both boats within oar's length of each +other. + +"We pulled for about an hour, and then waited for some sign of her +whereabouts--for we reckoned we must be close aboard of her--but it was +that dark you couldn't see the length of your nose. After waiting a +goodish spell--none of us speaking a word for fear of giving an alarm-- +we hears eight bells struck, somewhere away upon our port quarter. + +"We had passed her, so we pulled very quietly round and just paddled in +the direction we thought she was lying. In about five minutes the +Yankee says, `I see her,' says he; and we stopped paddling. The pinnace +was hanging on astern of us, so's we shouldn't lose one another in the +dark; and she was hauled up, the men in her told what to do, and the +ship pointed out to them; and then we pulled away very quietly again. + +"By this time we could just make out a dim something towering up in the +darkness, which we knew to be her sails. In another minute our boat was +alongside on her starboard quarter, and the pinnace on her larboard +quarter; we shinned up her low sides, and before the watch on deck could +rub their eyelids open, we had her. + +"She turned out to be a little Yankee brig, with a cargo of sandalwood, +and was bound to Canton. + +"Some of her crew joined us, the rest--the poor skipper and the first +mate among 'em--was hove overboard, and the sharks had a good meal. She +mounted four sixes, and had a well-stocked arm-chest, so that, with the +arms we brought with us from the old _Amazon_, we was pretty well off. +We mustered a good strong crew too--twenty-nine altogether, counting the +Lascars--so, as the brig was a beautiful model, and, we soon found, +sailed like a witch, our skipper decided to set up for a pirate at once. + +"Well, gentlemen, it kept stark calm for two whole days after we'd took +the brig, and Johnson--that was the Yankee's name, Edward Johnson--he +kept us all busy during that time disguising the craft, by painting the +hull and spars afresh, and such like; and the carpenter he was sent over +the starn on a stage to fix a plank over the name, on which he'd carved +a lot of flourishes and such like, and the word _Albatross_, which was +what Johnson had re-christened her, and by the time we'd finished, her +own builder wouldn't have knowed her. + +"After everything was finished to his satisfaction, he calls us all aft, +and tells us that he'd been thinking matters over, and he'd decided to +take the ship to Hong-Kong, and get rid of the sandalwood there, and get +a lot of things that was wanted to complete our outfit, and make us fit +for a good long cruise. + +"Accordin'ly as soon as the breeze sprang up, away we goes, never +falling in with anything as Johnson thought it worth his while to meddle +with all the way. + +"We had a pretty quick run, for the brig sailed quite wonderful; and all +the while I was turning over in my mind how to get away. I intended to +take the first chance as offered, as soon as we got in; but Johnson was +a 'cute chap, none of us was let out of the ship any more'n he could +help, and then only they as he knowed he could trust. + +"At last the cargo was out and the ballast in, the brig cleared for the +South Pacific, and everything ready for sailing next morning, and I'd +had no chance to get away, and I was beginning to think things were +looking queer with me. But I didn't give up all hope, for I knowed a +chance _might_ offer at the last minute, if I was but ready to take it. + +"Some time during the night I woke up and went on deck for a minute or +two, and found it as black as pitch. There wasn't a soul moving in the +ship. I don't know where the anchor watch was, stowed away asleep +somewheres, likely. Anyhow, _I_ thought to myself that now was my +chance, so, without waiting another minute, I climbs over the bows, and +lets myself quietly down into the water by the cable. As soon as I was +adrift, I lets the tide take me, for I was afraid of makin' so much as a +splash whilst I was near the ship. I drifted astern for about five +minutes, and then struck out. I hadn't taken no bearings, and didn't +know where the shore was; but I saw a few lights, and I shaped a course +for them. + +"But after I'd swam about a matter of twenty minutes I found I was +farther away from 'em than I was when I started; and then the thought +flashed into my mind that the tide must be on the ebb, and that I was +going out to sea. I was so took aback that I went under. But I didn't +feel like giving up without I was obliged; so I struggled to the top of +the water again, and then turned over on my back to think matters over a +bit. But I didn't find much encouragement that way; and I was beginning +to think it was all up with me--'specially as I was getting pretty +tired--when I heard a sound some distance away, like a coil of rope hove +down on deck. + +"I started to swim in the direction of the sound, and after perhaps +about five minutes I makes out something away on my port bow. I gives a +shout as loud as I could, and that sends me under again; so I soon found +that game wouldn't answer. + +"However I stretched out as hard as I could, and got alongside; but +there warn't nothing to take hold of, and she slips past me. I was too +done up to sing out again; but I starts to swim after her, when I +strikes my head against something, and it turns out to be a boat towing +astern. I got hold of the gunnel, and managed somehow to get aboard, +and then down I goes into the bottom of her, too exhausted to do +anything. + +"I dropped off to sleep pretty soon, and was only woke up when the chaps +came to hoist their boat in. + +"The craft turned out to be a coasting junk, bound to Shanghai, as I +managed to make out, but not another syllable could I understand of +their lingo or they of mine 'twould seem. + +"Blest if the very next night we wasn't run down by something or other-- +I never knowed what 'twas, for they hadn't the good manners to stop and +pick us up. + +"The mainmast of the junk was knocked out of her in the smash, and I +managed to get hold of it and lash myself to it, just in the eyes of the +rigging. The yard happened to be undermost, and so I had a pretty good +berth. + +"I floated about on that--spar for four days and nights without a bit or +drop of anything, and then my senses broke adrift, and I knew nothing +more of what happened to me for some time. + +"When I came to myself I found I was on board a Dutch ship, +homeward-bound. It turned out that they passed close to my spar, and +seein' me lashed to it they picked me up. + +"At least so I made it out; but I knew no Dutch, and there was only one +chap aboard that thought he knowed English; but Lord bless ye, +gentlemen, _I_ couldn't make top nor tail of what he said. I managed to +make out hows'ever that I'd had a narrow squeak of it, and that's about +all. + +"By the time I was able to get about on deck again, we was well out in +the Indian Ocean, and everything seemed going on all right; but, as it +turned out, it was all _wrong_, for early one morning we makes land +ahead, the wind bein' light and dead on shore. + +"The skipper hauled sharp up on the port tack to try and claw off; but a +current had got hold of us, and away we sagged to leeward, do what we +would, and at last we had to anchor. + +"By-and-by the breeze freshened; but we was in a very ugly berth, and +the skipper didn't like to make a move. + +"However, we didn't have a chance to settle the matter for ourselves, +for just about sunset the old barkie struck adrift, and, before we could +get the canvas on her, she was in among the rocks and bilged. + +"We all got ashore, there bein' no great matter of a sea running, and, +to make a long story short, was made prisoners by the natives. What +become of the rest of the hands I never knowed--they may be there yet +for all I can say. An old chap picked me out, and made a sort of +servant of me, and, on the whole, I had pretty easy times of it. I got +to find out, at last, that I was somewhere on the island of Madagascar. + +"I stayed here nigh on two years, I reckon; but at last I got a chance +to steal a canoe and slip off to a small craft that was becalmed in the +offing. She was luckier than the Dutchman, as we got a breeze off the +land about an hour after I boarded her. + +"She was bound to the Cape, and there I left her, shipping the very same +day in the craft I now belong to, and sailing for home the same +a'ternoon." + +"Well," said I, as soon as the man had finished, "if your story is +true--and I see no reason to doubt it--_you_ at least are blameless as +far as the wrong done to my father is concerned. The only question now +is, whereabouts is the island on which he was left?" + +"Ah, sir," replied he, "that's more'n I can tell. I _did_ hear Johnson +mention the latitude and longitude of it once; but I'm blest if I can +remember 'em now." + +I was determined, however, to get _some_ clue if possible, however faint +it might be; and I took him into our little cabin, and spread a chart of +the Pacific on the table. Then I got him to recall, as nearly as he +could, the courses and distances steered by the _Amazon_ until the time +of her wreck. + +We managed to trace her as far as the north-western extremity of New +Guinea, the man happening to remember hearing Johnson point out some +land in sight as the Cape of Good Hope. + +This must manifestly have been the headland of that name on the +north-west coast of New Guinea; but from this point he became +bewildered. He remembered passing a great many islands after sighting +this headland, however, and was of opinion that the average courses +steered were about south-east, and he thought it was nearly a month +afterwards when the ship was lost. + +This placed the scene of the wreck on one of the islands in the large +group in which we expected to find our treasure-island. + +I questioned the fellow until I found I had extracted really every +particle of information it was in his power to give, and then, after +rewarding him for his information, I let him go. + +As soon as he was gone, I wrote a hasty note to my sister, cautiously +conveying to her the intelligence that we had obtained a faint trace of +the _Amazon's_ fate; a trace which, I added, we intended to follow up as +far as we could, and having sealed and addressed my missive, I hurried +up over the barque's side, and placed it in her captain's hands, and +then took leave of him with a hearty shake of the hand and many good +wishes on his part that we might have a safe and pleasant voyage. + +It was time we were off, for a gentle breeze was springing up, and all +parties were anxious to avail themselves of it to the utmost extent. + +As soon as we had once more got all our light canvas spread, Bob, +instead of turning in as he had a right to do, it being his watch below, +came and sat down beside me, and we began to discuss the strange story +to which we had so lately listened. + +"It has enabled me definitely to make up my mind upon one point, which I +will now confess has troubled me not a little," said I, "and that is +your proposal to go round, the `Horn,' Bob. Ever since we settled upon +that route, I have been thinking of the great risks we must run by +adopting such a course, and I really think that, but for this, I should +have hauled sharp up upon the port tack as soon as we fell in with the +south-east trades. _Now_, however, I feel so anxious about my father, +and his condition, that I would incur double the amount of risk, if need +were, in order to reach the Pacific as soon as possible, and, Bob, we +must find _him_ before we give a thought to the treasure." + +"Right you are," exclaimed Bob heartily; "and there's my hand upon it, +Harry, my lad. The treasure can wait; but it may be of the greatest +consequence to the skipper to be found as soon as possible. He may be +ill, or tormented by a parcel of cannibal savages, or a thousand things +may be happening to him to make it important for him to have a couple of +trustworthy hands like ourselves added to his crew as soon as may be. +So shove the huzzey's nose as straight for the Cape as she'll look, and +let's get that part of the job over as soon as we can. And as to the +_danger_ of the expl'ite, we'll weather it somehow. The little beauty +has showed us already what she can do, and with a couple of prime +seamen--which I take it no man will deny _we_ are--to handle her, take +my word for it, she'll carry us round as safe as e'er a craft that +floats." + +"There's another thing I've been thinking of within the last hour," +continued I. "We talked of going into Buenos Ayres when we first made +up our minds to take the route round the Horn; but even that short +detention I should now like to avoid if possible. Want of water is +really the only cause which would _compel_ us to call there, though I +confess I should like to write a line to Ada from thence, to let her +know we had safely reached so far--" + +"As to the first," interrupted Bob, "I feel no consarn whatever. We are +pretty certain to fall in with heavy rains afore we get very far south; +and if the wind happens to be light we can easily spread one of the +sails so as to catch the water, and one good heavy thunder-shower would +fill our tank for us, and as to letters, why, we shall perhaps have such +another chance as this here that we've just had, and that disposes of +the second difficulty. If we _don't_ get any rain before, there's a +splendid harbour on the southernmost side of the Gulf of Saint Matias, +hereaway on our starboard bow, somewheres about two or three days' sail +to the south'ard of Buenos Ayres, and we can fill up our water there. +I've been into the place once, and a fine snug anchorage it is." + +This was a great relief to me, for in my present feverish state of +excitement it seemed to me that any stoppage, unless absolutely +unavoidable, would be more than I could endure. + +By this time it was Bob's watch on deck; but I felt that it would be +utterly impossible to sleep if I turned in, so I insisted that he should +go below instead, and, after some argument, he consented. + +In about ten minutes more, certain sounds arising through the companion +told me that my friend was too thorough a seaman to be kept awake by +excitement, and I found myself alone and at liberty to indulge in the +new hopes which had so lately been awakened within my breast. + +Volume One, Chapter VII. + +THE SEA-SERPENT. + +The breeze, though it continued light and rather baffling at times, +still held when the sun rose next morning; and on looking astern, I +found that the homeward-bound ships had all disappeared; and of the +outward-bound craft, our light heels had enabled us to get so far ahead +that the topsails of the nearest were already dipping. Of course light +winds and smooth water made exactly our kind of weather; and the +enormous spread of our lighter sails caused the little craft to slip +through the water in quite an extraordinary manner, whenever we could +show them. There was just enough wind to barely ruffle the surface of +the gently swelling ocean, yet our patent log told us we were going +rather over six knots, mainly through the persuasive influence of our +spinnaker and gigantic balloon-topsail. + +At noon our observations showed that we were nearly a degree south of +the line; and I began to be sanguine that the breeze we now had would +run us into the trades. In this, however, I was disappointed; for about +sundown the wind fell so light that we barely had steerage-way. All +night long it continued the same, and the greater part of next day; and +for about sixteen hours I considered that we did not advance more than a +knot per hour. + +Towards the close of that afternoon, however, when I came on deck to +take the first dog-watch, Bob directed my attention to the appearance of +the sky in the south-eastern quarter, announcing it as his opinion that +there was a look of the trades about it. And so it proved, for the +breeze gradually freshened, and drew more round from the eastward, and +by eight bells we were doing our nine knots, with a nice fresh breeze. + +This was doubtless the first of the south-east trade-wind; for by +midnight it had so far freshened that, for the sake of our spars, it +became necessary to take in our spinnaker and balloon-topsail, and to +substitute for them the working jib and our jib-headed topsail. Even +this would have been deemed perilous sail for so tiny a craft by most +persons; but we were by this time thoroughly acquainted with the _Lily_ +and knew that she would carry with ease all the canvas that her spars +would bear. + +Nothing particular occurred for the next two days. The wind held, and +continued to blow with a force which was, for us, a good, staggering +breeze, but without much sea; and we kept flying to the southward at a +pace which left even my impatience no reason for complaint. + +On the second day after getting the breeze, we passed the Brazilian +mail-boat near enough to show our number in the yacht-list, and to ask +him, by signal, to report us "all well." + +The next morning it was my watch on deck until noon. Bob had cleared +away the breakfast, carefully washing up everything, and stowing it +away; and had been in his hammock about an hour. + +I was enjoying the fresh beauty of the morning, and the exultant feeling +excited by our rapid motion; and picturing to my imagination the delight +with which my father would welcome the appearance of our snowy canvas-- +when we should heave in sight, when my visions were dispersed by a loud, +cracking sound like the report of a rifle, from some distance away on +our weather-bow. I looked in that direction, and caught a momentary +glimpse of some distant object whirling in the air, and immediately +afterwards the sound was repeated. + +I stood up to get a better view over the low ridges of the sea, and at +the same instant caught sight of what looked like a jet of steam rising +out of the ocean. + +"There she blows!" exclaimed I, involuntarily aloud. + +Again up whirled the object I had before observed; again it descended, +and again came the rifle-like report I knew in an instant now what it +was. An unfortunate whale had fallen in with his inveterate enemy, a +"thresher," and had been forthwith attacked. I could plainly +distinguish the huge creature plunging along at a great rate, and at an +angle of about forty-five degrees with our course; so that he was +standing in such a direction as would take him across our bows. + +From the persistent manner in which he remained at the surface, I came +to the conclusion that he had a second enemy to contend with in the +shape of a sword-fish. Indeed, the way in which he began to plunge +about, soon put the matter almost beyond a doubt I was turning over in +my mind whether I should call Bob to see this sight, when the whale, +with a mighty effort, flung his huge bulk completely out of the water, +to a height of, I should say, fifteen or twenty feet; and, sure enough, +hanging to him was a large sword-fish, with his beak driven deep into +the muscles about the root of the persecuted animal's tail. + +I shouted to Bob to come on deck at once, for we had neared each other +so much by this time, that I had an excellent view of the combat. And, +moreover, it struck me that a slight deviation in the course of the +combatants might bring them within extremely unpleasant proximity to the +little _Lily_, and I thought it might be prudent to have Bob on deck. + +He was up in an instant, not waiting to perform the almost superfluous +ceremony of dressing, and there we both stood, so intensely absorbed in +the interest of the exciting spectacle that the little craft was almost +left to take care of herself. + +The whale had got very nearly straight ahead of us by this time, and not +more than half a mile distant Bob went forward, and stood leaning +against the mast, to get a somewhat better view. Suddenly, the chase +bore sharply up, and dashed away at tremendous speed in exactly the +opposite direction to that which he had been pursuing before. Almost at +the same instant Bob shrieked in a shrill unnatural tone of voice: + +"Luff! Harry--luff! round with her for the Lord's sake! Oh, my God!" + +Down went the helm, and up flew the little _Lily_ into the wind, and I +was just stooping to let go the head-sheets (which led aft), when I +caught a glimpse of Bob's face, white and drawn with horror, and his +eyes--almost starting out of his head--staring fixedly at something +apparently broad on our starboard bow. + +I looked, naturally, in the same direction myself, and never to my dying +day shall I forget the frightful, appalling object which met my gaze. + +At a distance of not more than three cables' lengths from us, rushing +through the water at a speed equal to that of a railway train, and +lashing the water into foam with the rapid movement of his huge +convolutions, a monstrous serpent appeared, darting towards the wretched +persecuted whale. + +His vast head and fully twenty feet of his body towered nearly erect +above the water, and I believe I am not exaggerating, nay, that I am +_within_ the mark when I say that the remaining portion of his body, to +the tail, was at _least six_ times that length. + +His head was shaped much like that of a python, and his enormous jaws, +which he frequently opened, disclosed a formidable array of strong sharp +fangs. His body was of a deep dead brown, broadly marked with irregular +stripes and rings of pale stone-colour; and he emitted a strong musky +odour, which, even at our distance from him, was almost overpowering. + +Once, when he was closest to us, he turned his head in our direction, +and for one dread moment he paused, seeming to gather his folds together +as though about to dart upon us, and the bitterness of a frightful death +thrilled through me. + +The next instant he sped on once more at still greater speed, and before +another minute passed the whale was overtaken. + +The ocean was, for a single instant, lashed into the semblance of a +boiling caldron, we saw a rapid whirling movement of the creature's +enormous coils, and then followed the deep bellowing cries of the +tortured whale, and the crunching sound of its crushing bones. + +During the minute or two which had passed since our helm was put down, +the _Lily_ had been lying to on the starboard tack; our head-sheets +still remaining fast on the starboard side. + +The seizure of the whale awoke me, as from a horrible nightmare, to the +fearful peril to which we still remained exposed; and I jammed the helm +hard up, and wore the craft sharp round on her heel until dead before +the wind, when I eased off the main-sheet, and we hurried as fast as the +wind would take us away from the spot. As soon as we had got the _Water +Lily_ round, and were fairly running away from our dangerous neighbour, +we both, with one accord, turned a look astern, to ascertain the +condition of things in that quarter. + +The serpent and the whale had both disappeared. Doubtless the former +had sunk with his prey to those profound depths which form his usual +habitat, there to enjoy his meal undisturbed. + +"Well," at last exclaimed Bob, "I've been knocking about at sea now nigh +on thirty year; and many's the strange sight these good-looking eyes of +mine have looked upon in that time; but this here sarpent beats all. +_I_ never seed the likes of the thing afore, and I don't care if I never +sees it agin. I've heern tell of such things bein' fallen in with, +sartaintly; but I never could meet with a man as had actually seed the +beast with his own eyes; and I put it all down as a yarn for the +marines. But seein' is believin'; and we've had a good look at him, and +no mistake. I'm quite satisfied; I don't want to see no more to make me +a believer in sich things." + +"No," replied I; "it was impossible to make any mistake, with such a +view as we obtained of the creature; and I shall henceforward be far +more ready than I have hitherto been to give credit to the accounts +which are occasionally published of such appearances. I do not at all +expect that _we_ shall be believed when we make known our adventure, any +more than others have been; but that will not alter the facts of the +case. The almost universal scepticism with which announcements of such +creatures' appearances are treated is, after all, not very difficult to +account for. They doubtless inhabit only the extreme depths of the +ocean, and are probably endowed with the means of sustaining life whilst +sunk for long periods--if not for an indefinite time--at those depths; +it is easy, therefore (supposing such to be the case) to understand that +it may be quite opposed to the creature's habits to appear at the +surface _at all_; and that, when it does so, it will be--as, indeed, we +have every reason to suppose--at very lengthened intervals; and then, +probably, only in consequence of some unusually disturbing influence. +The opportunities of seeing the reptile must necessarily, under such +circumstances, be extremely few; and it is quite possible, or rather I +should say, very likely, that many of its visits to the upper world have +been entirely unwitnessed. In the present instance, for example, no +eyes but ours were witnesses of the scene which so lately took place; +and had we been but a dozen miles from the spot, it would have passed +unnoticed even by us. And my observation of mankind, Bob, has led me to +the conclusion that the race are extremely sceptical as to the existence +of everything but what is _well_ known." + +"Very true, Harry, my lad," returned Bob; "you reels it all off just +like a book, and therein you shows the advantages of larning. I knows +by my own feelin's how difficult 'tis to believe a thing a man don't +understand. But it seems to me, `to return to the practical'--as I've +heard the poor old skipper say--that we might as well haul up on our +course agin now; and I'll go and look after the dinner; for I shall be +afraid to go to sleep agin for the next fortnight; that blamed old +sarpent 'll ha'nt me like a nightmare now, if I so much as shut my eyes +for five minutes." + +The sheets were flattened in, and the little craft's jaunty bowsprit +once more pointed southward; whilst Bob dived below, and in a few +minutes more a thin wreath of smoke issuing from the galley-funnel +betrayed his whereabouts, and his occupation. + +Suddenly he reappeared at the companion, and with a serious countenance +remarked: + +"I say, Harry, lad, I s'pose there's no chance of that devil,"--with a +jerk of the thumb in the direction of our weather quarter--"getting a +sniff of our dinner, and making sail in chase, is there?" + +I assured him that, in my belief, there was a strong probability that +the serpent was, at that moment, perhaps _miles_ deep in the ocean, +banqueting royally on the dead whale; and, seeing the reasonableness of +this supposition, he retired, satisfied. + +Nothing further occurred that day to disturb us. We continued to bowl +away to the southward; and as we kept our canvas a good rap full, the +little barkie tripped along a good honest nine knots every hour. The +weather was as fine as we could possibly wish, with every appearance of +being thoroughly settled; and there seemed to be a good promise of our +making an exceptionally rapid passage. + +It was my eight hours out that night; and when Bob relieved me at +midnight the sky was as clear as a bell; and, though there was no moon, +the stars were shining brilliantly, and with that mellow lustre so +peculiar to the tropics. + +Bob declared he was glad to be on deck again, for he had been tormented, +all his watch below, by "that villainous sarpent;" visions of which so +disturbed his restless slumbers that it was a real comfort to have the +craft to look after, and something to occupy his mind, I anticipated no +such disturbing influence myself; for though I candidly confess I was +awfully frightened at the moment, the effect had passed away almost with +the disappearance of the monster; and the cool freshness of the night +breeze had induced a feeling of drowsiness, particularly welcome to a +man about to retire to his hammock. + +In less than five minutes I was fast asleep. When I awoke, which I did +without being called, I was surprised to find the sun streaming down +through the skylight; and still more so when I observed that we seemed +to have gone about during the night. The _Water Lily_ was now certainly +on the starboard tack; whereas, when I turned in, we were on the port +tack. + +"It _can't_ be a change of wind, here in the heart of the trades," +thought I. "What can Bob be about? and why has he allowed me to overrun +my watch. Surely the old fellow was not _afraid_ to come below, and +turn in? Hallo! Bob ahoy! what's wrong on deck?" shouted I, springing +out of my hammock. + +Just as I did so, I heard the mainsail fluttering, as though the boat +had luffed into the wind; and at the same moment I caught sight, through +the companion-way, of the vacant tiller swinging about. + +"Gone forward to shift the jib," thought I; and I jumped on deck to lend +a hand. + +_Bob was nowhere to be seen_. + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed I, "what dreadful thing has happened?" + +I thought of the sea-serpent for one moment, but dismissed the idea the +next, as being both too horrible and too unlikely. + +The creature could hardly have approached without giving Bob the alarm, +which I knew he would have instantly communicated to me. + +At that moment my eyes fell upon the main-boom, and I missed the +life-buoy which we kept suspended from it in readiness for any sudden +emergency. Bob then had gone overboard, taking the life-buoy with him, +and that too upon an impulse so sudden that there had been no time or +opportunity to arouse me. + +The _Lily_ was indeed hove-to, as I had observed when I first awoke; but +it was with _both_ jib and fore-sheet to windward. The probability was +then that, on Bob quitting the helm, she had flown up into the wind +until her head-sails were taken aback, when she would, of course, or +_most probably_, pay off on the opposite tack, and remain hove-to. This +must necessarily have happened _at least_ four hours ago (it was now +eight o'clock), because had Bob been on deck at eight bells, he would, +of course, have called me. And during all this time the boat had been +sailing away from him, not very rapidly it is true, being hove-to, but +probably at a rate of at least three knots an hour. What might not have +happened to the poor fellow in that time? He was a splendid swimmer, I +knew, having acquired the art on our last voyage, and well able to take +care of himself in the water; and there was very little sea on. +Besides, I felt pretty certain he had the life-buoy; and, with its +assistance, I knew he could keep himself afloat in such weather until +worn out with exhaustion from want of food. But there were other perils +than that of drowning; and, if attacked by a shark, what chance had he? + +These thoughts flashed through my mind whilst busily employed in taking +the necessary steps to return in search of him, for I had no idea of +continuing the voyage without making such a search, indeed it would have +been impossible. And my chances of success were not so meagre as might +at first sight be supposed. + +In the first place, knowing how difficult it would be to see such an +object as a life-buoy, even with a man in it, at any great distance, +from so low an elevation as our deck, I had taken the precaution to have +each buoy fitted with a contrivance for hoisting a signal. + +This consisted of a small bundle of jointed rods, which could be put +together like a fishing-rod, and on the topmost of these was a white +flag two feet square. On the buoy itself was firmly lashed a step +similar to the "bucket" (I believe it is called) in which a +carriage-whip is placed when not in use by the driver. The rods, taken +to pieces, were securely lashed in a compact bundle to the buoy, and the +bucket was a fixture. Thus, if Bob had the life-buoy, he also had the +means of indicating his whereabouts, and that, too, at a considerable +distance. And I knew pretty nearly in what direction I ought to steer, +in order to take the most effectual means of finding him. + +Whilst hove-to, the _Lily's_ course or drift was, on the whole, as +nearly as possible at right angles to the direction of the wind. It +only remained then to turn her round and keep the wind directly abeam, +and I should be going back pretty nearly over the same ground I had been +traversing since Bob went overboard. + +Accordingly, I lost no time in getting the _Lily_ round, when I once +more hove her to, and went aloft to the cross-trees with my glass to see +if the white flag were visible. + +A long and anxious scrutiny followed, but without any discovery. I did +not feel any very great disappointment at this, for I thought it very +probable I was too far away to discover so small an object, even with +the aid of my glass. + +Once satisfied that it was nowhere to be seen, I quickly descended to +the deck, trimmed the sheets flowing, and away the little craft bounded +over the bright flashing sea. + +I stood on for an hour exactly, when I once more hauled the fore-sheet +to windward, and went aloft with my glass again. + +My first look was ahead, first with the naked eye, and then with the +glass; but not a speck could I discern to break the monotony of the +blue-grey of the sea, except an occasional curling foam-crest I next +carefully swept the ocean from forward round to windward, thinking I +might have run too far off the wind. + +Once or twice I thought I detected a flickering of something white, but +it instantly disappeared again; and I was obliged to believe it was only +the foam of a breaking wave. I was about to descend once more to the +deck, when it occurred to me to take a glance to leeward. I once more +levelled my glass, and swept it over the surface of the sea; but again I +could see nothing. I reluctantly closed it, slung it over my shoulder, +and swung myself off the cross-trees to go down by the mast-hoops, when +my eye was arrested for a moment by what I _knew_ at once to be the +flag. + +Almost as I caught sight of it, I lost it again; and as the craft was +constantly falling off or coming up again into the wind, I hardly knew +exactly in what point to look for it. However, I regained by position +upon the cross-trees, levelling my glass, rather inconveniently, on the +fore side of the topmast, to clear the topsail, and presently I caught +it again. + +Yes, there it was, sure enough, about three miles dead to leeward; and +what was more, I could not only see the flag, but also the buoy, and Bob +in it. He seemed to be waving his arms about in a most frantic manner, +and making a tremendous splashing, doubtless, I thought, with the view +of making his position more apparent, as, of course, he could see the +cutter, and knew I must be looking for him. + +I slipped down on deck, quick as lightning, triced up the main tack just +high enough to enable me to see under the foot of the sail; and squared +dead away before the wind. + +Ten minutes afterwards I caught a glimpse of the flag right ahead, as +the boat rose on a sea; and then I edged away, taking room to run up +alongside him on the port tack with my head-sheets to windward. I could +now see Bob away on the port bow, every time the _Lily_ rose on the top +of a wave; and he was still, to my great surprise, splashing away +furiously; and now I caught the sound of his voice, shouting. + +"Surely," thought I, "the poor fellow has not become insane through the +dreadful strain to which his nerves have been subjected!" + +A minute later the cause of his strange behaviour became apparent. A +dark object of triangular shape appeared, moving in narrow circles round +the spot where poor Bob was floating; disappearing at frequent +intervals, and then the splashing became more frantically vigorous than +ever. It was a shark that was thus blockading Bob, and the splashing +was resorted to to frighten the creature from attacking him. + +I carefully measured my distance, and exactly at the right moment jammed +my helm hard down, hauling in the main-sheet as I did so. + +The _Lily_ shot into the wind, just clearing the buoy by a +hair's-breadth. I sprang to the rigging, stooped down, and seized Bob's +extended hand with mine as he came alongside, and then, exerting all the +strength I could command, I fairly jerked him out of the water upon +deck, just as the shark had apparently made up his mind to be no longer +denied. + +With such impetuosity did he make his rush that his snout rose a good +two feet fairly above our gunwale; and had not the impetus with which I +jerked Bob out of the water been sufficient to fetch him clear inboard, +the shark would have had him after all. As it was, we got a glance into +his open jaws, and at his six rows of teeth, the remembrance of which +makes me shudder to this day. + +As the shark disappeared with a savage whisk of the tail, poor Bob +turned to me; his lips quivered convulsively for a moment in an effort +to speak, and then he fell to the deck in a dead faint. + +Two or three buckets of water dashed in his face, and a glass of neat +brandy, however, soon restored him, and it was almost pitiful to listen +to the poor fellow's heartfelt and reiterated expressions of gratitude +for his rescue, "Ever since about half an hour after sunrise was that +incarnate devil alongside of me," exclaimed he; "and hadn't it been for +my seeing the cutter's sails, and knowin' as you was on the look-out for +me, I _must_ have give in. Human natur' couldn't hold out agin that +sort of thing for long. And now, I feel that weak and done up, that a +child might pitch me overboard agin, if he was so minded, I do believe." + +The life-buoy came aboard again with Bob; so I unshipped the +signal-staff and took it to pieces, made it up in a bundle once more, +stopped it to the buoy, and slung the buoy itself in its old position on +the boom. + +The cutter was still hove-to, and I allowed her to remain so, whilst I +went forward to see to the breakfast, Bob meanwhile changing his wet +clothes for dry ones, and hanging the former in the rigging to dry. + +I was still busy over the cookery, when Bob came into the forecastle, +and observed: + +"I say, Harry, there's that spiteful devil still alongside, and with a +most onchristian longing to make a breakfast off of your old shipmate, +I'll go bail! Couldn't we contrive somehow to put a stopper on his +tormentin' purpensities?" + +"Ay, ay, Bob, old man!" replied I; "I think we may manage to do that +without much difficulty. You get one of the air-guns out of the +beckets, whilst I look after this coffee--it's just on the boil--and +we'll try the virtues of cold lead upon his constitution, and the powers +of the gun at the same time." + +As soon as I could leave the coffee, I got a piece of pork out of our +small harness cask, and lashed it to a piece of line, whilst Bob, under +my directions, charged the gun. This done, the pork was hung just +outside the taffrail, and full in the shark's view, but not in the +water; and I lay down on deck with the gun ready for my gentleman, +should he make a rush. + +This, however, he seemed indisposed to do; eyeing the bait longingly, +but keeping at a respectful distance. Gradually this distance +shortened, however, and he finally ventured close under the boat's +stern, and within about three feet of the pork. + +I kept the gun levelled at him, aiming at his eye; and now, having him +so close, and so directly under me, I thought there was little fear of +the bullet being diverted from its proper direction by the water, so I +fired. + +The lead sped true; the blood spirted from the creature's eye, and with +a tremendous spring he threw himself backward, only to roll over on his +back with a convulsive writhe or two ere he floated motionless and dead. + +"So much for bullyin' honest seamen when they has the misfortin' to walk +overboard," observed Bob, eyeing the carcase with much complacency. "I +shall feel more comfortable like, now I knows as _your_ cruise is over +for good and all." + +"Walk overboard, Bob!" exclaimed I. "You surely do not mean to say you +_walked_ overboard?" + +"'Twas little else, my lad. But I'll tell ye all about it whilst we're +getting our breakfast stowed under hatches; for I'll be bound you're +longing to hear the rights of the story." + +"That indeed I am, old fellow; so come along below, and let us get the +yarn and our breakfasts at once; I am longing for both." + +Having taken a look all round, to see that nothing was in sight, we went +below and seated ourselves at the cabin-table, and Bob forthwith +proceeded with his story. + +Volume One, Chapter VIII. + +BOB'S DREAM. + +"You'll maybe remember," commenced Bob, "that when I came upon deck last +night to take my watch, I mentioned that I was glad enough to be out of +my hammock, and away from the tormentin' dreams I'd had of that-- +sarpent! + +"Well, and I was too--I felt better and calmer like the minute I set +foot upon the deck; and, as soon as you was gone below, I makes myself +comfortable in the chair" (a low deck-chair in which we used frequently +to sit whilst steering), "takes the tiller-rope in my hand, sets the +little craft's course by a star, and starts thinking how pleased the +skipper will be when he sees his son and his old mate turning up some +fine morning at the anchorage which, I doubt not, lies just under his +parlour window. + +"I got thinking and thinking, until it seemed to me as I could see the +`old man' as plain as I can see you now, coming down between the trees, +with his hand held out, and his face all smiling and joyful like, and I +steps forward to give him a hearty shake of the fin, when all of a +suddent he changes into that infarnal old sarpent, and at me he comes, +with his eyes glaring, and his jaws wide open. + +"You may take your oath, Harry, I warn't long in stays. Round I comes +like a top, and away I scuds dead afore the wind; and he--the sarpent, I +mean--arter me. It seemed to me as the faster I tried to run, the less +headway I made; and presently he was close aboard of me. + +"There was a great rock just ahead of me; and I makes a _tremenjous_ +jump to get behind it, when whack goes my head agin the main-boom with +that force it fairly stunned me, and afore I could recover myself I lost +my balance, and overboard I goes. + +"I felt myself going, and flung out my hands to save myself naterally, +and by that means I managed to get hold of the becket of the life-buoy, +which in course broke adrift from the boom, and came overboard with me. + +"Well, I didn't seem to know where I was or what I was doin' for a +minute or two; and then the cold water revived me. I slips my arm +through the buoy, and takes a look round for the cutter. + +"I must have run her pretty nigh dead off the wind in my sleep, for I +could see her almost straight to leeward of me, still standin' on, but +comin' slowly to the wind. + +"She was a good quarter of a mile away from me, and I thinks as how I +might still have a chance of fetching her agin, if she gets to luffing +into the wind, and losing her way, so I strikes out a'ter her. + +"But, Lord bless ye! Harry, you've no idea how the little hussy slips +along, until you comes to be overboard, swimming in her wake. + +"It seemed to me as though she'd _never_ come to, and all the while she +was walking away to the tune of a good seven knots. + +"At last when I rose on the top of a sea, I sees as she was in stays; +and `All right,' thinks I, `Harry's come on deck and missed me, and he's +comin' back a'ter me.' But I soon saw as she'd run into the wind, and +hove herself to, and that most likely you was still fast asleep in your +hammock. + +"I next tried to cut her off by swimming in the direction that she was +heading, but after about half an hour's hard tusslin' I knowed it was no +use; she fore-reached upon me as if I was at anchor. So I give the job +up, and lay-to in the buoy for a rest, for I'd put out all my strength +in chase, and was pretty nigh done up. + +"I knowed you'd miss me some time in the morning, and that you'd miss +the buoy too, and I felt sartain that you'd come back to look me up, so +I sets to work to get my signal-pole on end and the flag flyin', all +ready for daylight. + +"I watched the little barkie fairly out of sight, and then I began to +feel lonesome like, and I'll own that most oncomfortable thoughts came +into my head about the sea-sarpent; but, strange as you may think it, I +never give a thought to the sharks. + +"I thought as day were never going to break agin; but at last I sees it +light up a bit away to the east'ard, and it got grad'ally brighter and +brighter; and presently I sees the sun just showin' above the horizon. + +"Then I felt a little bit more cheerful and satisfied like, for I knowed +you'd soon be stirring, and I should have you back on the look-out for +me. + +"Of course I gave a good look all round as soon as there was light +enough to see properly; but there warn't so much as a gull in sight, and +away to the nor'ard and east'ard where I knowed you was, the sun dazzled +my eyes so's I couldn't see. + +"Well, 'twas just as I'd caught a glimpse, as I thought, of the peak of +the _Lily's_ gaff-topsail, that I sees, about fifty fathom away, the fin +of that--shark scullin' quietly along. I kept pretty still, you may +swear, hoping he'd pass me. But--not he. Down goes his helm, and he +takes a sheer my way, and I thought it was all up with me. + +"He ranged up alongside as quiet as you please, hows'ever, and just +dodged round and round me, off and on, as if he didn't quite know what I +was made of. + +"I expect it was the flutterin' of the flag overhead as he didn't +understand; but, any way, he kept very quiet and peaceable for a good +long spell, and I was beginnin' to hope he wouldn't have no truck with +me. And, to cheer me up still more, I sees the little _Lily_ coming +back to look for her chief mate. + +"If you'll believe me, Harry, I'm of opinion that devil saw you comin' +as well as myself, and that he knowed he'd have to make up his mind +pretty soon, or lose me altogether, for he began to swim round me now +tolerable smart, and presently he makes a dive. + +"I'd made up my mind what to do as soon as he took to that game; and I +starts splashing hands and legs all I knowed, and shouting too, like +fury; and presently he comes up again. + +"Well, the chap kept me that busy, I hadn't a minute to spare; and when +you ranged up alongside I was that tired out I didn't know how to make +another splash." + +"So much for going to sleep in your watch on deck, Master Bob," said I, +as the mate brought his yarn to a conclusion. + +"Ay! more shame to me that I should ever have done such a thing," +replied he, greatly crestfallen; "but I lay the blame of the whole +consarn, from beginnin' to end, on that--sarpent, though no amount of +sarpents will excuse a man fallin' asleep in his watch, more especially +when he has charge of the deck." + +"Well," said I, "you have been pretty well punished for your fault, old +man, at all events. But `all's well that ends well;' and I am heartily +glad that you are so well out of the scrape. And now, I shall insist on +your going to your hammock for the rest of the day, and I'll take care +of the craft. In fact she will almost steer herself in this weather, so +I shall manage very well indeed. Only don't have any more dreams which +will cause you to jump overboard, please, for I really cannot afford to +lose you." + +The poor old fellow was so exhausted that, though he protested against +the proposed arrangement, I could see he was glad enough to avail +himself of it; and after a feeble attempt at remonstrance, he yielded to +my persuasions, and turned in, and was quickly in a sound refreshing +sleep. + +Nothing further of importance occurred for several days to break the +monotony of the voyage. + +We continued to make good way to the southward, and ten days after +crossing the line we lost the south-east trade-winds, and ran into a +light southerly breeze. As we still had a very fair quantity of water +on board, and indulged in good hopes of getting rain enough, shortly, to +fill our tank up, without the necessity of putting in anywhere, and as +the chances were very great that, as we got farther to the southward, we +should meet with westerly winds, I determined to stand to the southward +and westward, close-hauled, of course, on the port tack, so that +_should_ the wind come from the westward, as we expected, we should be +in a good weatherly position; whilst, if we were disappointed in the +matter of rain, we should have the land close aboard, and could run in +and fill up. + +The southerly wind lasted us a couple of days, and then veered gradually +round to about south-west. As this broke us off considerably from our +course, we hove the cutter about, and were then able to lie about +south-and-by-east, a good rap full. The wind now freshened +considerably, and we had it stronger than at any time since leaving +England, except in the gale in the Bay of Biscay, so that we were +reduced to double-reefed mainsail, reefed foresail, and number three +jib. Under this canvas the little _Lily_ made very excellent weather of +it, though the incessant showers of spray which she threw over herself +necessitated the constant use of our macintoshes whilst on deck, and +this we found extremely inconvenient, from their warmth. + +However, as we had been wonderfully favoured in the matter of weather so +far, we had no right to grumble if we were now treated to a few of the +inconveniences of such a voyage as ours. Though still making very good +way, we were not getting on so fast as we had been, our low canvas, and +the heavy sea (for a craft of our size) which began to get up, not +permitting us to do more than our seven knots. + +Still, this was remarkably good work, and we ought to have been +perfectly satisfied; but the little barkie had stepped out at such a +rattling pace all the earlier part of the voyage that we could not be +contented with any reduction in speed. + +This lasted for five days, and then, about one p.m., the wind suddenly +dropped altogether, and left us tumbling helplessly about without even +steerage-way. The sky had gradually become overcast, and the air +suffocatingly close, and when I went below to look at the aneroid, I +found it had gone back considerably. This might mean only a +thunderstorm, or it might mean something much worse, so we set to work +to prepare for whatever might come. The mainsail was stowed and the +cover put on, the foresail hauled down and unbent, and the trysail bent, +reefed, and stowed, to be set or not as circumstances might require. + +As it turned out it was only a thunderstorm, but it was a regular +tropical one whilst it lasted. The rain came down in _sheets_, without +a breath of wind; and we not only filled our tank, but also every +available cask, can, and empty bottle we had on board, and as this was +done long before the rain was over (though the thunderstorm soon passed +off), Bob and I stripped, and enjoyed to our heart's content the +unwonted luxury of a wash from head to foot in the most deliriously soft +water, after which we roused out our dirty clothes, and had a regular +good washing-day. + +The rain lasted about three hours, and then cleared away as rapidly as +it had come on, leaving the air beautifully fresh and pure, the sea +beaten down until nothing but a long, lazy swell remained of the late +breeze, and ourselves refreshed beyond description by our soap and water +bath. The sun came out again, clear and strong, drying our washing in +about half an hour, and to complete the good work, a nice, steady wind +from the north-east sprang up, and sent us bowling merrily along upon +our course once more, with all our flying-kites aloft to woo the welcome +breeze, the glass beginning to rise again immediately that the +thunderstorm was over. + +Two nights after this, the wind still holding favourable, though rather +fresher, so that our spars had as much as they could do, notwithstanding +our preventer backstays, to bear the strain of our enormous spinnaker +and balloon gaff-topsail, and the little _Water Lily_ flying along at-- +as our patent log told us--over thirteen knots, we dashed past a +half-consumed hencoop, a few charred pieces of planking, and some +half-burnt spars, all of which had the appearance of having been but a +short time in the water. + +The spars were those of a ship of about a thousand tons; and we came to +the conclusion that it was one of those melancholy cases in which the +good ship, after perhaps successfully battling with a hundred storms, is +made to succumb at last to that terrible foe to seamen, a fire, ignited +by the merest and apparently most trivial of accidents. But the reader +will see, further on, that we had but too good reason to alter this +opinion. + +We passed this wreckage about the middle of the second dog-watch, while +Bob and I were discussing the propriety of shortening sail somewhat for +the night; but as the breeze seemed disposed to grow lighter rather than +otherwise, we decided to let everything stand for the present. + +When Bob called me at midnight, however, the wind had hauled so far +round from the eastward that it became necessary to shift the spinnaker +to the bowsprit-end; and this we accordingly did. + +The wind had fallen much lighter while I was below, it continued to drop +all my watch, and when I turned out next morning there was barely enough +of it to fan us along at about three knots. + +As the sun rose higher it died away altogether, and it was as much as we +could do, through the day, to keep the cutter's head in the right +direction. This would have been wearisome work in the tropics; but we +had been out of them for some days, and were getting well to the +southward, and the air began to feel quite fresh and chilly at night; so +much so, indeed, that for the last night or two Bob and I had found our +thick pilot jackets a very great comfort. + +At last, by the time that tea was ready, the _Lily_ was "boxing the +compass," having lost steerage-way altogether; so, as our big sails were +no use, we took them in, and stowed them away, not knowing from whence +or how strong the breeze might next come. + +We took a good look all round at the weather, and then left the _Lily_ +to take care of herself, whilst we went below to our evening meal. This +over, we both went on deck again to smoke our pipes, and have a chat +until eight bells. It may be thought that two men situated as we were +would soon exhaust all available topics of conversation; but this was by +no means the case. + +Bob, though he had no education but that pertaining to his profession, +was a profound thinker, and he often amused and sometimes startled me by +the originality of his remarks. + +He had knocked about the world a good deal, and had the knack of not +only a quick observation, but also of being able to clearly and +accurately recall what he had seen, and the impressions thereby produced +upon himself. + +He was expatiating, on this occasion, on the charms of nature, of which +he was an enthusiastic admirer, the subject having been suggested by the +beauty of the sunset which we had both been watching, and I was +thoroughly enjoying the rugged eloquence with which the scene had +inspired him, when we were startled by a long, low, wailing cry which +rang out upon the still air, apparently not half a dozen fathoms from +us, making our blood curdle and our hair stiffen with, horror at its +unearthly and thrilling cadence. + +We looked earnestly and eagerly in the direction from which the cry had +seemed to proceed, but nothing was visible in that or, indeed, in any +other direction. + +The sun had set, and the grey of evening was deepening over the glassy +surface of the water; but there was still light enough reflected from +the sky to have enabled us to see any object within sight almost as +distinctly as in broad day, but not an object of any description could +we see, not even a solitary albatross. + +We had carefully scanned, as far as was possible, the entire visible +surface of the ocean, and had turned inquiringly towards each other, +when once more rang out that mysterious cry, this time apparently close +under our stern. + +We turned, unutterably horror-stricken, in that direction, but there was +_nothing_. Seamen are, as a rule, as brave as lions; but anything +mysterious and unaccountable completely cowes them, and such, I confess, +was now the case with us. + +The cry was too sharp and loud to have proceeded from any distance; and +there was no visible explanation of it. It was not repeated a third +time, I am happy to say; and I wish never to hear anything like it +again. What it was, or whence it came, we never knew, and I was, and am +to this day, utterly unable to account for it. I have since been +informed that such sounds have occasionally been heard at sea by others +as well as ourselves, but never with the result of any discovery as to +their origin. + +During the next three days we had nothing but light variable winds, and +calms. + +On the morning of the fourth day, at daybreak, we made a sail directly +ahead. At this time we had a nice little breeze, and were going about +six knots. + +As we neared her, we noticed that she was hove-to, her courses brailed +up, and her topgallant yards on the caps. When close to her, it struck +us that something must be the matter on board, for not a soul could we +see about her decks. The vessel herself too--a full-rigged ship of +about fourteen hundred tons--struck us as being unusually deep in the +water. There being no sea on, we decided to run alongside and board +her, thinking she might possibly prove derelict. We did so, +accordingly, rounding to under her stern, and ranging up alongside on +her lee quarter; having first, however, taken in our gaff-topsail and +lowered our topmast, so as not to foul her rigging. + +As we came gently alongside, an exclamation escaped Bob, who was +standing forward, ready to heave a line on board or jump up the side +with it, according to circumstances. + +"Here's been some cursed foul play here, by the look of it, Harry," +exclaimed he; "mutiny and murder, I should judge, by this," pointing to +the scuppers of the ship, from which blood had evidently been flowing, +large semi-coagulated gouts still adhering to the sides of the vessel, +and about the mouths of the scupper-holes. The vessel being, as I have +said, very low in the water, we had no difficulty whatever in boarding +her; both, springing up the side at the same moment, each with the end +of a line in our hands. + +Good heavens! what a sight met our horrified gaze as we leaped down upon +the ship's deck! + +Some three or four and twenty corpses lay there, with the blood still +slowly oozing in a few instances from wounds in various parts of their +bodies. + +The wounds were mostly inflicted by cutlasses and pistol-shots; but two +of the bodies, apparently those of officers, had the heads almost +severed from the trunks, the gashes having been evidently inflicted by a +keener weapon than a ship's cutlass. These bodies had the arms lashed +tightly behind the back. + +Too horror-stricken to speak a word, I walked aft, Bob following me, and +entered the cabin, which was on deck, and from which I thought I heard a +groan issuing. On entering, the first object I saw was the body of a +young man, about four and twenty years of age, lying close across the +doorway, and covered with wounds. His left arm was almost completely +cut through; a long gash had laid his forehead open from above the right +temple to the left eyebrow; a pistol-bullet had entered his forehead +nearly fair between the eyes; and blood had evidently flowed copiously +from his right breast. This body lay across three others, dressed in +the usual attire of seamen. + +On a sofa, which stretched entirely across the after-part of the cabin, +lay the body of a young and most beautiful girl, her night-dress torn to +shreds, and her fair skin disfigured by deep blue marks, and smeared +with blood, indicating but too clearly that she had been the victim of +most atrocious outrages. + +And lastly, under the cabin-table, lay another body, from which, whilst +we stood gazing in speechless horror at these evidences of diabolical +atrocity, a faint groan issued. + +Bob assisted me to draw the sufferer from under the table; and we then +saw that he was an old man, grey-haired, and dressed in fine blue cloth +garnished with gilt buttons, and a stripe of gold lace round the cuffs +of the jacket; no doubt the master of the vessel Bob drew the corpse of +the young girl somewhat aside, spreading the table-cover over the body +reverently, to hide the naked limbs; and then, between us, we placed the +wounded man on the sofa. + +The cabin had, notwithstanding the ghastly appearance it presented, been +the scene of a wild carouse, for the table was covered with glasses and +wine and spirit bottles, and broken bottles and glasses littered the +floor. I searched among the contents of the table until I found a +bottle only partly empty, and from this I poured out a glass of its +contents, which proved to be port, and managed with considerable +difficulty to get a small quantity of the wine down the wounded man's +throat. The skylight was open, and the air coming down through it in a +cool gentle breeze, assisted the wine in restoring him to consciousness. +He opened his eyes, and gazed round him vacantly for a moment or so, +and then memory returned, and he burst violently into tears. We soothed +him as well as we could, assuring him that we were friends, and that we +would not leave him; and in a minute or two he recovered strength and +composure enough to speak. + +"Thank you, gentlemen, thank you," said he, "but my time here is very +short, and your well-meant efforts for my relief are not only useless, +but they also increase my suffering. You are, I presume, from some ship +which has come up with us since those fiends left. Kindly prop me up a +little higher on the sofa, gentlemen, if you please, and I will +endeavour to tell you what has happened before I pass away." + +We did so; and as we were making his position as easy as we could for +him, his eye fell upon the body of the young girl, and once more his +tears burst forth, mingled with prayers for her, and the most bitter +curses upon her destroyers. + +He raised one hand to his face as though to brush his tears away, and we +then noticed for the first time--horror upon horror!--that his fingers +had all been cut, or rather _hacked_ out, at the knuckle-joints, the +wounds still slowly bleeding. + +He saw our looks of compassion, and said, as if in reply: + +"Ah, gentlemen, willingly would I have submitted to be torn limb from +limb by the demons, had they but spared my poor Rose--my darling, my +only daughter." + +After another short pause, he began: + +"It was about midnight, last night, that we noticed a sail ahead of us, +which was duly reported. There was not very much wind at the time, and +she did not near us until about six bells. As she closed with us, her +movements became so suspicious that I ordered the arm-chest on deck, +called all hands, and served out the pistols and cutlasses to them. + +"Our suspicions were very shortly confirmed, for when she was within a +cable's length of us she sheered suddenly alongside, and about fifty men +leaped from her on to our deck. Our poor fellows gave them a warm +reception; but they were all quickly cut down, and in about three +minutes the pirates had the ship. They immediately began to plunder +her, and a band of the most ruffianly of them, headed by their captain, +made for the cabin. Seeing that all was lost, my son--his body lies at +the door there--and I rushed in here, to make a desperate stand in +defence of my daughter. + +"The poor fellow killed three of them, whilst I severely wounded others; +but he was shot down, and I fell, exhausted with the wounds I had +already received. My poor girl was soon discovered and dragged from her +berth. + +"The chief then questioned me as to our cargo, where we were from, and +so on; and believing that treasure was concealed somewhere in the ship, +he mutilated me thus," holding up his fingerless hands, "to force me to +reveal its hiding-place. We had none, but he would not be convinced; +and finding bodily torture of no avail to extract from me the +information it was not in my power to give, the monster--oh, gentlemen! +my poor, poor girl, my innocent, my gentle Rose--I _cannot_ say it. + +"Thank God! she soon died--of shame and a broken heart, doubtless; for +even _they_ seemed unwilling to stain their weapons with her blood. +Would that they _had_; would that _I_ had been able so to steel my heart +as to have slain her, rather than that I should have seen what I did; +for they first bound me, and then placed me so that I could see all. As +soon as they found that she was dead, they ransacked the cabin, turned +out the lockers, and drank and sang, until the mate, I suppose, of the +pirate came in and reported that everything of value was transferred to +the brig; when the leader--whom I once or twice heard addressed +as Johnson"--Bob and I started and looked at each other +expressively--"ordered the ship to be scuttled, and for all hands but +those employed on the work to return to the brig. They then left the +cabin; and, about half an hour afterwards, I believe, they left the +ship. She cannot--float ver--very much--longer; but I shall--shall be-- +gone before--" + +His voice had been gradually growing weaker and weaker as he approached +the end of his narrative, and now failed altogether. I tore open the +front of his shirt to ascertain if his heart still beat, and now saw +that he had received, in addition to other wounds, a shot through the +chest. + +There was no blood; but he, no doubt, bled internally. I could detect +not the faintest flutter of the heart, so we laid him gently down on the +sofa. As we did so, a small stream of blood trickled out of his mouth, +he sighed heavily, and his jaw dropped. + +Seeing that he was dead, we left the cabin, and stepped out once more +into the bright sunshine. We noticed that, even during the short time +we had been on board, the vessel had settled considerably in the water. + +It was evidently quite time we were off; but we first went all round the +deck, examining carefully each body, to see if either exhibited the +least sign of life; but all were utterly beyond the reach of our help. +We accordingly cast off, and returned on board the _Water Lily_, making +all the sail we could, to get as speedily as possible away from the +scene of such diabolical atrocities. + +We were about four miles distant from the ship, when we observed her +roll once or twice slowly and heavily; her stern rose, and, her bows +disappearing beneath the water, she gradually became almost +perpendicular, when she paused for a moment and then sank gently out of +sight. + +The moment that Johnson's name was mentioned, the same idea flashed into +both our minds; that this was the same man, and probably the same ship, +of which we had so lately heard. The captain spoke of the pirate vessel +as a brig; and we felt no manner of doubt that she was the _Albatross_. + +So then these men, the men who had showed such base treachery to my +father, were still at large, and in full prosecution of their villainous +designs. And not only so, but they were in the same quarter of the +globe as ourselves, and manifestly at no very great distance. + +We felt no difficulty whatever now in attaching a very different and +much more sinister significance to the charred fragments of wreck we had +lately passed. Our little craft would of course be but a poor prize to +these rascals; but since they seemed so to luxuriate in cruelty it +behoved us to give them as wide a berth as possible. + +The presence of this craft, and that, too, in our immediate vicinity, +was a source of the greatest anxiety to us; so much so, that we took in +our gaff-topsail, and housed our topmast, to show but a low spread of +canvas; and one or other of us remained posted at the mast-head all day, +on the look-out, so as, if possible, to sight her before being seen +ourselves, should it happen that we were both proceeding in the same +direction, or on such courses as would bring us together. + +We maintained this ceaseless watch for the pirate brig for four days, +when, judging from the experience we had already obtained of our sailing +powers in fine weather as compared with those of other vessels that we +had fallen in with, we came to the conclusion that all immediate danger +of a _rencontre_ with her was past; and we accordingly relaxed our +vigilance, and allowed ourselves some rest, which, by this time, we +greatly needed. + +About noon on the seventh day after boarding the ship scuttled by the +pirates (the name of which I forgot to mention was the _Massachusetts_, +of New York), land appeared ahead. It was the Falkland group of barren +and desolate islands in the vicinity of Cape Horn. As we had been +expecting, the wind now drew round from the westward, fresh, though not +so much so as to prevent our showing a jib-headed gaff-topsail to it. +Under this sail the little _Water Lily_ made most excellent way; going a +good eight knots through the water, close-hauled, and against a very +respectable head sea. As the day drew on, the wind freshened; and, +though we carried on as long as we dared, wishing to get round the +dreaded Cape as quickly as possible, we were obliged at sunset to take +our topsail in, in order to save our topmast. + +By breakfast-time next morning it became necessary to further reduce our +canvas, and we accordingly took down a reef in our mainsail. The +question now arose whether it would be better to go round outside of +everything, or to attempt the Straits of Magellan. We hove the little +craft to, and went below and carefully examined the chart; discussing, +as we did so, the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the two +routes. + +Bob had experience of both; and he seemed to feel that in the present +state of the weather, and with the wind as it was, we were likely to +make a quicker passage by going on to the southward, and passing round +the Horn, I was of the same opinion, by no means liking the intricacies +of the navigation of the Straits, or the violent tides which our sailing +directions told us swept through them. + +We accordingly filled away again, carrying on, notwithstanding the still +freshening breeze, until the little _Water Lily_ seemed alternately to +threaten diving to the bottom with us or taking flight altogether into +the air. We were nearly blinded by the copious showers of spray which +flew over us, and our mainsail was wet to its very peak; yet it was a +real pleasure to see the ease and lightness with which the boat skimmed +over the now formidable and angry sea. + +About four bells in the morning watch, we passed within three miles of +the easternmost end of Staten Island. An hour later, the breeze +freshened upon us so fiercely that we saw it would be dangerous to +trifle with it any longer; so we hauled down our mainsail and stowed it; +and bent and set the trysail in its place, single-reefed. This change +proved a very great relief to the little craft, the sway and leverage of +the heavy main-boom having made her plunge tremendously; whereas, now, +she went along without shipping a drop of water beyond the spray which +she of course still continued to throw over herself. + +It was whilst we were busy shifting our after canvas that the little +_Lily_ experienced perhaps one of the most narrow escapes of the whole +voyage. We were too much occupied with our work to keep a very bright +look-out; indeed, we considered that, beyond the state of the weather, +there was nothing to demand our attention. + +We had just completed the bending of the trysail, when away to windward +of us, not more than a quarter of a mile distant, we observed a large +ship running down directly upon us before the wind, under topgallant +stunsails. + +The _Lily_ was almost stationary at the time; and the ship was heading +as straight as she possibly could for us. How the trysail went up, it +is impossible for me to say; we pulled like demons, and it seemed to +rise instantaneously into its place, fully set. I sprang aft, and put +the helm hard up, to gather way; and we had just begun to draw through +the water, when the ship took a sheer as though to cross our bows. I +kept the tiller jammed hard over, and eased away the trysail sheet, +intending to wear; when the ship took another sheer directly towards us. + +She was now close aboard of us, and not a soul could I see on the +look-out Bob rushed aft, with his eye on the ship's bowsprit, evidently +prepared for a spring; whilst I shifted the tiller and flattened in the +trysail sheet once more. That saved us. The cutter luffed just in +time, and shot literally from beneath the ship's bows. So close were +we, that had the stranger been _pitching_ instead of _'scending_ at the +moment, her jibboom-end must have passed through the peak of our +trysail. + +It may seem to the uninitiated an easy matter to keep out of an +approaching ship's way, by simply observing the precise direction in +which she is steering; but, as a matter of fact, a ship, when running +before the wind, sails in anything but a straight line, _sheering_ first +one way and then another, and it is quite impossible for a spectator to +judge with accuracy in which direction she will sheer at a given moment; +hence the danger in which we so unexpectedly found ourselves. + +Volume One, Chapter IX. + +A CAPE HORN GALE. + +We stood on to the southward and westward during the remainder of that +day, the wind continuing still to freshen, and the sea getting up with +most fearful rapidity. The glass fell slowly too, and there appeared to +be every prospect of our getting a taste of the quality of the weather +for which Cape Horn is so notorious. + +As the sun set, the veil of cloud-wrack which had obscured the heavens +all day was rent asunder in the western quarter, and we caught a glimpse +of the great luminary hanging upon the verge of the horizon like a ball +of molten copper. + +His level beams shot for a few moments across the broad expanse of the +heaving and wildly-leaping waters, tinging the wave-crests immediately +in his wake with deep blood-red, whilst all around elsewhere the angry +ocean was darkest indigo. A few rays shot upward, gleaming wildly among +the flying scud, and then the orb of day sank into the ocean, shooting +abroad as he did so a sudden baleful crimson glare, which gradually died +out in the gloom of increasing storm and coming night. + +Bob stood by my side watching the wild scene I have so feebly described, +and as the sun disappeared, he turned to me and remarked: + +"My eyes, Harry! what d'ye think of that, lad? To my mind it needs no +prophet to tell us with that afore our eyes that we're booked for a +reg'lar thorough-bred Cape Horn gale of wind; and my advice as chief +mate of this here barkie is, that we makes her just as snug as we knows +how, for, depend upon it, afore morning we shall have as thorough a +trial of her sea-goin' qualities as we're likely to want for many a day +to come." + +"My own idea, Bob," replied I; "I have seldom seen a wilder sunset, and +if it does not mean wind, and plenty of it too, all my weather-lore must +go for nothing, and I shall have to turn to and learn everything over +afresh." + +"Ay, ay! you may say that," returned he, "and I the same; but we've both +knocked about too many years at sea to make any mistake in our reading +when Natur' opens so plain a page of her book for us as yond; so the +sooner we turns to the better, say I, or we shall have the darkness upon +us afore we're ready for it. Thank God, we've plenty of sea-room; so +let's rouse up that floating-anchor contrivance of yourn, my lad, for, +depend upon it, if ever the _Lily_ is likely to need the consarn she +will to-night." + +This floating-anchor I will describe for the benefit of those who may +not have seen such a thing, for it is a most useful affair, and no small +craft should undertake a long cruise without one. Ours was formed of +two flat bars of iron, each ten feet in length, riveted together in the +centre in such a way that they would either fold flat one upon the other +(for convenience of stowage), or open out at right angles, forming a +cross of four equal arms. + +In each end of each bar was a hole capable of taking a good stout rope +swifter, which was set up taut when the bars were opened, so as to keep +them spread at right angles. Four other holes were punched, two in each +bar, about midway between each end and the centre rivet; these were for +the reception of a crowfoot. + +As soon as the bars were spread open, and the swifter passed and set up, +a square sheet of the stoutest canvas, painted, was spread over them, +the edges laced to the swifter with a stout lacing, and the crowfoot +toggled through the intermediate holes in the bars and corresponding +holes in the canvas. + +A buoy was then attached to the end of one arm to float the anchor, with +a sufficient amount of buoy-rope to allow it to sink to the requisite +depth; the end of the cable was shackled into the thimble of the +crowfoot, the buoy streamed overboard, and the anchor let go. + +I may as well state here, that for the economisation of space the buoy +for floating our anchor was an india-rubber ball, made of the same +materials as an ordinary air-cushion, and distended in the same way. +This was enclosed in a strong net of three-strand sinnet, which net was +attached to the buoy-rope. + +We hove the craft to whilst we were preparing the anchor, and glad +enough was I when it was ready; for by this time the sea was running so +high and breaking so heavily that I was afraid once or twice, when we +were caught broadside-to, that we should be capsized. + +We let go the anchor with only two fathoms of buoy-rope, so as to sink +it just deep enough to keep us head to sea without materially +interfering with the craft's drift, as we thought we should ride all the +easier for such an arrangement, and so it proved. + +As soon as the anchor was let go, we got our head-sail in, ran in the +bowsprit, and got our topmast on deck; the trysail was close-reefed, and +the sheet trimmed amidships, the anchor-light hoisted well up on the +fore-stay, and our preparations for the night were complete. + +By this time it was blowing tremendously heavy, and the howling of the +gale overhead, the shriek of the wind through our scanty rigging, and +the hiss of the foaming water around us mingled into such a deafening +sound that Bob and I had fairly to _shout_, even when close alongside of +each other, to make ourselves heard. And then it began to thunder and +lighten heavily, still further increasing the wild and impressive +grandeur of the scene upon which we gazed in awe-struck admiration. + +At one moment all would be deep black pitchy night, lighted up only by +the pale unearthly shimmer of some foaming wave-crest as it rolled +menacingly down upon us, gleaming with phosphorescent light; anon the +canopy above would be rent asunder by the vivid lightning-flash, and for +an instant the vast whirling forms of the torn and shredded clouds would +be revealed, with a momentary vision of the writhing, leaping, and +storm-driven waters beneath them, illumined by the ghastly glare of the +levin-brand, and stricken into sudden rigidity by the rapidity of the +flash. + +We stayed on deck for about an hour after our anchor was let go, +watching this grand manifestation of the power of the Deity, sublime as +terrible, terrible as sublime; and then, finding that no improvement +suggested itself in our arrangements, and that the _Lily_ rode like a +cork over the mountain-billows--though occasionally the comb of a more +than usually heavy sea would curl in over the bows and send a foaming +cataract of water aft and out over her taffrail--we descended to the +cabin to get our suppers, for which, by this time, we were quite ready. + +So easy was the motion of the little craft that when we got below we +found no difficulty whatever in boiling the water, and making ourselves +a cup of good strong tea. While discussing this refreshing beverage and +a few biscuits, we arrived at the conclusion that as we had done all it +was possible to do for the safety of the boat, it was useless to keep a +watch through the night, and that we would, therefore, take advantage of +the opportunity to get a good undisturbed night's rest, leaving the +"sweet little cherub that sits up aloft" to look out. + +Accordingly, as soon as our meal was over, I left Bob to straighten up +below, while I went on deck to take a last look round and see that +everything was snug and as it should be, and our light burning brightly. + +I found everything satisfactory, except that it seemed to be blowing +harder than ever; however I could not help that, so I went below again, +closing the companion after me; and we both turned in, chatted awhile, +listened to the roaring of the gale and the occasional heavy wash of +water along the deck, and finally dropped off to sleep. + +I awoke two or three times during the night, and once I turned out and +pushed the slide of the companion far enough back to put my head +outside; but the night was still as black as pitch, it was blowing +harder if anything than before, and the air was full of spindrift and +scudwater; so I pushed over the slide again, and tumbled once more into +my comfortable hammock, very vividly impressed both with a sense of our +helplessness in the midst of such a heavy gale, and also with the +comparative degrees of comfort between the decks and the cabin. + +Bob was the first to make a muster in the morning; and his first act, +like mine during the night, was to take a look out upon deck. + +"Blowing hard enough to blow the devil's horns off," I heard him +exclaim, "and as thick as a hedge. And, my precious eyes! what a sea! +come up and take a look at it, Harry, boy; I never see'd nothing like it +all the years I've been afloat. Hurrah, young un! _that's_ your sort," +as the cutter rose fearfully near to the perpendicular in surmounting +the crest of a sea, and then slid down, down, down into the trough, +until it seemed as though she would sink to the very ocean's bed. "And +_don't_ the little hussy behave beautifully! She's as floaty as a gull, +Hal; and drier than e'er a seventy-four that ever was launched would be +in a sea like this. Now, what lubber comes here with his eyes sealed up +instead of looking before him? Jump up, Harry; quick, boy! we are in a +mess here, and no mistake. No, no; it's all right, he'll clear us a'ter +all. No thanks to him though, for there's not a soul--ah! so you're +beginning to wake up at last, eh!" + +Here I put my head up through the companion, alongside of Bob's lovely +phiz, and saw within forty fathoms of us, over the ridge of a sea, and +broad on our port beam, the topmast-heads of a brig. As we both rose +together on the same sea, her sails first, and then her hull, came into +view. + +She was not a large vessel; about two hundred tons or thereabouts, +apparently; painted all black down to her copper, excepting a narrow red +ribbon which marked the line of her sheer. + +She was hove-to on the port tack under a storm-staysail, and her +topgallant-masts were down on deck. Everything was very trim and +man-o'-war-like on board her; but no government dockyard ever turned out +such a beautiful model as she was. + +When I first caught sight of her, she was heading directly for us; but +as we watched her, her head paid off, and she swept slowly down across +our stern, near enough for us to have hove a biscuit on board her. + +Some ten or a dozen heads peered curiously at us over her weather +bulwarks as she drove slowly past us, and one man aft on the +quarter-deck, the officer of the watch apparently, seized a trumpet to +hail us; but whether he did so or not, or, if he did, what he said, we +neither of us knew; for at that moment we both sank once more into the +trough with a perfect mountain of water between us, until we lost sight +of him altogether for a moment, even to his mast-heads. + +I took the glass, which we always kept slung in beckets in the +companion-way, open and adjusted ready for immediate use, and as she +rose once more into view I applied it to my eye, and the first thing +which caught my attention was her name, painted on her stern, which was +now towards us. + +"The _Albatross_ by all that's unlucky!" exclaimed I. + +"Blest if we mightn't have guessed as much if we'd been in a guessin' +humour," ejaculated Bob. "Honest-going merchant ships ain't so plaguy +careful of their spars as that chap--leastways, not such small fry as he +is. Pity but what they was, I often says; but where d'ye find a skipper +who'll be bothered to send down his top hamper every time it pipes up a +bit of a breeze? No; `Let it stand if "'twill," is the word, and if +"'twon't," let it blow away,' But the chap is a real good seaman, Harry, +no man'll deny that; look how snug he's got everything; and all hauled +taut and coiled down neat and reg'lar man-o'-war fashion I'll be bound." + +We got, I think, a clearer idea of the tremendous strength of the gale +by watching the brig than we did even by the motions of our own little +craft. She was tossed about like the merest cockle-shell, and every +time that she rose upon the crest of a sea, the wind took her rag of a +staysail, distending it as though it would tear it clean out of the +bolt-ropes, and heeling the vessel over until we could see the whole of +her bottom nearly down to her keel; and then her sharp bows would cleave +the wave-crest in a perfect cataract of foam and spray, and away she +would settle down once more with a heavy weather-roll into the trough. + +"Well," exclaimed Bob, as we lost sight of her in the driving scud, +"she's a pretty sea-boat is yon brig; but I'm blest if the little _Lily_ +don't beat her even at that game. What say you, Harry; ain't she +proving true the very words I spoke that night when we first began to +talk about this here v'yage?" + +"Indeed she is, Bob," I answered; "I am as surprised as I am delighted +at her behaviour; I could never have believed, without seeing it myself, +that so small a craft would even live in such weather, much less be as +comfortable as she is. But I don't like _that_," continued I, as the +comb of a tremendous sea came curling in over our bows, fairly +smothering the little craft in foam for a moment, though she came up +immediately afterwards, "shaking her feathers" like a duck. "I'm afraid +one of these gentlemen will be starting our skylight or companion for +us; and that would be a very serious matter." + +"Never fear," returned Bob confidently. "Our bit of a windlass and the +mast breaks the force of it before it reaches the skylight. And that +idee of yours in having it rounded at the fore end is a capital one; it +turns the water off each side almost like the stem of a ship, besides +bein' stronger than a square-shaped consarn. At the same time, all this +water coming in on deck don't do no _good_ if it don't do no _harm_; but +how's it to be pervented?" + +"I have an idea," said I, "and it's worth a trial. It can do no harm, +and if it fails we are no worse off than we were before." + +So saying, I dived below and got out a bottle of oil, through the cork +of which I bored three or four holes with a corkscrew, but left the cork +in. To the neck of the bottle I made fast the end of about a fathom of +marline, and then, going forward, I made fast the other end of the +marline to one of the links of the chain-cable by which we were riding +to our floating-anchor. + +I then sung out to Bob to give her a few fathoms more chain, and as he +did so I hove the bottle overboard. + +In about five minutes the success of my experiment became manifest. The +oil leaked slowly out through the holes I had bored in the cork, and, +diffusing itself on the surface of the water, caused the seas to sweep +by us either without breaking at all, or, if they _did_ break, it was +with such diminished force that no more water came on board. + +I had heard of "oil on troubled waters" before, but at the time that I +did so I never expected to put its virtues to so thoroughly practical a +test. + +We went below and got breakfast under weigh; and whilst discussing the +meal, our conversation naturally turned upon the appearance of the +_Albatross_. + +"There can be no question, I fear, as to its being that scoundrel +Johnson and his gang of desperadoes," said I, half hoping to hear Bob +dispute the probability. + +But he was quite of my opinion. + +"No, no," said he, "that's the scamp, never a doubt of it. _I_ noticed +the name on his starn; but there warn't no name of a port where he hails +from, for the simple reason that he hails from nowhere in particular. +Besides, a man with half an eye could tell by looking at that craft that +she's strong handed. Depend on't, Harry, there's too many hammocks in +her fo'c'stle for an honest trader. And, worst luck, she's bound the +same road as ourselves--at least, she's going round the Horn; but a'ter +she gets round it's not so easy to say what course she may steer. We +must hope she's on the look-out for some stray Spaniard or other coming +down the coast; for if we falls in with her ag'in, she'll have some'at +to say to us, mark my words." + +"You surely do not suppose the man will condescend to give such a pigmy +as ourselves a thought, do you?" + +"That's just what he's doing at this identical moment, it's my opinion," +returned Bob. "He is not fool enough to suppose we're down here +somewheres off the Horn, in this cockle-shell, on a pleasure trip; and +that we're not come down here to trade he also knows pretty well, or we +should have a craft big enough to stow away something like a paying +cargo; and if we're here for neither one nor t'other of them objects, +he'll want to know what we _are_ here for; and, depend upon it, he won't +be happy till he's found out. So take my advice, Harry, and, if we fall +in with him again, let's give him a wide berth." + +"Decidedly; I shall do so if possible," returned I. "But that may prove +no such easy matter with so smart a vessel as he has under his feet." + +"Not in heavy weather, certainly," said Bob; "but give us weather in +which we can carry a topsail, even if it's no more nor a jib-header, and +I'll say, `Catch who catch can!' Why, we can lay a good two p'ints +closer to the wind than he can, and still keep a good clean full; and +the square-rigged craft that can beat us in going to wind'ard must be an +out-and-out flyer, and no mistake. We must keep a bright look-out, and +not be caught napping, that's all; and give _everything_ a good wide +berth till we're pretty certain of what it is." + +"Well," said I, "I trust we shall not fall in with him again. The +Pacific is a pretty big place, and it's not so easy to find a craft in +it when you don't know where to look for her. If we _do_ meet with him +again, we must do all we can to avoid him, and hope for the best." + +"Ay, ay," returned Bob, "`hope for the best and prepare for the worst' +is a good maxim for any man. It takes him clear of many a difficulty, +and enables him to lay his course on the v'yage of life clean full, and +with slack bowlines. As for this here Johnson, I'd ask nothing better +than to have him just out of gun-shot under our lee, with a nice breeze, +and not too much sea for the little _Lily_, and then let him catch us if +he's man enough for the job." + +I certainly could not echo this wish of Bob's; but it was satisfactory +to find that he had such great confidence in the boat and in her ability +to escape from the _Albatross_, so I allowed him to remain in +undisturbed enjoyment of his own opinion, especially as it seemed to +afford him considerable entertainment, and went on deck to take another +look at the weather. + +There was no sign of the gale breaking; in fact it seemed to be scarcely +at its height, for away to windward it looked as dirty and as full of +wind as ever; and the sea was something awful to contemplate. It +looked, of course, worse to us than it would to those on the deck of a +large ship; but even allowing for that, it was unquestionably running +far higher than anything I had ever seen before. + +I have read somewhere that scientific men assert that even in the +heaviest gales and in mid-ocean the sea never attains a greater height +than twenty feet from trough to crest; but with all due respect to them +and their science-founded opinions, I take leave to assert that they are +in this instance mistaken. + +An intelligent sailor (and I modestly claim to be at least this much) is +as capable of judging the height of a sea as the most scientific of +mortals; and I am confident of this, that _many_ of the seas I watched +that morning ran as high as our cross-trees, which were a trifle over +thirty feet above the surface of the water. + +Indeed, to satisfy myself _thoroughly_ upon this point I climbed so high +(with the utmost difficulty, and at very great risk of being blown +overboard), and whilst looking over the cross-trees, I saw the crest of +more than one sea rearing itself between my eye and the horizon. + +So far the _Water Lily_ had weathered the gale scatheless; there was not +so much as a rope-yarn out of its place or carried away; and as there +seemed to be no greater danger than there had been through the night, +and as I had taken a good look round when aloft without seeing anything, +we both went below to enjoy the comfort of the cabin, for on deck +everything was cold, wet, and dismal in the extreme. + +I was anxious to get a sight of the sun at noon, if possible, so as to +ascertain our exact latitude. I knew we were not very far to the +southward of Staten; and I did not know but there might be a current +setting us toward it, in which case we might find ourselves very +awkwardly situated. + +It looked half inclined to break away two or three times during the +morning; but as mid-day approached it became as bad as ever; and I had +the vexation of seeing noon pass by without so much as a momentary +glimpse of the sun. + +Towards evening, therefore, I took advantage of an exceptionally clear +moment, and again scrambled aloft and took a thorough good look all +round, and especially to the northward. There was nothing in sight; and +with this I was obliged to rest satisfied. + +We noticed just about this time that the seas were beginning to break on +board again, so I concluded that our bottle of oil was exhausted, and +accordingly got out another, and having bored holes in the cork, as I +had done with the first, it was bent on to the cable, more cable paid +out, and we again rode all the easier. Our anchor-light was trimmed and +lighted and hoisted up, and we went below to our tea, or _supper_, as +sailors generally term it. + +We had found the day dreadfully tedious, cooped up as we were in our low +cabin, and a meal was a most welcome break in the monotony. We sat long +over this one, therefore, prolonging it to its utmost extent; and when +it was over, we both turned to and cleared up the wreck. + +By the time that all was done it was intensely dark; but, before +settling down below for the night, we both put our heads up through the +companion, to take a last look round. + +Bob was rather beforehand with me, and he had no sooner put his head +outside than he pulled it in again, exclaiming, in an awe-struck tone: + +"Look here, Harry; what d'ye think of this?" + +I looked in the direction he indicated, and there upon our lower +mast-head, and also upon the trysail gaff-end, was a globe of pale, +sickly green light, which wavered to and fro, lengthening out and +flattening in again as the cutter tossed wildly over the mountainous +seas. + +It had not the appearance of flame, but rather of highly luminous mist, +brilliant at the core, and softening off and becoming more dim as the +circumference of the globe was reached; and it emitted a feeble and +unearthly light of no great power. + +I had never seen such a thing before, but I had often heard of it, and I +recognised our strange visitors at once as _corposants_, or "lamps of +Saint Elmo," as they are called by the seamen of the Mediterranean; +though our own sailors call them by the less dignified name of "Davy +Jones' lanterns." + +"What d'ye think of bein' boarded by the likes of that?" again queried +Bob, in a hoarse whisper. "Old Davy is out on a cruise to-night, I +reckon; and it looks as though he meant to pay _us_ a visit, by his +h'isting them two lanterns of hisn in our rigging. Did ye ever see +anything like it afore, Harry, lad?" + +"Never," replied I, "but I have often heard them spoken of, old man; and +though they certainly _are_ rather queer to look at, they are easily +accounted for. I have heard it said that they are the result of a +peculiar electrical condition of the atmosphere, and that the +electricity, attracted by any such points as the yard-arms or mast-heads +of a ship, accumulates there until it becomes visible in the form we are +now looking at." + +"And is the light never visible except at the end of a spar?" queried +Bob. + +"I believe not," I replied; "but--" + +"Then sail he!" exclaimed Bob excitedly, pointing in the direction of +our starboard bow. + +I looked in the direction he indicated, but was too late: we were on the +very summit of a wave at the moment that Bob spoke, but were now +settling into the trough. As we rose to the next sea, however, I not +only saw the ghostly light, but also got an indistinct view of the ship +herself. + +She was fearfully close, but appeared to be at the moment sheering away +from us. She looked long enough for a three-masted vessel, but one mast +only was standing, evidently the mainmast. The corposant appeared to +have attached itself to the stump of her foremast, which had been +carried away about fifteen or twenty feet from the deck; and I thought +her bowsprit seemed also to be missing. + +She was scudding under close-reefed maintop-sail, and, from her sluggish +movements, was evidently very much overloaded, or, what I thought more +probable, had a great deal of water in her. I was the more inclined to +this opinion from the peculiar character of her motions. + +As she rose on the back of a sea, her stern seemed at first to be +_pinned down_, as it were, until it appeared as though the following +wave would run clean over her; but gradually her stern rose until it was +a considerable height above the water, whilst her bow in its turn seemed +weighed down, as would be the case with a large body of water rushing +from aft forward. + +They evidently saw our light, for a faint hail of "ahoy!" came down the +wind to us from her. + +"In distress and wants assistance, by the look of it," remarked Bob. +"But, poor chaps, it's little of that we can give 'em. Heaven and +'arth! look at that, Harry." + +As he spoke, the ship, which was rushing forward furiously on the back +of a sea, suddenly sheered wildly to port, until she lay broadside-to; +the crest of the sea overtook her, and, breaking on board her in one +vast volume of wildly flashing foam, threw her down upon her beam-ends, +and, as it swept over her, her mast declined more and more towards the +water, until it lay submerged. + +Then, as we gazed in speechless horror at the dreadful catastrophe, a +loud, piercing shriek rang out clear and shrill above the hoarse +diapason of the howling tempest. She rolled completely bottom upwards, +and then disappeared. + +"Broached to, and capsized!" ejaculated we both in the same breath. + +"Jump below, Bob, and rouse up a coil of line, whilst I get the +life-buoys ready," exclaimed I, after a single moment's pause to collect +my scattered faculties. + +In an instant I had all four of the buoys ready, and two of them bent on +to the longest rope-ends I could lay my hands on, and, in another, that +glorious Bob appeared with a coil of ratline on his shoulder and a +lighted blue-light in his hand. + +The stops were cut and the ends of the coil cleared in no time, and the +two remaining buoys bent on, while Bob held the blue-light aloft at +arm's length, for the double purpose of throwing the light as far as +possible over the water, and also to indicate our whereabouts to any +strong swimmer who might be struggling for his life among the mountain +surges, and to guide him to our tiny ark of refuge. + +For nearly an hour did we peer anxiously into the gloom, in the hope of +seeing some poor soul within reach of such assistance as it was in our +power to afford, but in vain; there is no doubt that the vessel sucked +all hands down with her when she sank into her watery grave. + +When at last we reluctantly desisted from our efforts, and were in the +act of securing the life-buoys once more, Bob cast his eyes aloft, and +called my attention to the fact that the corposants had disappeared. + +"Depend on't, Harry," quoth he, "them lanterns didn't come aboard of us +for nothing. They mightn't have meant mischief for _us_ exactly--for +you can't always read Old Davy's signs aright; but you see they _did_ +mean mischief, and plenty of it too, for they no sooner appears aloft +than a fine ship and her crew goes down close alongside of us; and as +soon as that bit of work was over, away they go somewhere else to light +up the scene of further devilry, I make no manner of doubt." + +It was utterly in vain that I attempted to argue the honest fellow out +of his belief that their appearance was a portent of disaster, for his +mind was deeply imbued with all those superstitious notions which appear +to take such peculiarly firm hold on the ideas of sailors; and against +superstitions of lifelong duration, argument and reason are of but +little avail. + +As may readily be believed, our slumbers that night, after witnessing so +distressing a scene, were anything but sound. Bob and I were up and +down between the deck and the cabin at least half a dozen times before +morning, and it was with a sense of unutterable relief that, as day +broke, we found that the gale was breaking also. + +By the time that breakfast was over there was a sensible diminution in +the force of the wind, and by noon it cleared away sufficiently overhead +to enable me to get an observation, not a particularly good one +certainly--the sea was running far too high for that; but it enabled me +to ascertain that we were at least sixty miles to the southward of +Staten. + +About four p.m. I got a very much better observation for my longitude, +and I found by it that our drift had not been anything like so great as +I had calculated it would be. This I thought might possibly arise from +our being in a weather-setting current. + +There was still rather too much of both wind and sea to make us disposed +to get under way that night, but we managed to get the craft up to the +buoy of our floating-anchor, which we weighed and let go again with five +fathoms of buoy-rope. + +This was to prevent as much as possible any further drift to leeward, +and to take full advantage of the current, the existence of which we +suspected. + +Next morning, however, the weather had so far moderated that, tired of +our long inaction, we resolved to make a start once more, so shaking the +reefs out of the trysail, and rigging our bowsprit out far enough to set +a small jib, we got our floating-anchor in, and stood away to the +southward and westward, with the wind out from about west-nor'-west. + +Volume One, Chapter X. + +CHASED BY PIRATES. + +The weather now rapidly became finer, and the ocean, no longer lashed +into fury by the breath of the tempest, subsided once more into long +regular undulations. The wind hauled gradually more round from the +northward too, and blew warm and balmy; a most welcome change after the +raw and chilly weather we had lately experienced. + +We once more cracked on sail upon the little _Water Lily_; and on the +morning following that upon which we filled away upon our course, +finding by observation that we were well clear of the Cape, and that we +had plenty of room even should the wind once more back round from +the westward, we hauled close-up, and stood away on a +nor'-west-and-by-westerly course. + +Nothing of importance occurred for more than a week. The weather +continued settled, and the glass stood high; the wind was out at about +north, and sufficiently moderate to permit of our carrying our +jib-headed topsail; and day after day we flew forward upon our course, +seldom making less than ten knots in the hour, and occasionally reaching +as high as thirteen. + +We were perfectly jubilant; for having rounded the Cape in safety we now +considered our troubles over and our ultimate success as certain. We +were fairly in the Pacific, the region of fine weather; and our little +barkie had behaved so well in the gale that our confidence in her +seaworthiness was thoroughly established; so that all fear of future +danger from bad weather was completely taken off our minds. + +One morning, the wind having fallen considerably lighter during the +preceding night, as soon as breakfast was over I roused up our +square-headed topsail, with the intention of setting it in the room of +the small one. + +But when I proceeded to take the latter in, I found that the halliards +were somehow jammed aloft, and I shinned up to clear them. No sailor, +if he really be a _seaman_, and not a tinker or a tailor, ever goes +aloft without taking a good look round him; so after I had cleared the +halliards I clung to the slim spar for a minute or two whilst I swept +the horizon carefully around. + +"Sail ho!" shouted I, as I caught a glimpse of the royals of a vessel +gleaming snowy white in the brilliant sunshine far away in the +south-western board. + +"Where away?" shouted Bob. + +"Broad on our lee-bow," I answered, still clinging to the thin wire +topmast shrouds. + +"What d'ye make her out to be, Harry, my lad?" was the next question. + +"Either a barque or a brig," answered I; "the latter I am inclined to +believe, though he is still too far away for his mizzen-mast to show, if +he has one." + +"Why d'ye think it's a brig, Harry?" queried Bob. + +"His canvas looks too small for that of a barque," replied I, as I slid +down on deck, having seen all that it was possible to see at present. + +"Then it's that--_Albatross_ again, for a thousand," ejaculated Bob in a +tone of deep disgust. "That's just the p'int where he might reasonably +be looked for. He made sail long enough afore we did, a'ter the gale +had blowed itself out, and consequently got a good long leg to the +west'ard of us; but as we've been steering perhaps a couple of p'ints +higher than he has for most of the time since, we've overhauled him; and +now he's come round to go to the nor'ard, and we've fallen in with him +once more." + +I was inclined to take the same view of the matter that Bob did. It is +true that when once a ship passes out of sight at sea you can never be +sure of her exact position afterwards; yet, under certain circumstances, +taking the direction of the wind and the state of the weather as data +upon which to base your argument, and, in conjunction with these, the +course the vessel was steering when last seen, or the part of the world +to which you have reason to believe she is bound, it is astonishing how +near a guess may be and is not unfrequently made as to her whereabouts. + +Now we knew that the _Albatross_ was bound to the Pacific when we last +saw her, because she was then hove-to, evidently with the intention of +maintaining as weatherly a position as possible. Had she been bound to +the eastward, the weather was not so bad at that time as to have +prevented her scudding before it, which she undoubtedly would have done +under such circumstances, making a fair wind of it. + +At the same time there was of course a possibility of our being mistaken +as to the craft in sight being the pirate brig, it being by no means an +unusual thing for vessels as small as she was, or even smaller, to +venture round the Cape. + +"Well," said I, "perhaps it will be safest, Bob, to assume for the +present that this brig _is_ the _Albatross_. What, under such +circumstances, is your advice?" + +"Which of us has the weather-gage, d'ye think?" queried Bob. + +"It is rather difficult to decide at present," I replied. "Much depends +upon which of us is the fastest. If we are both going at about the same +speed, I should say we shall pass extremely close to her." + +"How is she heading, Harry?" was the next question. + +"To the northward, rather edging down towards us, if anything," I +thought. + +"Ay, ay," chuckled Bob, "it ain't _every_ craft as can stick her +bowsprit into the wind's eye like this here little barkie. Now I dare +swear he's jammed hard up upon a taut bowline, and here _we_ are going +as close to the wind as he is, and every thread ramping full. Take hold +of her a minute, Hal, and let's see what these old eyes of mine can tell +us about the stranger." + +I took hold of the tiller, and Bob went aloft with the deliberation of +the seaman who is in no particular hurry. Having reached the +cross-trees, he stood upon them, with one hand grasping the +peak-halliards to steady himself, whilst with the other he shaded his +eyes. + +"I see her, I see her," he exclaimed; "we're raising her fast, Harry, my +boy; and in another half hour or so we shall see her from the deck." + +He then went as high as the yard of the topsail, and clung there for a +good five minutes, reading all the signs which a seaman sees in the +almost imperceptible peculiarities of rig, shape of sails, etc. Having +satisfied himself, he descended deliberately to the deck, evidently +ruminating deeply. + +"Now I'll tell ye what I think of the matter, Harry," said he, as he +came aft and seated himself beside me. "There's a familiar sort of a +look with that craft away yonder; I seems to recognise her as some'at +I've seen afore; and I've no moral doubt in the world but what it's that +villain Johnson, although we can't be _sartain_ of it until we gets a +nearer look at her. And I've an idee that, if anything, it's _we_ +that's got the weather-gage; and if so, by all means keep it, even if we +has to run the gauntlet of her broadside for a minute or two. Once +let's be to wind'ard, and in such weather as this I wouldn't fear the +smartest _square-rigged_ craft that ever was launched. We could lead +'em no end of a dance, and then give 'em the slip a'terwards when we was +tired of the fun. So my advice is to luff up as close as you can; not +_too_ close ye know, lad; let her go through it; but spring your luff +all as you can get, and let's try what our friend yonder is made of. As +long as we're to _leeward_ of him the game is _his_; but let's get to +_wind'ard_ of him and it's _ours_ to do what we like with it." + +I had it in my mind to take in all the canvas and lie _perdu_ until the +brig had crossed our course and was well out of our road to the +northward; but that would still be leaving him the weather-gage; and I +saw fully as clearly as Bob did the advantage of obtaining this, if +possible; so on we stood, boldly, lying a good point higher than we had +been before steering, yet keeping every sail a good clean full, and +drawing to perfection. + +The wind, however, was dropping fast; and by the time that the sun was +on the meridian we were not going more than five knots. This made me +extremely anxious; more particularly as the stranger proved a remarkably +fast vessel; so much so, that it still remained a matter of doubt which +of us would cross the other. + +Bob, on the other hand, was delighted beyond measure, stoutly avowing +that the falling breeze was little, if anything, short of a divine +manifestation in our favour. He declared himself ready to stake all he +was possessed of in the world (and if the brig should turn out to be the +pirate, he actually _was_ staking his life) on our speed as against that +of the stranger in light winds, and was already chuckling in +anticipation over that craft's discomfiture. + +She was within about five miles of us, still maintaining her relative +position of about four points on our lee-bow, when Bob served dinner on +deck, as was our custom in fine weather. + +We were very busy with the viands, keeping one eye always on the brig +however, when we noticed something fluttering over her taffrail; and the +next moment a flag of some sort floated up to her peak. + +I was at the tiller; so Bob took the glass, and levelling it at the +brig, gave her a more thorough scrutiny than we had bestowed upon her at +all hitherto. + +"The stars and stripes, and a pennant!" exclaimed he, with his eye still +at the tube. + +"Lord bless us for the two pretty innocents he takes us for, Harry; but +there, of course he don't know as we've got his character and all about +him at our fingers' ends. Well, anyhow, we won't be behindhand with him +in the matter of politeness;" and therewith Master Bob dived below, +returning in a moment with our ensign and club burgee in his hand, which +he bent to their respective halliards and ran them up--the one to our +gaff-end, and the other to our mast-head. + +As we had by this time finished our meal, Bob cleared the things away, +muttering something about having "plenty to do afore long besides eating +and drinking." + +Our colours had not been displayed above a minute, when four small balls +were seen ascending to the brig's main royal-mast-head, where they broke +abroad and waved lazily out in the failing breeze as a signal. + +Bob at once assumed the duties of signal-officer, by once more taking a +peep through the glass. + +"Commercial code pennant," said he; and then he read out the flags +beneath it. + +"Run down and fetch up the signal-book," said I. + +He did so; we turned up the signal, and read, "Come under my lee; I wish +to speak you." + +"Thank 'ee!" ejaculated Bob, "not if we can help it, Mister Johnson. I +reckon 'twould be about the most onprofitable conwersation as ever the +crew of this here cutter took a part in. We've got our own wholesome +planks to walk, aboard here, when we wants any of that sort of exercise; +and though there's not much to boast of in the way of room, I dare say +there's more of _that_ than we'd find on the plank _you'd_ give us for a +parade ground. Seems to me, Hal, as we're bringing him nearer abeam +than he was a while ago; ain't it so?" + +"You are right, Bob," I replied, glancing at the compass; "he is more +than a point farther aft than he was a quarter of an hour ago; but is it +not possible that we are giving ourselves needless uneasiness? That +craft certainly has a look of the _Albatross_; but we are not sure that +it is her after all." + +"D'ye notice his maintopmast-staysail, Harry?" returned he; "cut like a +trysail, and set on a stay that leads down just clear of his fore-top +and into the slings of his fore-yard. How many vessels will ye see with +a sail shaped like that? Yet I noticed that _his_ was the other day. +And there's the red ribbon round him too; in fact, it's the _Albatross_ +all over," concluded he, with the glass once more at his eye. + +It was but too evident that Bob was right. I had been hoping that the +general resemblance of the brig in sight to the _Albatross_ was purely +accidental; but she was now within less than three miles of us; and, +even without the aid of the telescope, certain features, if I may so +term them, were recognisable, which identified her beyond all question +as the pirate brig. + +"What shall we do about answering his signal, Bob?" said I. + +"Let it fly as it is, _un_-answered," he replied composedly. "Look +where we're dropping him to; in another quarter of an hour we shall have +him fairly on our lee-beam, and that too out of gun-shot, unless, as is +most likely the case, he's got a long gun; but if he _has_, we're a +small mark to fire at, and we'll soon slip out of range even of that." + +It was by this time perfectly manifest that whatever he might be able to +do in a breeze, he had no chance with us in a light air like the +present; and I entertained strong hopes of being able to slip past him +unscathed, when I felt sanguine of our ability to get fairly away from +him in a chase dead to windward. + +But he evidently had no notion of letting us have our own way in this +matter, without a pretty vigorous protest on his part; for as we were +still watching him, we saw the brig slowly luff into the wind; his +fore-sheet was raised for a moment, a flash of flame and a puff of white +smoke darted suddenly from his forecastle, and then we saw the jets +spouting up where the shot struck the water, as it came ricocheting +towards us. He had aimed apparently so as to throw the shot across our +fore-foot; but it fell short by about fifty feet. + +"Do that again, you lubber!" exclaimed Bob, contemptuously +apostrophising the brig. "Three more such fool's tricks as that, and +we'll say good-bye t'ye without ever having been within range. See how +long it takes him to pay off ag'in, Harry; very near lost his way +altogether, when he'd a had to box her off with his head-yards; and by +the time he'd done that we should be well clear of him. Well, I _did_ +think the man had more sense than to do the like of that." + +Friend Johnson evidently saw his mistake as clearly as we did, for he +fired no more until we had crept up fairly ahead of him. Just as we +were crossing his bows, however, and had got his masts in one--by which +time he had drawn considerably nearer us--the brig _fell off_ a little, +not to repeat her former error, and again came the flash, the smoke, and +the ringing report. + +"Here it comes straight for us this time, and no mistake," exclaimed +Bob, as the water-jets again marked the course of the shot. "Scaldings! +out of the road all of us that's got thin skulls," continued he, as the +shot came skipping across the water in such long bounds as showed we +were within range. "Well missed!" added he, as the shot struck the +water close to us, and bounded fairly over the boat, passing close +beneath the main-boom and the foot of the mainsail, without injuring so +much as a rope-yarn. + +"That's his long gun, Bob," said I; "his broadside guns would never +reach so far as this, and though we're just now in rather warm quarters, +we shall be out of range again very soon; and then, I think, we need +give ourselves no further trouble concerning him. Any way, you've got +something very like the fulfilment of the wish you expressed the other +day." + +"Ay, ay, that's true, Hal, I have," answered he, with a quiet laugh; +"and I _do_ own it's a great satisfaction to me that we're carcumventin' +the chap this 'a way. I'll warrant he's walking the quarter-deck at +this minute fit to bite his fingers off wi' vexation at our slipping +past him in this style." + +Here another shot from the brig came bounding after us; but we offered +him a much smaller mark than before, inasmuch as he was now nearly dead +astern of us, and we consequently presented an _end_ instead of a +broadside view to him. + +The shot shaved us pretty close to windward nevertheless, striking the +water for the last time just short of our taffrail, and scurrying along +and ploughing up the surface close enough to give us a pretty copious +shower-bath of spray ere it finally sank just ahead of us. + +The next shot, which quickly followed, passed almost as close to +leeward; and the third came straight enough, but fell just short of us. + +After this he fired no more. + +"Very cleverly managed, I call that, Harry," said Bob, as soon as we +found ourselves once more out of range. "We can now take things +quietly; and as it's your watch below, I'd recommend you to turn in and +get a bit of a snooze. It's your eight hours out to-night, my lad, and +if the breeze should happen to freshen about sundown, and that chap +comes after us--and, by the piper, he means that same, for I'm blest if +he isn't in stays--you'll need to keep both eyes open all your watch." + +This was good advice, and I at once proceeded to adopt it, cautioning +Bob to be sure to call me without delay in the event of any further +complication arising. + +I had not been below above two minutes when I heard his voice shouting +to me to come on deck again. Wondering what was now in the wind, I +sprang up the short companion-ladder, and my eye at once falling upon +the brig (which was now dead astern of us, heading in the same direction +as ourselves, though not lying so close to the wind), I saw in a moment +that our troubles were not yet by any means over. + +The wind had by this time fallen so light that we were not making above +three knots' way through the water, whilst the pirate appeared barely to +have steerage-way--in fact, his canvas was flapping to the mast with +every sluggish roll which the vessel took over the long, scarcely +perceptible swell. + +Friend Johnson was evidently greatly nettled at our having slipped so +handsomely through his fingers as we had, and seemed determined to have +a word or two with us yet, whether we would or no; for he had lowered +one of his boats, and she was just leaving the vessel in chase. + +I took the glass, and counted six men at the oars, besides one or two (I +could not be sure which) in the stern-sheets. + +This was serious indeed; for a light boat, propelled by six good +oarsmen, would go about two feet to our one at our then rate of sailing, +and must necessarily soon overhaul us. + +Our case appeared pretty nearly desperate; but a seaman never gives up +"whilst there is a shot in the locker," or a fresh expedient to be +tried. So I directed Bob to keep the cutter away about three points, +and then lash the tiller, and lend me a hand to get our balloon canvas +set. + +The topsail was shifted in next to no time, and then we got the +spinnaker to the bowsprit-end, leading the sheet aft to the main-boom; +after which we took in our jib and stopped it along the bowsprit, ready +for setting again at a moment's notice, and hauled down our staysail. + +This additional spread of canvas, coupled with the fact that we were +running far enough off the wind to permit of its drawing well, made a +perceptible difference in our speed--quite a knot, I considered, and Bob +agreed with me. + +"Now, what's the next thing to be done, Harry?" inquired he, as soon as +we had completed our task of shifting the sails. "This is all very well +as far as it goes, but yon boat is overhauling us at every stroke of the +oars, and we've only _postponed_ the pleasure of an introduction to the +chaps, unless the breeze happens to freshen up a trifle, of which I sees +no signs just at present." + +"I've made up my mind," I replied. "We _must not_ be taken, Bob. I +feel convinced that our lives would not be worth an hour's purchase, if +we fell into the hands of that villain; but, even supposing he _were_ to +stop short of murder, his malignity would doubtless prompt him to +destroy the little _Lily_; and by such an act all our past efforts would +be nullified, and our future success rendered extremely doubtful. We +must _fight_ Robert, my man, now that we can no longer run; so let's get +our gun up and rigged without further delay. By the time that we have +it ready, they will be within range; and I think we may persuade them to +turn back yet." + +"So be it," replied Bob gleefully. "I'd always rather fight than run +away, Harry, lad--at least, when it's anything like a fair match; so +let's rouse up the pop-gun and have a shy at 'em." + +This gun was, as I think I have mentioned before, a four-pound rifled +piece, which was specially made to my order by an eminent firm. It was +a most beautiful little weapon, exquisitely finished; was a +breech-loader, and threw a solid shot about a mile, and a shell nearly +half as far again. It was mounted on a swivel or pivot, which we had +the means of firmly fixing to the deck. + +We got it out and upon deck, and soon had it mounted and ready for +service. Bob took the tiller, desiring me to work the gun, as I was not +only a more practised artillerist than he, but knew also how to handle a +breech-loader, and I had the knack somehow of shooting straight. + +I had it loaded, and was in the act of levelling it, when Bob said, +"Suppose we was to let them chaps get a bit nearer, Hal, afore we opens +fire. I've a notion that if we gets 'em well away from the brig, and +well within range of our little barker there, we might give 'em such a +peppering afore they could get clear of us ag'in as would sicken 'em of +having any more to do with us. Perhaps it mightn't be quite onpossible +to destr'y the boat altogether, and then there's seven or eight good +hands wiped off the chap's books. This here ain't like a ordinary +enemy, you see, lad--he's a sort of general enemy to all mankind; and +the more harm we can do to _him_, the more good we'll be doing the rest +of the world." + +It sounded rather like cold-blooded barbarity, this proposal of Bob's to +attempt the _destruction_ instead of the _repulse_ of the boat in +pursuit of us, but every word he said in support of his proposition was +strictly true; and indeed some such idea had been present in my own +mind, so I withheld my fire for a time. + +At length, however, they were within half a mile of us, and I thought we +might now fairly commence operations. I carefully levelled the piece +accordingly, and desiring Bob to sit well out of the line of fire and +steer as steadily as possible, I watched the heave of the cutter, and +pulled the trigger-line. + +The shot sped straight for the boat, but, striking the water just before +it reached her, bounded dear over her and into the sea beyond. There +was a shout from the people in the boat, and we could see that they +stretched to their oars with doubled exertion. + +"Straight as it could go, Harry, lad, but _rather_ too much elevation; +try 'em again, boy, and look smart about it too, for they're giving way +as if the devil was behind 'em." + +"Which he probably _is_, if they did but know it, Bob," returned I. +"Keep cool, old man; there's no hurry; you attend to the steering of the +craft, I'll undertake to cool their courage for them before they're very +much older." + +"Ay, ay," retorted Bob, "keep cool it is; but it's getting to be rather +ticklish work, lad, ain't it?" + +I was too busy with the gun to reply just then, and in another moment I +fired once more. This time we saw the splinters fly from the bows of +the boat, and one of the oarsmen sprang from his seat and fell back into +the arms of the man behind him. + +There was a moment of confusion with them, and then we saw one of the +men in the stern-sheets (there _were_ two of them) step along the +thwarts and take the injured man's place. This looked like a fixed +determination to come alongside at any price, so I this time inserted a +shell instead of a solid shot, which I had before been firing. + +Once more, after a very careful aim, the little piece rang out, and +again the shot reached its mark; this time with terrible effect, for the +shell exploded as it passed through the boat's thin planking, and the +fragments, continuing their flight forward, told so severely, among the +crew that it appeared as if they were _all_ more or less hurt. We saw +four fall from the thwarts, at all events, and all hands ceased pulling, +whilst three of the oars slipped unnoticed overboard. + +I unrove the spinnaker-sheet from the main-boom before the astonished +Bob knew what I was about, let go the halliards, and let the sail down +by the run; and then jumped to the jib halliards and hoisted the sail +like lightning. + +"Now," shouted I, "luff you may, Bob, and let's heave the craft to, and +finish the job for them." + +As I said this, Bob put his helm down, whilst I hauled the jib sheet to +windward, and then I sprang aft again to the gun. + +By this time they had taken to their oars again, but there were only two +of them pulling: a sure indication of the extent to which our last shot +had told. They were turning the boat round to pull back to the ship, +and seeing this I felt some compunction about firing on them again, and +said so. + +"Don't be such a soft-hearted donkey, Harry lad," retorted Bob. "Settle +the whole lot if you can, boy; it'll only be so many skulking cutthroats +the less in the world. _My_ idee is that every one of them chaps as we +can finish off is one honest man's life saved; so give 'em another of +them shells, my boy. They _do_ seem wonderful persuaders, small as they +be." + +I accordingly loaded again, and fired; but, probably from excitement, +fired too high, and the missile flew harmlessly over the boat. + +The next time I was more careful, aiming with the utmost deliberation. +At length I pulled the trigger-line, and immediately leapt to my feet to +watch for the result. + +The shell struck the boat's stern fairly amidships, and close to the +water-line; there was an explosion, but both the oarsmen appeared to be +unhurt. Almost immediately, however, one of them sprang aft and +crouched down, doing something that we could not make out. + +I took the glass, and then saw that a large gap had been made by the +explosion of the shell, through which the water was doubtless pouring +rapidly. + +There was a movement among the wounded men; and one man jumped upon a +thwart and waved his hat to the brig, evidently as a signal of distress. +Her captain had of course been watching us all this time, and seemed to +have conjectured that his people were getting the worst of it, for we +now saw that he had a second boat in the water; and on taking a look at +the brig through the glass, we observed that he had a tackle on his main +yard-arm, with which he was hoisting out a gun to put into the boat. + +"It is time we were off once more, Bob," I remarked, as soon as I saw +this; "so another shot at our friends here, and then we'll fill away." + +The boat was very much disabled, and appeared to be sinking gradually, +notwithstanding their efforts to keep her afloat, for they were now +baling rapidly; but I thought it best to make sure of her, so once more +loaded and fired. + +The shell passed through her stern this time also, and exploded; there +was a shrill scream from more than one agonised throat, and the baling +and pulling ceased altogether; every man in her was wounded, if not +killed outright. + +Satisfied with our work of destruction, and not particularly caring to +expose ourselves to the fire of the gun in the other boat, which was no +doubt much heavier than our own toy of a weapon, we filled away; and I +once more swayed up the spinnaker forward, desiring Bob to keep just +sufficiently away to permit of our balloon canvas fully drawing, but no +more. + +As soon as I had got the spinnaker set, I took the glass and had a good +look at the boat we had beaten off. She was nearly full of water, her +gunwale being but an inch or two above the surface. + +I saw three or four figures rouse themselves on board her, and +recommence baling feebly; but their efforts were useless; she sank lower +and lower, and at length rolled heavily bottom upwards, throwing her +wounded crew into the water. + +Almost immediately there was a furious splashing, and by the aid of the +glass I distinctly saw the dorsal fins of several sharks darting here +and there among them, whilst over the glassy surface of the water a +shriek or two came faintly towards us. + +In less than a minute all was over with the miserable wretches; the +voracious sharks made short work of it with them, tearing living and +dead alike to pieces in their eagerness to obtain a share of the prey. + +At the moment that this tragic scene was enacting, the second boat was +about half way between the brig and those to whose assistance she was +hastening; and her crew had a nearer and more distinct view of the +horrible details of the catastrophe than we had. + +They paused for a moment on their oars as though paralysed with horror; +and then with a vengeful shout gave way more energetically than before. + +But I felt little apprehension on their account; the dying breeze had +revived somewhat, and the _Lily_ was now stealing along, though with +scarcely a ripple at her sharp bows, about five knots; and the water +looked rather darker to windward, as though the wind was inclined to +come still stronger. + +The pirates tugged at their oars with might and main, passing within +oar's length of the wreck of the first boat, when they again raised a +furious yell, straining away at their stout ash blades until they made +them bend like willow wands. + +They gained on us considerably within the first ten minutes or quarter +of an hour; and I saw some of the crew preparing to fire the gun which +was mounted in the boat's bows. Judging that more powder would have to +be burned after all, I once more loaded our little piece, charging with +shell as before; and whilst I was doing this our pursuers opened fire +upon us. + +They miscalculated their distance, however, or the powers of their gun; +for the shot fell considerably short of us, much to Bob's delight, to +which he gave expression by the utterance of a few remarks of such +biting sarcasm and raillery that they would infallibly have still +further incensed the individuals to whom they were addressed could they +but have heard them. + +I too was _very_ glad to see the shot fall short, for it placed us on +somewhat more equal terms than I had dared to hope. The boat was a +large one, probably their launch, and pulled ten oars; and there were +three men in the bows working the gun, and the coxswain aft steering, +making altogether fourteen hands--very heavy odds. + +But then, on the other hand, the boat was heavy, and her crew, after +their already long pull, could not maintain the violent exertions they +were now putting forth very much longer; and a very trifling abatement +in that direction would enable us to slip away from them after all; and, +moreover, as they were now within range of our gun (which, being rifled, +threw a shot much farther than their smooth-bore), there was a +possibility of our being able so far to disable them as to compel them +to give up the chase. + +I accordingly levelled the breech-loader, and then waited for a +favourable opportunity to fire. At length it came. The shell entered +the starboard bow of the pursuing boat, about midway between her gunwale +and her water-line; and immediately, to our great surprise, there was a +violent explosion on board her. + +A vivid flash of flame darted upward and outward; the sides of the boat +appeared to be violently wrenched apart at their junction with the stem; +the gun and its carriage rose heavily in the air about ten feet, and +fell with a tremendous splash into the sea; and oars and men were flung +wildly about, many of them being blown fairly overboard, whilst a dense +cloud of smoke arose, and for a moment hid everything from our view. + +When it cleared away, there floated the wreck of the boat, just awash; +and there too, among the struggling crew in the water, darted to and fro +the fins of the terrible sharks, very probably the same monsters who had +so recently feasted on their shipmates. Our shell had taken most +fearful effect, igniting their ammunition, and thus blowing their boat +to pieces at our first discharge. + +Volume One, Chapter XI. + +THE CHASE DIVERTED. + +There was an awful suddenness about the destruction of this second boat +and her crew which almost appalled us, and it was with considerably +sobered feelings that, after a dead silence of a few minutes, we +proceeded to discuss the character of our next movements. + +Our proper course was about north-west, that being the bearing of the +point, the latitude and longitude of which had been given us as that of +the treasure-island. + +Our charts showed no island exactly at that spot, but there were many at +very short distances from it; indeed it was situated almost in the very +heart of that extensive group of islets known as the Low Archipelago; +and when talking the matter over before, we had decided that it was +quite possible we should be obliged to take a somewhat extended cruise +among these islands, and to examine several of them before coming upon +the one of which we were in search. + +Under these circumstances we came to the conclusion that it would be +unadvisable to give the pirates any indication of our true destination +by steering on our proper course as long as they were in sight, for the +destruction of their two boats, with the loss of their crews, would +undoubtedly kindle such a desire for vengeance in the breasts of the +survivors as, in all likelihood, to prompt them to go a good bit out of +their way, if necessary, to get it. + +So, after a long debate and a careful examination of the chart, which I +brought on deck for the purpose, we decided to bear away on a course as +though bound to New Zealand. + +This took us about a point farther off the wind than we had been +steering for the last few hours; but we did not trouble much about that, +as we hoped to give the brig the slip some time during the ensuing +night. + +Accordingly we bore away upon the course decided on; the sails were +trimmed with the utmost nicety, and then, it being about the time for +our evening meal, I took the tiller, while Bob went below to look after +the kettle. + +The brig was by this time about six or seven miles astern of us, and was +steering directly after us, with apparently every stitch of canvas set +that would draw. I lashed the tiller for a moment, and jumped down +below for my sextant, with which I returned to the deck, and carefully +set him by it, with the view of ascertaining just before dark whether he +had gained anything on us, or we on him, in the interim. + +Tea being ready, Bob served it on deck; and whilst we leisurely +discussed the meal, we talked over our chances of dodging our pursuer +during the night. + +Unfortunately, these now appeared to be rather slender; for there was +not a cloud to be seen, and the moon, well advanced in her second +quarter, was already visible in the deep sapphire of the eastern sky ere +the west had well begun to glow with the rich warm hues of sunset. And +to add to our difficulty in this respect, the wind again fell lighter, +and ere long died completely away. + +The sun went down in calm and cloudless splendour; the golden glories of +the west deepened into rich crimson, then faded into purple, and from +purple into warm grey; the brief twilight quickly deepened into night, +and the moon, "sweet regent of the sky," shed her soft silvery beams +abroad over the tranquil ocean; while the larger stars added their +mellow radiance to beautify the scene. + +There was not the faintest breath of wind to ruffle the mirror-like +surface of the long glassy swells as they undulated sluggishly beneath +us; and the flap of our canvas, the pattering of the reef-points, the +creaking of the main-boom, and the occasional "_cheep, cheep_" of the +rudder upon its pintles, served but to mark and emphasise the deep calm +of sleeping Nature. + +It was a glorious night--a night of such exquisite loveliness as is +perhaps never witnessed except when far away from land; but, situated as +we were, greatly as we admired its beauty, we would rather have +witnessed a sky traversed by fast-flying clouds, and would gladly have +exchanged the tender silence which brooded around us for the singing of +the wind through our rigging and the hissing sound of the rapidly +following surges. + +We walked fore and aft on our short deck, one on each side, smoking our +pipes and whistling for a breeze, and pausing occasionally to listen for +the roll of oars in their rowlocks, or their plash in the water; for we +did not know what new trick our neighbour astern might feel disposed to +play us, though we both thought it improbable he would send another boat +away--at all events, whilst we maintained our present distance from him. + +He was distinctly visible in the bright moonlight, and of course we kept +a watchful eye upon him; but we could detect no signs aboard of him to +give us any uneasiness. + +At length, just about eight bells, as Bob was preparing to go below, I +noticed that the shimmer of the moonbeams, which had hitherto played in +but a few wavering streaks over the surface of the water close to us, +was now revealing itself on the horizon, spreading gradually abroad on +each side of the point at which it had first appeared, and slowly +advancing over the surface of the ocean towards us. + +"Here comes the breeze, Bob!" I exclaimed. "Stay on deck a few minutes +longer until we can see what is to be the order of the night. See, +there it comes, away out from the eastward; and the brig is already +squaring away his yards, as though he felt the first faint puffs. Ay," +continued I, as I took a look at him through the glass, "there go his +stunsail-booms, and there go his stunsails to boot. Now the rascal will +run down to us with the first of the breeze, and perhaps have us under +his guns before we can catch a breath of it. Cast loose this +spinnaker-boom, old man, and let's get it rigged out and the sail set in +readiness for the breeze when it comes. If we can only get it before he +comes within range of us, I believe we can walk away from him even in a +run to leeward, provided we don't have the breeze _too_ strong." + +We worked with a will, the reader may be sure, and soon had the huge +sail set on the starboard side, whilst the main-boom was guyed out to +port. + +We then went all round the deck, taking a pull at the halliards where +necessary; and then, though a heavy dew was falling, we got up a small +hand-pump and some hose we had provided ourselves with, and gave the +sails a thorough wetting. + +The brig ran down to within about a couple of miles of us before the +first faint cat's-paws came stealing over the water towards us; then the +balloon-topsail filled, collapsed, and filled again, the spinnaker +ceased its rustle, and there was a gentle surge as the light strain +first came upon the spars and rigging; the tiller began to vibrate +beneath my hand, a long ripple spread itself out from each bow, and the +_Water Lily_ began once more to slip gaily away. + +I got Bob to give a look to our preventers, in case it should become a +matter of sheer _carrying on_, and then sent him below, as it had been a +day of excitement for him, and, consequently, of fatigue. + +The breeze gradually freshened, the water hissed and sparkled away from +our sharp bows, and the swirling eddies in our wake told a cheering tale +as to the speed with which we were flying over the surface of the now +crisply-ruffled ocean; and before my watch was out, I had the +satisfaction of seeing that we were certainly drawing away from our +persevering enemy, the broad, flat model of the _Lily_ being as +favourable to her sailing powers before the wind as her deep keel was +when close-hauled. + +I called Bob at midnight, and strictly cautioned him to give me timely +notice if the breeze freshened sufficiently to necessitate a reduction +of canvas, or if anything occurred rendering my presence on deck +desirable; and then I dived below, flung off my clothes, and tumbled +into my hammock, and "in the twinkling of a purser's lantern" was fast +asleep. + +When I went on deck again at four o'clock I found that the breeze had +freshened very considerably during my watch below, and under other +circumstances I should most certainly have taken in the spinnaker and +shifted topsails; but though we had dropped the brig considerably, he +still hung most pertinaciously in our wake, so there was nothing for it +but still to carry on. + +The craft must have been a splendid sailer, for, though by this time we +were going close upon sixteen knots, we had not increased our distance +from her much more than four miles during the time I had been below. + +Nothing worthy of note occurred during my watch. The wind appeared to +have reached the limits of its strength, and now blew steadily, with +sufficient force to try our spars and gear to their utmost, but not +quite strong enough to carry anything away, and we continued to increase +our distance from the brig. + +At seven bells I called Bob, who set about the preparations for +breakfast, and great were our mutual congratulations over that meal at +the now thoroughly-established fact that, fast as the _Albatross_ +undoubtedly was, she was no match for the little _Water Lily_ in +ordinary weather. + +As soon as breakfast was over and the things cleared away, I got an +observation for the longitude, and then went below to have a nap, +desiring Bob to call me at seven bells, that I might take a meridian +altitude. + +He did so, and as soon as I came on deck with my sextant, he said, "Look +there, Harry, what d'ye think of that? I wouldn't call ye when I first +made 'em out, as it only wanted half an hour to seven bells, and I +knowed you'd feel a bit tired after yesterday. But _ain't_ it a +wonderful sight?" + +As he spoke he pointed away to a little on our starboard bow, and +stooping down in order to see under the foot of the spinnaker, I there +beheld what was indeed to me a wonderful sight. Away nearly as far as +we could see, upon the verge of the horizon, appeared a vast herd or +"school" of whales, spouting in all directions and indulging in the most +extraordinary gambols, each apparently striving to outvie the others in +the feat of leaping entirely out of the water. + +I am afraid to make anything like a positive statement as to the heights +achieved by some of the monsters, but it really appeared to me that a +few of them rose nearly, if not quite, five and twenty feet into the +air, descending again with a splash which reminded me of some of the +torpedo experiments I had witnessed when staying for a few days at +Portsmouth. + +I was careful to get my observation, which I rapidly worked out, and +entered in the log; after which I relieved Bob at the tiller, whilst he +went below to see to the dinner. + +As he descended the short companion-ladder he turned round and observed +with a comical look, "I say, Harry, I hope there ain't no stray sarpents +knocking about in this here neighbourhood; 'twould be uncommon awk'ard +for us to have one of they chaps waiting for us ahead and that infarnal +brig still in sight astarn." + +Just as dinner made its appearance I descried a sail about two points on +our starboard bow. It was a vessel under single-reefed topsails, +heading to the southward, and consequently standing across our bows. + +She was too far off for us to make out anything but the heads of her +sails from the deck, but as soon as I saw her I resigned the tiller to +Bob and went up as far as the cross-trees to have a better look at her. + +From thence I made her out to be a barque apparently close-hauled on the +port tack; but of what nationality she might be we were yet too far +distant from her to decide, though I thought from the cut of her sails +that she was English. + +I was still standing upon the cross-trees, shouting my observations to +Bob, when I noticed a commotion amongst the herd of whales, which we +were by this time fast nearing, and bringing my glass to bear, I at +length made out three boats pulling towards them. + +The whales were evidently rather doubtful as to the intentions of these +boats, though we were not. We saw at once that the stranger was a +whaler, and that these were her boats despatched in chase. + +The whales came swimming leisurely to windward with the boats in hot +pursuit. What to do was now the question with us. We ought most +certainly to advise the whalers of the character of the brig, but it +would never do to shorten sail and deviate anything considerable from +our course with this object. + +We should very probably be taken before we could accomplish our purpose, +and in that event we should sacrifice ourselves without doing the others +any good. However, as a preliminary, we displayed our ensign, and as +the boats were coming almost directly towards us, I sheered sufficiently +out of our course to pass within hail of the leader. + +We were now running through the very thickest of the herd, and it was +rather nervous work, for with a single lash of its mighty tail any one +of the monsters might have destroyed us; and with such a cloud of canvas +as we were carrying the deviations from our course which we dared to +make were very trifling. + +Had we luffed, for example, high enough for our spinnaker to jibe, the +craft would probably have "turned the turtle" with us; or, if we had +proved fortunate enough to escape this, we should most certainly have +made a clean sweep of the spars. + +We were almost within hail of the leading boat when she fastened to an +enormous whale. The creature dived instantly, taking out line at a +tremendous rate, but still continuing on its original course. + +This brought the boat close past us on our starboard side, the crew +sitting with their oars apeak, and the water foaming a good foot above +the level of the boat's bows as she was towed furiously along. + +I took the trumpet in my hand, and as she dashed past, I hailed, "The +brig astern is a pirate; cut adrift and rejoin your ship as soon as +possible." + +The boat-steerer waved his hand, but they made no attempt to free +themselves from the whale, and I feared they had not clearly understood +me; though I saw the men turning to each other as though comparing notes +on the communication I had made, and the boat-steerer shaded his eyes +with his hand as he took a hasty look at the rapidly approaching brig. + +The two other boats, meanwhile, were pulling away to the southward in +pursuit of a couple of gigantic whales which had separated from the rest +of the herd, and which, from the pace at which they were travelling, +seemed likely to lead their pursuers a pretty dance. It was quite out +of our power to convey any warning to those, and I was most reluctantly +compelled to stand on upon our original course, or dead to leeward. + +Presently the whale which was struck turned sharp round, and came +tearing back over the ground he had just traversed. I felt more than +half inclined to take as broad a sheer as I dared out of his way; I did +not at all like the look of him as he came foaming down towards us. + +But the desire to repeat my warning was stronger even than my fear of +the whale; and, watching him narrowly as he came up, I directed Bob how +to steer, and the instant he was past us, Bob eased down the helm, and +we sheered towards the boat he had in tow. + +I stood by with the trumpet as before, but it was unnecessary, for as +they came alongside, the boat-steerer sheered our way, whilst the crew +rapidly paid out line, by which means the whale-boat's speed was so +reduced that we had time to communicate before she passed ahead. + +"Cutter ahoy!" hailed the boat-steerer as we rushed along within twenty +feet of each other; "what was that you said just now?" + +"The brig astern of us is a pirate," I replied; "she fired upon us +yesterday at mid-day, and has been in chase ever since. I would advise +you to rejoin your ship before she comes up if possible. Your skipper +will need all his hands on board if she ranges alongside." + +"The devil!" ejaculated he in reply. "You don't seem hit anywhere," +glancing aloft at our taper spars and snowy canvas, which showed no +wounds or shot-holes to vouch for the truth of my statement. + +"No," answered I; "he only had time to fire five shots at us before we +slipped past him to windward, and we escaped untouched." + +"Hang it!" he exclaimed, in a tone of vexation; "I don't like to lose +this fine fish that we're fast to; but we shall have to let him go, no +doubt of that; but how the devil am I to recall the other boats?" + +"I will fire our gun to attract their attention," I replied, "and you +can make any signal you think most likely to effect your object." + +"Thank 'ee," returned he; "I shall be obliged if you will." + +And then he signalled to the men who had charge of the line, and they +gradually reduced the speed at which it ran out, and finally held all +fast with an extra turn round the bollard, and away the boat dashed once +more. + +I charged the gun (which still remained mounted on deck) with a blank +cartridge, and duly greasing the muzzle to increase the report, fired. +The crew of the whale-boat tossed their oars on end, and kept them so +for a few minutes, or until it was seen that the other boats had +abandoned the chase, and were pulling back toward them. + +The crew of the boat which was fast to the whale were knowing enough not +to cut themselves adrift so long as their prize towed them in the +direction they wished to go; and, as he seemed to have started for a +regular long run to leeward, they appeared to stand a very fair chance +of being towed almost alongside their ship. + +She had been making short stretches to windward ever since we first +sighted her, and we were by this time within a couple of miles of her. +From her motions we judged that the people left on board to work her had +heard the report of our gun, and had witnessed the recall of the other +two boats, and perhaps suspected that something was wrong somewhere, for +she was now plainly manoeuvring to close with all three of the boats as +quickly as possible. + +The whale, meanwhile, had been running in such a direction as to cross +the barque's bows about a quarter of a mile distant, and he actually ran +far enough to enable the crew of the boat which had fastened to him to +cut themselves adrift when fairly in their ship's course; so that, in a +very few minutes after the stroke of the keen tomahawk had severed their +tow-line, they were alongside, and the boat was run up to the davits. + +So smart were the crew of the whaler in picking up their boat, that they +must have swung their main-yard the moment the frail craft was hooked +on, without waiting until she was actually hoisted up. + +The barque had scarcely begun to gather way before the hands were in her +rigging, and next moment they were laying out on both topsail-yards and +turning out the reefs; although the breeze was so strong that, +half-loaded as she was, she was careening almost gunwale to. + +We passed close under her stern; and her skipper, as we drew near, +walked aft to the taffrail and hailed us. + +"Thank you, sir, for your information; please report us and this +circumstance; God knows whether we shall escape the rascals or no." + +I waved my hand, to signify that I understood and would comply with his +request; noting, as I did so, the name and the port of registry of the +vessel, which were painted on her stern in white letters: "The +_Kingfisher_, of Hull." + +Scarcely were we past her, when we saw a small red flag go fluttering up +to her main-topgallant-mast-head; a signal, as we supposed, to hurry the +other boats back. The poor fellows were awkwardly situated. + +Had they been hull-down to the northward or the southward, the pirates +might possibly, in the eagerness of their desire for vengeance upon us, +have allowed her to pass on unmolested; but now that the barque lay +almost directly within their path, we dared not hope for any such +display of forbearance. + +There were many stores on board a well-found whaler which would be most +useful to men situated like the desperadoes on board the brig; and they +would scarcely forego the opportunity of making the acquisition for the +sake of continuing to chase a craft which was indubitably walking away +from them fast, and which must run them out of sight altogether in a few +hours more, unless some accident occurred to place her within their +power. + +We watched the proceedings of the two vessels with the most absorbing +interest, as may well be supposed. The _Lily_ was very quickly far +enough to leeward of the barque to enable us to see the two boats clear +of his bow; and we noticed that their crews were pulling with might and +main. + +But in about ten minutes' time they were once more shut in by the +intervention of their vessel's hull between us and them; and before they +could open out astern of her, the barque went in stays, having +apparently stood on far enough to fetch her boats on the next tack. + +The brig had in the interim run down to within about four miles of the +whaler, and was still flying along, dead before the wind, with +everything set, up to topgallant stunsails on both sides; and no sign +had so far revealed itself on board her by which we could judge of the +intention of her crew. + +By the time that she had run another mile, we saw the whaler's main-yard +once more thrown aback; an indication that she was about to pick up her +other two boats; and there now appeared to be a strong probability that +she would have time to hoist them in and be off again, before the pirate +could approach her within gun-shot. + +The situation became eminently exciting; and so anxious was I that the +whaler should have every chance of making her escape, that I directed +Bob to let go our spinnaker out-haul, and allow the traveller to run in +along the boom, in the hope that, by leading the pirates to believe it +had become necessary for us to shorten sail, they might be tempted, +after all, to keep on in chase of us, instead of interfering with the +barque. + +It would have afforded us almost unmitigated satisfaction to have seen +them continue the chase, for we now felt perfectly satisfied that in +moderate weather we had the heels of the _Albatross_, both close-hauled +and running free, and could we succeed in decoying them far enough to +leeward to permit of the whaler making good his escape, I was willing to +trust to the future for the means of ultimately shaking our vindictive +pursuer off. + +In further prosecution of this project, as soon as Bob had got the +spinnaker in, I lashed the tiller for a moment and jumped forward to +assist him in getting in our enormous balloon-topsail, which I foresaw +would have to be taken off the craft shortly if we wished to save the +topmast, the wind being rather on the increase and our rigging already +strained to the tension of harp-strings. This done, we found time to +take another look at the whaler. + +His main-yard was just swinging as we turned our glances in his +direction, and then his bows fell off until he headed about north-west; +his men springing into the rigging and scurrying away aloft to loose +topgallant-sails; one hand meantime laying out on the jibboom to loose +the flying-jib. + +Away went the jolly old craft in magnificent style, heading about +north-west, and evidently upon her best point of sailing. She crossed +our stern, shutting out the pirate brig for a moment, and we fully +expected that when that craft next appeared we should see her hauled up +in chase; but nothing of the kind; on she came, still heading direct for +us, and I began to hope that our plan of luring her on to follow us was +about to prove successful. + +Two or three minutes, which seemed like ages to us, elapsed; and then, +all in a moment, his stunsails (or _studding_-sails, as I ought more +correctly to spell the word) collapsed, and fluttered wildly for a few +seconds in the breeze, and disappeared; his royal-halliards were let go, +and the sails rolled up and furled; and as he hauled up to follow the +barque, his foresail lifted and there was a flash, a puff of white +smoke, and before the report had time to drive down to us we saw the +shot skipping along from wave to wave, as a polite intimation to the +barque to heave to. + +But the whaling skipper was not the man to give up without a struggle. +He had no studding-sails, but he was heading in such a direction that +the brig could not use hers while following him, and it seemed that he +trusted to his light trim to enable him to get clear. + +Gun after gun was now rapidly fired by the pirates, but they were not +yet within range, though it was only too evident that they would be +before very long, and I greatly feared that the barque's chances of +escape were remarkably small. + +In about an hour they both disappeared in the north-western board; but, +when last seen, the barque was still carrying on, with the pirate +banging away at her most perseveringly with his long gun. + +"Thank goodness, we're shut of the blackguards at last!" exclaimed Bob, +as the sails of the two craft sank below the horizon; "though I'm +duberous it's a poor look out for them whalin' chaps. If the poor +beggars gets caught, it's small marcy as they'll have showed 'em, unless +there's any on 'em white-livered enough to jine the brig to save their +lives. Skipper Johnson won't be partic'lar amiable, I reckon, a'ter the +loss of his two boats' crews yesterday--two-and-twenty hands, all told; +and I don't suppose as he's the man to mind much _who_ he has his +revenge upon, so long's he _gets_ it. But what's to be our next move, +lad, now we're once more all alone by ourselves?" + +"I've been thinking about that," I replied. "I do not expect the +pirates will trouble their heads about us any more, now that they have +lost sight of us; but they _may_, and it will be just as well to provide +against any such contingency. If they resume the chase, they will most +probably look for us somewhere on the course we were steering when last +seen, or else to the northward. There is nothing to take us to the +southward, so that is the most improbable direction, in my opinion, in +which they are likely to look for us; and that, therefore, is the +direction in which I propose to steer. Let us make the craft snug, and +stand away to the southward and eastward, full and by, and at eight +o'clock to-morrow morning we will go about and make a leg to the +northward and eastward for perhaps twenty-four hours. This will place +us well to windward, and in about the last spot in the world where he +would think of looking for us. What do you think of the plan, Bob?" + +"Fust rate," responded that worthy; "a regular traverse, and about the +most in-and-out bit of carcumvention as the ingenuity o' man could +invent. Let's set about it at once, my lad; and by the time as we've +cleared up a bit, and made things comfortable, it'll be time to see +about gettin' tea." + +We accordingly set about "making things comfortable" forthwith. The +balloon-topsail was carefully rolled up and put away, the spinnaker +(which we had only allowed to run in close to the mast, and had hastily +secured with a stop or two) ditto, and our topmast housed; the +spinnaker-boom was run in, unrigged, and secured, and we then gibed the +mainsail over, and stood away, close-hauled, about south-east, the +little _Lily_ staggering along in regular racing style under whole lower +canvas, when by rights, with the amount of wind we had, we ought to have +had at least _one_ reef down, and the Number 1 jib shifted for Number 2. + +However, we were used to carrying on by this time, and had become so +thoroughly intimate with the cutter's sail-carrying powers that we knew +we might safely give her all the canvas her spars would bear. + +By the time that all was done, and our gun (which we did not think it +worth while to dismount and stow away again for the present) carefully +covered over with its painted canvas coat, the sun was on the verge of +the horizon, the weather having a settled appearance, with a promise of +the breeze holding good through the night. + +END OF VOLUME ONE. + +Volume Two, Chapter I. + +THE WRECK OF THE COPERNICUS. + +At eight o'clock next morning, nothing having occurred during the night +worthy of record, we went about and stood away about north-east on the +starboard tack. The wind continued fresh, but steady, and we averaged +quite thirteen knots during the whole of the next twenty-four hours. + +Having carried out our plan for eluding the brig, and being by this time +well to windward of the spot where we parted company with her, I +considered we might now with safety bear away upon our course, which we +accordingly did directly after breakfast, setting our balloon +gaff-topsail once more, and getting the spinnaker to the bowsprit-end +again. + +This additional canvas had the effect of increasing our speed to fully +sixteen knots; and the alteration of our course produced a corresponding +and very agreeable change in the motion of the yacht; the quick jerky +plunge of a vessel digging into a head-sea being exchanged for a long +easy swinging roll, which was far more conducive to comfort, especially +as we now enjoyed the added luxury of a dry deck. + +Three days passed utterly devoid of incident, except that the wind +gradually hauled far enough aft to enable us to shift our spinnaker from +the bowsprit-end to the starboard side; and once more we were flying +along upon our course with the wind nearly dead fair, and every stitch +of canvas spread that we had the means of packing upon the little craft. + +With our low hull, we must have presented the appearance of a snow-white +pyramid, gliding, unsupported, over the surface of the ocean. On the +morning of the fourth day, as I came upon deck at seven-bells to relieve +Bob, whilst he looked after breakfast, the old fellow said, "Here, +Harry, your eyes are younger than mine; what d'ye make this out to be +away here broad upon our starboard-bow?" + +I looked in the direction indicated, and saw what appeared to be the +stumps of three spars just showing above the horizon. I took the glass, +and went aloft as far as the crosstrees, and from that "coign of +'vantage" made out that they were the lower masts of a full-rigged ship +of considerable size; for I could see the three lower yards with long +streamers of canvas fluttering from them. + +The topmasts were carried away close to the caps and hung over the side, +with topgallant-masts, yards, sails, etc., still attached, a great +tangled mass of wreck. There was no signal of distress flying on board +so far as I could see, so I concluded that the vessel was derelict; but +as it would not take us very much out of our way, and as we were in no +great hurry, I resolved to haul up and take a nearer look at her. + +Accordingly, having advised Bob of what I had seen and of my intention, +we took in the spinnaker and gaff-topsail, lowered the topmast, and then +hauled up for the stranger. + +An hour afterwards we were near enough to make out that she was a most +beautiful craft of about eighteen hundred tons register, with very +little the matter with her apparently, except that she had been +dismasted, doubtless in some sudden squall. + +We saw but one boat at her davits, and that was the one at her starboard +quarter, which had been smashed completely in two by the wreck of the +mizzen-topmast in its fall; we therefore concluded that the crew, seized +by an unaccountable panic, had left her. + +We were within a quarter of a mile of the vessel, when a solitary +figure, that of a female, appeared upon her lofty poop. She no sooner +saw us approaching than she waved her handkerchief to us vehemently, to +which we responded by waving our hats; when, seeing that her signal had +been observed, she sank down upon the lid of the skylight, and seemed to +give way to a violent flood of tears. + +"Why, damn me if it don't look as if the mean cowardly crew have been +and desarted the poor thing," exclaimed Bob with unusual vehemence, as +we noticed that the figure never moved as though to direct the attention +of others to our approach. + +It looks very like it, I replied; but we shall soon see. It will be an +awkward matter to board, however, with all that wreck dangling about to +leeward. Stand by to ease the jib-sheet up, as I put the helm down. + +Another minute, and we were hove to on the ship's lee quarter, as near +as we dared approach. + +The young girl (for such we now saw her to be) had by this time so far +recovered her composure as to rise up once more and approach the +lee-side of the deck. + +Taking off my hat, and making my best bow, I hailed, "Are you all alone +on board there?" + +"Yes, oh yes," she replied, in the sweetest voice I had ever heard; "I +have been quite alone for more than a week. Pray, pray do not go away +and leave me again, sir. I have been nearly mad, and I shall die if I +remain alone here much longer." + +"Make your mind quite easy, my dear young lady," I replied; "we +certainly will not leave you, come what may. But it will be very +difficult for us to get on board, with those spars swaying about; and +the attempt to do so may occupy much time. But do not suffer the +slightest apprehension; we will get you off the wreck somehow, never +fear. After all," I remarked, half to her and half to Bob, "I believe +the quickest way out of the difficulty will be for me to jump overboard +and swim alongside; there are plenty of ropes-ends hanging over the side +to help me on board." + +"Oh no, sir!" she exclaimed eagerly, "indeed you must do nothing of the +kind. There is an immense shark down there," pointing under the +counter; "he has scarcely left the ship a moment since the sailors went +away." + +This was awkward. There seemed no chance of being able to get on board +to leeward, the whole of the ship's starboard side being completely +encumbered with wreck; and there was far too much sea to permit of our +running alongside to windward. + +I took a careful glance at the gear aloft, and then made up my mind what +to do. + +The ship's fore-yard was lying nearly square, the yard-arms projecting +several feet beyond the ship's sides, and I decided to board, by means +of the fore-brace, to windward. + +I hailed the young girl, telling her what to do to assist me, and then +set about making preparations for leaving the _Water Lily_ in Bob's sole +charge for a while. + +We took a double reef in the mainsail, and took the jib in altogether, +running in the jib-boom also. This placed the craft under handy canvas +for one man to work, and, at the same time, prevented the possibility of +the jib-boom being carried away. We also got our cork-fenders upon +deck, in case of unavoidably dropping alongside, and were then ready to +make the proposed experiment. + +The young girl had, meantime, made the lee fore-brace fast, and had then +gone over to windward and cast off the running part of the +weather-brace, which she threw overboard. + +I now hailed again, telling her what we were about to do, and then +signed to Bob to put the helm up. + +The cutter fell off until she was dead before the wind, when we gibed +her and hauled again to the wind on the starboard tack, so as to cross +the ship's stern at a sufficient distance to insure the success of our +contemplated manoeuvre. + +Bob was a splendid helmsman, or I should have hesitated about attempting +the feat we were now going to put in practice, as the slightest +nervousness or want of tact on his part would have resulted in very +serious damage to the _Lily_, if it did not actually cause her total +destruction. But I had full confidence in his skill; and, moreover, was +there not a woman to be rescued from a position which might at any +moment become one of the most imminent peril, even if it were not so +already? + +So, as soon as we were far enough to windward, I signed to Bob to put +down the helm, and round the little craft came like a top, and away we +flew down towards the ship's weather-side, going well free, but with the +sheets flattened in, all ready to luff and claw off to windward the +moment I had got hold of the brace. + +Down we swept direct for the ship's weather-quarter, the fair girl +standing again upon the poop and watching our motions with the most +overwhelming anxiety. + +At exactly the right instant, Bob eased his helm gently down, and the +cutter shot along the ship's lofty side within ten feet of it. I stood +just forward of the rigging, ready to seize the brace the moment it came +within reach, and in another instant I had it. + +Shouting to Bob to luff, I swung myself off into the air, and made the +best of my way aloft hand over hand. + +It had been my original intention to ascend to the yard-arm, and, laying +in from thence, descend the fore-rigging to the deck; but, pausing for a +moment, in my anxiety to see whether Bob would scrape dear--which he +very cleverly did, having kept good way on the boat--I found that, aided +by the roll of the vessel, I might easily swing myself in upon her rail. + +This I soon managed, landing upon the deck to find myself confronted by +the most lovely little creature you can imagine, who extended both her +hands impulsively to me as she exclaimed, "Oh, welcome, sir, welcome! +and a thousand thousand thanks for coming to my help! and at such danger +too! How can I ever repay you?" + +"I am more than repaid already," replied I, "for the very slight trouble +I have taken, by the happiness of finding it in my power to rescue you +from your present situation. The first thing to be done," I continued, +"is to provide for the safety of my little craft, after which we shall +have ample time, I hope, to make suitable arrangements for transferring +you on board her. Ah! a lucky thought," continued I, as I saw the +sounding-rod and line attached to the fife-rail, "let us see what water +the craft has in her." + +I sounded, and found there was barely two feet of water in the hold, so +it was evident that the vessel was perfectly tight and seaworthy, except +as to the damage aloft. + +Bob had by this time passed ahead and to leeward, and was now +approaching on our lee quarter once more. I waited until he was within +hail, and then told him to heave-to well clear of the ship, as I +proposed to cut adrift all the wreck, a task which I thought I could +manage without very much difficulty, and which when done would enable +the _Water Lily_ to come alongside to leeward. + +He waved his hand in reply, and the fore-sheet being already to +windward, he left the cutter to take care of herself, while he seated +himself composedly in a deck-chair to smoke his pipe and watch my +proceedings. + +I soon found a tomahawk, and, armed with this, I went up the +mizzen-rigging, intending to work my way forward. It was hard work +single-handed; but by noon I had succeeded in clearing the whole mass +away, and the ship soon drifted free of it, leaving her upper spars a +confused floating mass upon the water. + +As soon as this was done, I got an eight-inch hawser off the top of the +house forward, and managed with considerable labour to get it coiled +down afresh upon the poop. I then bent on a heaving-line to one end of +the hawser, which, by this means, I got to the cutter, when we moored +her securely astern of the ship. + +Bob then came on board up a rope which I had lashed to the mizzen +boom-end for his accommodation; and we found time to look around us. + +As soon as our fair hostess saw me fairly at work upon the wreck aloft, +she had betaken herself to the galley and I saw her from time to time, +during the intervals of my labour, busying herself in sundry culinary +operations; and she now came upon the poop where Bob and I were +standing, and announced that dinner was ready, adding, "And I am sure +you must stand in need of it after your hard morning's work." + +I thanked her and said, "But before we go below, permit me to introduce +myself. My name," raising my hat and bowing, "is Henry Collingwood, and +I am the owner of the small craft now hanging on astern. This," +indicating Bob, who took off his hat and made a most elaborate "scrape," +"is my friend and well-tried shipmate, Robert Trunnion, who, with +myself, will do all we can to make you comfortable on board the cutter, +and will stand by you to the death if need be, until we have placed you +in perfect safety." + +The fair girl seemed much affected by my speech, but bowing most +gracefully in return, she said, "And my name is Ella Brand. I have been +left alone in this ship by what I cannot but believe was a dreadful +mistake, and I accept your hospitality and help as frankly as you have +offered it. And now, gentlemen, that we are properly introduced," with +a gay laugh, "permit me to conduct you to the cabin. Come, pussy." + +This last invitation was bestowed upon a pretty little playful kitten +which had been following the girl about the ship all the morning. + +When we entered the cabin which, as is the case in most large ships, was +on deck, we found a most sumptuous meal prepared. Whatever other +dangers the little fairy might have been exposed to, it was quite +evident that Miss Brand had been in no immediate danger of starving. + +Like a sensible girl she had obtained access to the ship's stores, and +was evidently well acquainted with the most approved methods of +preparing food for human consumption. The meal was a thoroughly +pleasant one, for we were all happy; she, that assistance had come to +her, and we, that it had been our good fortune to bestow it. + +Whilst sitting at table the sweet little creature gave us her history, +and recounted the circumstances which had placed her in her present +position; but as there was nothing very remarkable in either, I shall +give both in a condensed form, as I have a most wholesome dread of +wearying my readers. + +She told us that she was an only child, and that for the last ten years +she had been a resident in Canton, whither her father had proceeded to +take possession of a lucrative appointment. After a residence of five +years there, her mother died; and her father, who was passionately +attached to his wife, seemed never to have recovered from the blow. + +Five years more passed away, and the husband followed his fondly-loved +companion, dying (so Ella asserted sobbingly) of no disease in +particular, but of a gradual wasting away, the result, as she believed, +of a slowly breaking heart. + +She thus found herself left alone and almost friendless in a strange +land, and, after taking counsel with such friends as her father had +made, she had, with their assistance, disposed of everything, and had +taken passage in the _Copernicus_ to London, in the faint hope of being +able to find some friends of her mother's of whom she had heard, but had +never seen, her mother having contracted what is termed a +_mesalliance_--in other words, a love-match with one whom her friends +chose to consider infinitely beneath her in social position. + +The ship was bound home by way of Cape Horn, having to call at the +Sandwich Islands and Buenos Ayres on her way; and all had gone well +until eight days before, when, it appeared, the ship was struck by a +sudden squall some time during the night, thrown on her beam-ends, and +dismasted; and as Ella had remained, during the whole time, cowering and +terrified in her berth, she supposed the crew had gone away in the +boats, forgetting her in their hurry and panic. + +As soon as the squall was over, the ship had gradually righted again; +and when she went on deck next morning, she found everything in a state +of wreck and confusion, and herself, and her pet kitten, and a few fowls +in the coops, the only living things on board. + +Her story ended, Bob and I expressed our sympathy for her friendless +condition, and repeated our protestations of devotion, for both of which +we were thanked anew, so sweetly that we could have gone on making +promises for the rest of the day with the prospect of such a reward at +the end of it. + +I am not good at personal description, so I shall not attempt +elaborately to describe Ella Brand. + +Imagine a _petite demoiselle_ of seventeen years of age, of almost +fairy-like proportions, faultlessly formed, with most lovely features, +and a delicate little exquisitely poised head, crowned with a luxuriance +of rich chestnut hair, which, apparently defying all its owner's efforts +to control, flowed in a profusion of soft sheeny waves over her +beautiful shoulders and down to her taper waist. + +Her eyes were clear hazel, large and soft as those of a gazelle; her +lips full and beautifully curved; and the expression of her sweet face +confiding as that of a child; while her manner was a most fascinating +combination of the innocent frankness of childhood with the more subtle +and graceful refinement of a modest and educated woman. + +Her temper, as we soon found, was perfect; and she was gifted with a +genial flow of spirits, which not only made their owner light-hearted +and happy, but conferred happiness upon all who had the good fortune to +be thrown in her society. + +Dinner ended, Bob and I adjourned to the deck to make preparations for +transferring our fair young guest to the _Water Lily_, so as to be +fairly away from the wreck again before nightfall. + +As soon as we were out of the cabin, Bob observed: + +"I call the falling in with this here _wrack_" (so he pronounced the +word) "downright providential, Harry. Here we has, fust of all, the +very great pleasure of being of sarvice to a most charming young 'oman; +and next, we has a chance of filling up our stores and water--and not +afore 'twas time, too, for I bethought me this morning of seeing how our +tank stood, and I'm blest if we ain't a'most at our last drop. It's +lucky there's plenty of it aboard here. I sees more water-casks about +the deck than will supply all as we wants; and I think our first job had +better be to get the hose and pump under weigh, and fill up our water; +a'ter which we can soon strike a few odds and ends into the cutter such +as'll be useful, and then the sooner we're off the better." + +We set to work with a will and Ella coming on deck at the moment, I +requested her to pack her boxes in readiness for sending them over the +side, asking her, at the same time, whether it would take her long. + +She replied briskly, Oh, no; she had brought hardly anything with her-- +only three large boxes and one small one. + +Only! A chest apiece held Bob's and my own stock of clothing, and we +considered ourselves opulently supplied; and here was a young girl who +had brought hardly anything with her--only such few trifles as she could +stow away in three large boxes and one small one. The three large +boxes, by the way, turned out to be considerably larger than either of +our sea-chests, and the small one would have sufficed for a seaman on a +three years' voyage. + +We did not hesitate about helping ourselves freely to the best the ship +afforded, judging that it was highly improbable she would ever reach a +port, unless fallen in with and taken possession of by an exceptionally +strong-handed vessel (and even then our petty appropriations would never +be missed); and we laid in a liberal stock of dainties of various kinds, +for the especial benefit of our lady passenger, which we should never +have dreamed of taking on our own account. We also transferred one +coop, with as many fowls as it would conveniently accommodate, to the +cutter; and I made free with a very handsome swinging-cot which I found +in the captain's cabin, also for our passenger's use, together with a +good stock of bedding. + +All these we collected together on the lee-side of the deck; and when +everything was ready, we got the cutter alongside, and, with +considerable difficulty, got them over the side and down on her deck. + +Bob went on board the _Water Lily_ to receive them and stow them away as +I lowered them down, and at length all was ready, and it only remained +to get Ella herself on board and shove off. + +We had less difficulty with her than I expected. She was rather +nervous; but, nevertheless, she seated herself courageously with her +beloved kitten in her lap, in the bo'sun's chair I had rigged for her +accommodation, and held on tight, shutting her eyes as she swung off the +ship's bulwarks, until she felt Bob's brawny arms receive her on the +deck of the cutter. + +I then quickly followed; the fasts were cast off, and we wore round and +stood away once more upon our course just as the sun dipped below the +horizon. + +Our first task was to crowd all the canvas we could muster upon the +yacht, to make up for the day's delay; and when Ella came up from the +cabin, whither she had gone upon an exploring expedition, she expressed +the greatest surprise and a little alarm at the change we had wrought in +the _Water Lily's_ appearance. + +She could not understand, she said, how so small a vessel could support +such a towering spread of canvas as she now saw courting the fresh +evening breeze. + +The presence of our fair guest on board made certain alterations +necessary in the internal arrangements of the cutter, and I left Bob at +the helm in animated conversation with Ella, whilst I went below to +effect them. Our cooking-stove was shifted aft, and the whole of the +fore-compartment was thus left free for the accommodation of the young +lady; and I at once converted it into a sleeping apartment for her by +swinging her cot there. + +I selected this part of the vessel for this purpose, as it was the only +one in which she would be entirely uninterrupted by our passage to and +fro; and it was a nice light and _roomy_ apartment, in proportion to the +size of the vessel, there being nothing in it, and having a large +circular plate of very thick roughened plate-glass let into the deck +above. + +Having made the place as comfortable as our resources permitted, I +returned to the deck and relieved Bob at the tiller, desiring him to +look after the arrangements for tea. + +Our guest was sitting close by in one of our deck-chairs, which Bob had +gallantly offered her, and hearing me speak of tea, and understanding +that friend Robert was about to turn cook, she started up with childlike +impetuosity and said, "That is my work now; come along, Mr Trunnion, +and show me your pantry, and where you keep all your things, and I will +soon have your tea ready for you." + +I protested against this, as did Bob, both of us declaring that we could +not possibly consent to her being troubled with the cooking or anything +else; but she drew herself up in a pretty wilful way and said, "Not let +me do the cooking? Indeed, but you must; I insist on it. Why it is +woman's peculiar province to attend to the cooking always. Men never +understand how to cook properly they have neither tact nor patience for +it. They dress food, but women cook it; and I will soon prove to you +how great a difference there is between the two. Now you must let me +have my own way just this once, please," turning coaxingly to me, as she +saw that I was about to make a further protest, and then, when I had +reluctantly consented, she turned to Bob, and said, "Come along, Bob-- +Mr Trunnion, I mean; I really beg your pardon--you shall help me this +time, and afterwards I shall know exactly where to find everything," and +the strangely-contrasted pair dived below, Bob grinning from ear to ear +with delight at his novel situation. + +"Reminds me of little `sauce-box'," (my sister), "this do," he murmured +gleefully, as he followed his fair companion below. + +In rather over half an hour I was invited into the cabin to the evening +meal, Bob taking my place at the tiller meanwhile; and when I descended +I found that a change had indeed taken place in the aspect of culinary +affairs. + +A snow-white tablecloth was spread, having been routed out from the +deepest recesses of my chest, where it, in company with others, had lain +in undisturbed repose since the commencement of the voyage, and upon it +was spread a variety of dainties of various kinds, the produce of our +raid upon the _Copernicus's_ provision lockers; and, of all things in +the world, a plentiful supply of delicious little cakes, smoking hot, +which Miss Ella's own dainty hands had prepared. + +The tea too, instead of being boiled in the kettle as was our usual +practice, had been prepared in accordance with the most approved rules, +and was certainly a very different beverage from what we had been in the +habit of drinking; and, altogether, the meal was a perfect Epicurean +feast compared with what we were accustomed to. + +Ella presided, doing the honours of the small table with the grace of a +princess, and I began to feel as though I had suddenly become an +inhabitant of fairy-land. + +As soon as my meal was over I relieved Bob, and he went below for his +share of the good things; and though Miss Ella had been very demure with +me, I soon discovered, by the peals of musical laughter which, mingled +with Bob's gruffer cachinnations, floated up through the companion, that +the two had completely broken the ice between them. + +As soon as the remains of the meal had been cleared away, and the wants +of her pet kitten attended to, the little lady came on deck and +commenced an animated conversation with Bob and me, as we smoked the +pipe of peace (Ella declaring that she quite liked the odour of +tobacco), asking a thousand questions, and full of wonder that such a +"dear little tiny yacht" had come all the way from England. + +She was most anxious to try her hand at steering, which she thought she +could do quite well; and I promised I would instruct her at a more +favourable opportunity, explaining that we were just then so +circumstanced that none but _experienced_ helmsmen could be trusted with +the tiller, it being more difficult to steer properly when running +before the wind than at any other time. + +"But it _looks_ quite easy," she persisted, "to hold that handle. _You_ +do not move it much, and surely I could do the little you are doing. I +used to steer the _Copernicus_ sometimes, but she never _would_ go +straight with _me_; and it was _so_ tiring to keep turning that great +wheel round." + +Bob laughed joyously at this quaint speech, and proceeded laboriously to +hold forth on the science of the helmsman, interlarding his lecture +copiously with nautical illustrations and sea phrases, which were so +much Greek to his pupil, who listened with an open-eyed earnestness +which was most entertaining. + +She heard Bob with the utmost patience and attention until he had +utterly exhausted his entire stock of precepts, when she thanked him as +courteously and sweetly as though she had understood every word of it; +and then electrified us both, and set me off into a fit of perfectly +uncontrollable laughter, by asking him, in the same breath, to sing her +a song. + +Whatever Bob's accomplishments might be, singing was certainly not one +of them. He could hail the fore-royal-yard from the taffrail in a gale +of wind, and make himself pretty plainly heard too; but when it came to +trolling forth a ditty, he had no more voice than a raven; and my sister +had often thrown him into a state of the most comical distress by +proffering a similar request to that now made by his new friend. + +As soon as she found that Bob really could not sing, she tried me; and, +as I was considered to have a very tolerable voice, I immediately +complied, giving her "Tom Bowling" and a few more of Dibdin's fine old +sea-songs, as well as one or two more frequently heard in a +drawing-room, which I had learnt under my sister's able tuition. + +She then sang us a few favourites of her own in a sweet clear soprano, +and with a depth of feeling for the sentiment of the song which is but +too seldom heard in the performances of amateurs. + +About ten o'clock she wished us "good-night," and retired to her cot; +and Bob then also went below and turned in, it being his "eight hours +in" that night, and I was left to perform the rest of my watch alone. + +The next morning, Bob turned out of his own accord, and made a +surreptitious attempt to resume the duties of the _cuisine_; but at the +first rattle of the cups and saucers he was hailed from the +fore-compartment and ordered to desist at his peril, and in a very short +time the little fairy appeared, blooming and fresh as the morning, and +Master Bob received such a lecture that he was fain from that time +forward to leave the cookery department entirely in her hands, and he +retired discomfited to the deck, and began forthwith to wash down. + +A permanent improvement now occurred in our style of living, and we +began to enjoy many little comforts which, it is true, we never had +missed, but which were singularly welcome nevertheless; and altogether +we found ourselves vastly gainers by the presence of the sweet little +creature on board. + +She quickly learned to take the chronometer time for my observations, +and that, too, with a precision which Bob himself could not surpass; and +in a very short time she could steer as well as either of us, which was +an immense advantage when shortening or making sail. Add to all this +the amusement we derived from her incessant lively prattle, and the +additional cheerfulness thus infused into our daily life, and the reader +will agree with me, I think, that it was a lucky day for us when we +first fell in with little Ella Brand. + +Volume Two, Chapter II. + +A MIRACLE. + +By the time that our fair guest had been on board a week or ten days, +she had put me in possession of probably every circumstance of +importance which had occurred in her past history, and had also touched +lightly upon her future, which, notwithstanding the natural buoyancy of +her temperament, she seemed to regard with considerable apprehension. + +It appeared that, in the first place, she had but a very imperfect idea +as to the whereabouts of her relatives in England. She knew that her +grand-father had a place somewhere down in Leicestershire, and she +thought he also had a house in town; but, as her mother had never heard +from him since her marriage, Ella had been utterly unable to find any +clue to the old gentleman's address, after a most thorough search +through such papers belonging to her parents as had fallen into her +hands after her father's death. + +Then, bearing in mind many conversations between her parents which had +occurred in her presence, she felt the gravest doubt as to whether any +of her relatives, when found, would even condescend so far as to +acknowledge her as a relative, much less assist her in any way. She +inclined to the opinion that they would not, and there were many +circumstances to justify this sentiment, notably one which had occurred +a short time previous to the departure of her parents from England. + +Her father was at the time suffering from nervous debility and severe +mental depression, the result of over-work and incessant anxiety; and to +such a deplorable condition was he reduced that, for a considerable +time, he was completely incapacitated for work of any kind. + +The family resources dwindled to a low ebb, the process being materially +hastened by heavy doctors' bills and other expenses connected with Mr +Brand's condition, and the wife and mother found herself almost at her +wit's-end to provide necessaries for her husband and child, utterly +forgetful of herself all the time. At last, in sheer desperation, she +wrote to her father describing her position, and entreating that +assistance which he could so bountifully bestow--and her letter remained +unanswered. She then wrote to her mother, and this time the letter was +returned unopened. + +She then tried her two brothers in succession, and finally her sister, +and all her attempts to communicate with these unnatural relatives were +treated with the same cold blooded silence. Matters would soon have +crone hard indeed with the Brand family had not a former suitor of Mrs +Brand's (who had been rejected in favour of the man she afterwards took +for her husband) chivalrously came forward at this juncture, not only +relieving their immediate necessities, but also using all his influence, +which was potent, to obtain for Mr Brand the appointment which the poor +fellow held until his death. + +"And supposing," said I, after listening to this disheartening +recital--"supposing that your relatives will _not_ help you, have you +any plans laid to meet such a contingency? `Hope for the best and +provide for the worst' is a favourite motto of your friend Bob; and I +really think it is singularly applicable in your case." + +"No," she replied rather despondently; "no very definite plan, that is. +I am fairly well educated, I believe. Dear mamma was most accomplished, +I have often heard papa say, and she taught me everything she knew. I +speak French, German, and Italian, and seem to have a natural aptitude +for music; and I sketch a little in water-colours. I have all my +materials with me, and a few sketches which I may perhaps be able to +sell when I reach home--I will let you see them some day--and I think I +may perhaps be able to get a situation as governess, or maintain myself +respectably by teaching music and drawing. And then, you know, I am not +absolutely destitute. I have about twenty pounds with me, and I sent +home three hundred, the proceeds of the sale of our furniture, to +England; and some friends of poor papa's in Canton say they are sure he +must have some money invested somewhere, and they have promised to find +out if it really is so, and to realise it for me: and I have given them +the necessary powers to do so; so you see I shall not land in England +actually a beggar." + +"God forbid!" I earnestly ejaculated. "With regard to your landing in +England, I ought perhaps to tell you that you must not hope to do so +very soon. We are now in a part of the world quite out of the usual +track of ships, and I fear it may be some time before we shall fall in +with any, and when we do, it is questionable whether they will be quite +the class of vessel you would like to make the voyage home in. My great +hope is that we may soon fall in with a sandal-wood trader, in which +case you would have an opportunity of returning to China, and +re-shipping from thence home." + +"I hope we shall," she responded; rather dolefully, I thought. "You +have been very good to me, and"--her eyes welling up with tears--"I +shall never forget you; but I know my presence must be a great +inconvenience and embarrassment to you." + +"Pray stop!" I interrupted. "You are under the greatest +misapprehension if you suppose your presence on board the _Water Lily_ +is any other than a source of the most unqualified gratification to her +crew. You are evidently quite ignorant of the beneficent influences of +your presence here, or you would never have spoken of it as an +inconvenience. Your departure will occasion us the keenest regret +whenever it takes place, and were it not that our cramped accommodations +must occasion you very considerable discomfort, I should rejoice at +almost any circumstance which would necessitate your remaining with us +for the rest of the voyage." + +"Do you really mean it?" she exclaimed, her sweet face brightening up at +once. "Oh, I am _so_ glad! Do you know I have thought your anxiety to +meet with a ship arose from my being in your way, and troublesome? And +you are really willing to let me remain, and go home with you? How very +kind it is of you! I will be quite good, and do whatever you tell me; +and, indeed, I will not cause you the least bit of trouble. And"--her +face clouding over again for a moment--"I so dread arriving in England +an utter stranger, and having to search, quite unassisted, for +grandpapa; and it would be _so_ dreadful if he were to turn me away from +his doors. And I should feel, oh! miserably friendless and lonely if I +had really to go about from place to place seeking for a situation, or +trying to get pupils. But if you will let me stay here and go home with +you, I shall not feel it so much, for I am sure you will help me in my +search for my friends; and it is so delightful"--brightening up +again--"to be dancing over this bright, sparkling sea day after day, in +this dear little yacht, and to see the kind faces of that darling old +original Bob and--and--and--the kitten." + +"And the fowls," I suggested demurely. "But, in electing to remain on +board the _Water Lily_, you must bear in mind, my dear Miss Brand, that +it is not always with us as it is at present. Just now we are fortunate +in the enjoyment of a fair wind and smooth sea, but we have been exposed +to many dangers since we left England, and it is only reasonable to +suppose we shall have to encounter many more before we return; and if +you went home in a larger vessel, if you did not escape them altogether, +they would probably bring less discomfort in their train than they will +here." + +"What would you advise me to do?" she asked, looking ruefully up into my +face. + +"Well," I replied, "since you ask me, my advice is this. If we fall in +with a comfortable ship, bound to England, or to any port whence you can +trans-ship for England, go in her if the ship is _not_ comfortable, and +it comes to a choice of inconveniences, you can be guided by your own +judgment, but do not leave us until you are sure of gaining some +advantage by the change." + +So it was settled. That same afternoon, as I was lying down on the +lockers in our little cabin aft, I overheard the following conversation +on deck, between Bob and Ella. + +"Bob," said Ella (she soon dropped the Mr in his case, but it was still +"Mr Collingwood" to me)--"Bob, are we likely to meet any ships very +soon, do you think?" + +"Ships!" echoed Bob, in consternation; "no, missie, I hopes not. You +surely ain't tired of the little _Lily_ yet, are ye?" + +"No, indeed," replied Ella; "and I hope you are not tired of _me_. Tell +me, Bob, am I very much trouble here, or very much in the way?" + +"_Trouble! in the way_!" repeated Bob; "Well, I'm--"--then a strong +inspiration between the teeth, as though to draw back the forcible +expression quivering on his lips--"but there, it's because you don't +know what you're sayin' of, that you talks that a'way. What put that +notion into your pretty little head?" + +"Harry--Mr Collingwood, I mean--seems anxious that I should go home in +some other vessel," Ella replied, dolefully. + +"Well, now, that's news, that is," answered Bob. "Since when has he +taken that idee into his head?" + +"We were talking about it this morning," said Ella; "and he said it +would be more dangerous for me to go home in the _Water Lily_ than in a +large ship. _Is_ the _Water Lily_ dangerous, Bob?" + +"Dangerous!" exclaimed Bob, in a tone of angry scorn. "Was she +dangerous in that blow off the Horn, when a big ship capsized and went +down with all hands, close alongside of us? Was she dangerous when we +had that bit of a brush with the pirates? If she hadn't been the little +beauty that she is she'd ha' gone down in the gale, and a'terwards ha' +been made a prize of by the cut-throats." (Bob, in his angry +vindication of the cutter's character, was wholly oblivious of the +"bull" he had perpetrated, and Ella seemed too much interested to notice +it.) "Dangerous! why, what's the boy thinking about, to take away the +little barkie's character that a'way?" + +"I wish, Bob, you would not keep calling Ha--Mr Collingwood, a _boy_ he +is quite as much a man as you are, though of course not so old. I don't +like--I don't think it sounds respectful," exclaimed Ella rather +petulantly. + +"Not call him a boy?" echoed Bob; "why what _should_ I call him then +missie? In course, now you comes to mention it, I knows as he _is_ a +man, and an uncommon fine speciment too; but, Lord, when I knowed him +fust he was quite a dapper young sprig; and it comes nat'ral-like to +speak of him as a boy. Hows'ever," continued he apologetically, "in +course, since you don't like it, I won't call him a boy no more. What +_shall_ I call him, so please your ladyship?" + +"Now you are laughing at me, you horrid old creature," said Ella, with a +little stamp of passion upon the deck; "and I never said I did not like +it, I merely said that it did not sound respectful. Why do you not call +him captain?" + +"Why not, indeed?" answered Bob. "He's got as good a right to be called +`skipper' as e'er a man as ever walked a deck; and dash my old wig if I +ain't a good mind to do it, too my eyes! how he would stare. 'Twould be +as good as a pantomime to see him;" and the worthy old fellow chuckled +gleefully as his fancy conjured up the look of surprise which he knew +such a title on his lips would evoke from me. + +"I declare," exclaimed Ella in a tone of great vexation, "you are the +most provoking--But there, never mind, Bob dear, I do not mean it; you +are very kind to me, and must not take any notice of my foolish +speeches. And so you really think the _Water Lily_ is _not_ dangerous? +Why then should Mr Collingwood wish me to leave her? He told me this +morning that he should be sorry if I did so, and yet he seems unwilling +to let me stay." + +Don't you believe it, little one, I heard Bob answer. "He don't want ye +to go; it's some kind of conscientious scruple as he's got into his head +that makes him talk that a'way. Between you and me"--here his voice +sank to a kind of confidential growl, but I distinctly heard every word, +nevertheless--"it's my idee that he's got some sort of a notion as we +may yet fall in with that infarnal _Albatross_ ag'in; but, if we do, +we've got chances of getting away from the chap that large ships +haven't; and for my part, if I must be in their blackguard +neighbourhood, I'd a deal rather be in the _Lily_ than in a large ship. +Their best chance of getting the weather-gage of _us_ is by surprise; +but in a little barkie like this here we larns the knack of sleeping +with one eye open, and they'll have to be oncommon 'cute that surprises +us." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Ella, "I hope and pray that we may not see those +wretches; it would be dreadful beyond description to fall into their +hands. Do you think Mr Collingwood would send me away if I said I did +not want to go?" + +"Not he, dearie," answered Bob; "why, can't ye see that he--But there, I +mustn't tell tales out of school. If we gets a _good_ chance, perhaps +it _might_ be as well for ye to take advantage of it; but we ain't going +to get it, so I lives in hopes of having your sweet face to brighten us +up for the rest of this here v'yage. But it's eight bells, and time to +rouse the `skipper,' so just step down, dearie, will ye, and give him a +call." + +Why he should send Ella to call me when he had a voice capable of making +the little craft's whole interior ring again, I could not imagine; but +as her light step touched the ladder I closed my eyes, feeling somehow +that I would rather the sweet little thing should not know I had +overheard the conversation just past. + +I had scarcely composed my features when she stood beside me. I had the +feeling that she was stooping over me, and I certainly felt her warm +breath upon my face for an instant; then she seemed to draw back again, +and I heard a soft whisper of Harry. Then there came a light touch upon +my arm, and she said, much louder, "Mr Collingwood, it is eight bells." + +"Ay, ay," I answered, rubbing my eyes. Then I started to my feet, but +the little fairy had gone fluttering away forward, so I took my sextant +and went on deck. In a minute or two she reappeared, and, seeing me +with the sextant in my hand, opened the chronometer and got the slate, +in readiness for taking the time. + +I obtained three most excellent sights, and from them worked up my +longitude. I had obtained an accurate observation for my latitude at +noon, and, on going below and laying off our position on the chart, I +had the satisfaction of seeing that we were drawing well in with the +islands, and that, if the breeze lasted, we should be fairly within the +group by evening next day. + +When I announced this intelligence to my companions, they were both +delighted, Ella especially, she having seen no land since leaving the +Sandwich Islands, which, she declared, was "_ages_ ago." The last land +we had seen was Staten Island, though we caught the _loom_ of land, or +thought we did, when about abreast of the western end of Magellan +Straits. + +We were all longing for a run ashore; and, as I had resolved to +thoroughly search the group, from end to end if need be, for traces of +my father, I decided that we would commence with the eastern end, +examining every island which in the slightest degree answered to the +description given us of the spot on which the _Amazon_ had been cast +away. + +Our little lady guest spent much of her time on deck--sitting in a +deck-chair, within easy conversational range of whichever had the +tiller: and she favoured me with her company during the whole of the +first watch (it being my eight hours out that night); but she was +unusually silent gazing in an absent, dreamy manner for the most of the +time, far away over the tranquil starlit sea, and softly humming a bar +or two of some of her favourite songs occasionally. I made one or two +attempts to draw her into conversation, fearing she was in low spirits, +but she answered at random and in monosyllables; and, seeing after a +while that I had no chance, I gave it up. + +The next morning, when Bob came on deck to wash down, I said Bob, "what +is the matter with Miss Brand? have you any idea?" + +He looked curiously at me for a moment, and then said: + +"Matter? Nothing, as I knows on. What _should_ be the matter with the +little dearie?" + +"Nothing _should_ be the matter with her," I answered, rather tartly +perhaps; "but she seemed unusually silent and unlike herself last night +and, as you seem pretty deep in her confidence, I thought you might know +the cause." + +"Ay, ay," he returned; "she _do_ speak pretty free to me, I'll allow +which I accounts for by my being an old man--at least, _she_ seems to +think me so, if I may judge by what she said yesterday and as to knowing +the cause of her being out of sorts like, perhaps I do, and perhaps I +don't. I has my suspicions, and pretty strong ones they be, too; but it +ain't for the likes of me to say a word. Axe no questions, Harry, my +lad, but just leave things to work themselves out; she'll be all right +again shortly, you take my word for it." + +"Is she ill, do you think, Bob?" I inquired in some anxiety. + +"Ill? do she look like it?" queried he with a loud laugh. "No, no, +she's well enough; but women's most oncommon difficult to understand, +boy; and the only way is to let 'em alone and take no notice when they +seems queer. Now, don't axe me no questions, for I don't know anything +about it, and what I _guess_ I ain't going to tell." + +What the old fellow surmised it was quite impossible for me to imagine, +and equally impossible to extract from him, for he was as stubborn as a +mule; and if he made up his mind to a certain course nothing earthly had +the power of turning him from it; so, with the unpleasant sensation that +there was a mystery somewhere, I was obliged to hold my tongue and +console myself with the reflection that, at all events, it could be +nothing which concerned me personally. + +Shortly after the conversation Ella made her appearance at the head of +the companion-ladder, and, bidding us both a cheery "Good-morning," +summoned me to breakfast. + +As soon as the coffee was poured out, and we had fairly commenced the +meal, she said, "If you ever have any secrets to discuss, Mr +Collingwood, I would advise you to seek some other place than the deck +of the _Water Lily_. You sailors appear to have the habit of talking +loudly in the open air, and I was awakened by your voices this morning, +and quite unintentionally heard much, if not all, of your conversation. +I am sorry that my quiet mood of last night should have given you any +uneasiness, but I hope you will be relieved when I assure you that there +was nothing whatever the matter with me. I am singularly susceptible to +surrounding influences; and the solemn beauty of the night excited +within me a feeling of--not sadness altogether, but of gravity almost +amounting to it, which has now entirely passed away. Your best plan +will be to follow Bob's advice, and take no notice of my varying moods, +for they really have no significance. I have not the least idea what it +is that the worthy fellow suspects as being the matter with me; but, +whatever it is, he is quite mistaken, for I am happy to say I am +perfectly well both in body and mind." + +I felt greatly relieved at this explanation, and said so; and Ella, as +though to make up for her silence of the previous night, was rattling +away in a more lively strain than ever, when Bob shouted from the deck, +"Land ho!" + +"Where away?" queried I, springing to my feet, and leaving my breakfast +unfinished. + +"Right ahead, and up among the clouds, by all that's wonderful!" +answered Bob. + +I put my head above the companion, and there, sure enough, directly +ahead, and about ten or twelve degrees above the horizon, appeared an +island apparently floating in the air. It was low and, judging from a +small grove of trees which distinctly appeared, of no great extent. I +took the glass, but through it everything presented a wavering +appearance, as though the island and all upon it consisted of an +infinite number of separate and distinct particles, each revolving in a +spiral direction upwards. I called Ella on deck to see the singular +phenomenon, for it was a more perfect example of mirage than I had ever +before witnessed or could have believed possible. As we continued to +gaze upon the curious spectacle a faint foamy appearance revealed itself +between us and the island, but still in the sky; and about half an hour +afterwards this distinctly took the form of flying spray from breakers +beating upon a reef. The mirage lasted rather more than an hour, and +then faded gradually away. + +"How far d'ye reckon that island is away, Harry, lad?" queried Bob, when +we had finished breakfast and were all mustered on deck once more. + +"Really," said I, "it is a very difficult matter to decide. By my +reckoning we ought not to see it until about three this afternoon, with +the wind as it is; and I hope we _shall_ see it by that time, so as to +get inside the reef to-night. If it looks very enticing we will stay +there a few days, and give the little craft an overhaul in hull, spars, +and rigging; and Miss Brand will have an opportunity of getting a few +runs on shore meanwhile, and perhaps a little fruit as a change of +diet." + +My reckoning proved correct, for about three o'clock that afternoon, as +I was sitting aft with the tiller-ropes in my hand, I saw the tops of +the cocoa-nut trees appearing above the horizon. As I did not wish to +disturb Bob (not feeling sure of our being able to lie at anchor all +night without a watch), I requested Ella--who, as usual, was _assisting_ +to keep the watch on deck--to take the tiller whilst I shortened sail. +The spinnaker and gaff-topsail were got in and rolled up, the +spinnaker-boom run in and topped up, and by the time that eight bells +had struck, and Bob had come on deck, we were near enough to render it +necessary to haul up and look out for a passage through the reef. + +At first sight it seemed as though we were not to be permitted to +approach the island, for an unbroken line of heavy surf extended north +and south to a distance of fully nine miles, completely barring our +passing through the eastern side of the reef; and I began to believe +that if a channel existed at all (and I felt sure there must be one +somewhere), it must lie on the western side. However, I did not want to +run to leeward if I could help it, for though the _Lily_, being +fore-and-aft rigged, was better suited to turning to windward in a +narrow passage than any other class of vessel, I did not wish to risk +the boat by the performance of such a hazardous operation, for I had +heard that the channels through these reefs were, some of them, so +contracted that there was positively _no_ room for even a small vessel +to tack in many of the reaches. So I made a bowline in the end of the +gaff-topsail halliards, and went aloft in it, with the intention of +remaining there, if need be, to con the craft in. + +We had hauled to the wind on the starboard tack, with our head to the +northward, and the _Water Lily_ was now, with her fore-sheet to +windward, jogging quietly along towards the northern extremity of the +island. I kept a careful watch on the reef close to leeward, but we +traversed its whole extent to the northward without any sign of a +channel revealing itself, so I shouted to Bob to go round and stand to +the southward again. + +From my elevated position I was enabled to make a tolerably complete +examination of the island, which exhibited no traces whatever, as far as +I could see, of being inhabited. It appeared to be about six miles in +length by about three in width at the widest part, though its coast-line +was very irregular, and, in some places, I estimated that it was not +much more than half that width. + +It trended about north-north-east and south-south-west, and was very +low, no part rising apparently much higher than forty or fifty feet +above the level of the sea; whilst for the most part it did not appear +to be higher than perhaps ten or twelve feet. Vegetation was extremely +luxuriant, a small grove of cocoa-nuts occupying a very nearly central +position, but on the western side of the island; whilst the remaining +portion was pretty thickly covered with less lofty trees, the ground +being clothed with deliciously fresh green turf, and an endless variety +of shrubs. + +A narrow strip of clean white sand bordered the whole island, and +outside of this again extended the placid waters of the lagoon, barely +ruffled by the evening breeze. This lagoon was, as my readers will +probably know, the belt of water which surrounded the island, +intervening between it and the encircling coral-reef on which the heavy +swell expended all its force, without being able to reach and disturb +the still water inside. + +We were within a mile and a half of the southern extremity of the +island, when I detected a thin line of unbroken water tortuously +threading its way across the reef, and extending clear into the lagoon. +Its mouth would never have been observed from our deck, or indeed from +the deck of a ship, for the channel entered the reef at an acute angle; +and the surf broke so heavily upon the outside and overlapping ledge +that the foam and spray were carried quite across the narrow opening, +and mingled with the broken water on the opposite side. + +But from my elevation I could see that there the channel was, and having +satisfied myself, as we drew down towards it, that it was unbroken, I +decided to run in through it. + +Had the _Lily_ been a moderately large vessel or square-rigged, she +could not have been taken through, for there was one point about midway +across the reef where I believed the passage could not exceed thirty +feet in width, and it was at a very awkward bend; and there were so many +sharp _turnings_ (to use a shore phrase) that a square-rigged vessel's +yards could not have been handled rapidly enough to meet her frequent +and quickly succeeding changes of direction. But it was very different +with us. + +I directed Bob to haul aft his weather-jib-sheet and lee-fore-sheet, +thus providing for the keeping of one of the head-sails always full, and +to trim his mainsail with a moderately flowing sheet; after which he +might leave the canvas to take care of itself, whilst he gave his +undivided attention to the helm. + +This was soon done, and we bore away in the direction I indicated. The +look-out ahead from the deck must have been alarming enough, for great +as was Bob's confidence in my judgment, and steady as were his nerves, +he could not forbear hailing me. + +"I hope, Harry," shouted he, "that you're quite sartain about that there +passage. I sees nothing ahead, or anywheres else for that matter, on +either bow but surf; and mind ye, lad, if we but touches _once_, the +little barkie 'll be knocked into match-wood. We may still claw off if +there's any doubt." + +"Port, hard!" answered I, "too intent on the channel to enter into any +explanation just then. Steady!" + +"Steady!" responded Bob. You stay close to me, dearie, so's to be +within reach if anything happens, and mind you don't get knocked +overboard with the boom. Ah! all right; I sees the opening. + +The _Water Lily_ shot in past the overlapping ledge; and my companions +on deck were treated to a copious shower-bath of spray for a few +seconds, and then we began to feel the shelter of the reef. + +We shot along the first reach, and soon approached a sharp elbow. + +"Look out on deck!" I shouted; "we are about to jibe and you, Bob, +stand by to give her the helm smartly. Steady starboard! now starboard +hard! ram the helm down! so, steady! Now port a little! steady again! +luff you may, handsomely not too close! And now stand by for a +half-board! Luff! let her come up! luff and shake her! so! Now hard +up!" + +And so on, and so on. Luff, and keep her away; then jibing; now on one +tack, now on another; until, after about ten minutes of most ticklish +navigation, the cutter shot clear of the reef, and glided rapidly over +the smooth water of the lagoon. + +Bob let draw his jib-sheet, and we stood away towards the southern +extremity of the island, which we soon rounded; I remaining still aloft +to look out for any sunken rocks that might chance to be lying about. +But the bottom was quite clear, the sand being distinctly visible from +my post at the mast-head. + +We were now on the western side of the island, and I observed that the +grove of cocoa-nut trees before referred to stood upon the border of a +pretty little bay, or cove rather, for it was very small; and as this +spot promised very snug anchorage close to the shore, I directed Bob to +steer for it, and then descended to the deck and got the anchor over the +bows in readiness for letting go. + +As we drew closer to the land, our sails became partially becalmed under +the lee of the trees and shrubs which densely covered the southern end +of the island, whilst the water was undisturbed by the faintest ripple +save that which streamed away on each side of our sharp bow. + +As I stood forward, looking down into the clear transparency of the cool +green depths, I could discern here and there a few large branches of +splendid coral projecting through the sand, with multitudes of +strangely-formed fishes darting round and about them; and in one spot I +observed what appeared to be a small bed of oysters, of which I +instantly took the bearings, resolving to pay it a visit and try for a +few. + +At length we slid gently into our little cove. Bob put his helm down +the cutter luffed into the wind, and, as soon as her way was deadened +sufficiently, I let run the anchor; after which, with one accord, Bob +and I took off our hats and gave three joyous cheers. It was the first +time we had brought up since leaving Madeira. + +We soon had our canvas furled, and, whilst Ella busied herself with the +preparations for tea. Bob and I got our "boat" on deck, and set about +putting her together. + +Whilst thus engaged, my companion remarked, "Well, Harry, I must say I +didn't like the looks of things, for a minute or two, whilst we was +running down upon the reef outside; but you piloted us in in capital +style. Did ye happen to think, however, how we're going to get out +ag'in, now that we're here?" + +"Certainly I did," replied I. "You surely do not imagine that I would +run in here, without being satisfied beforehand that we could get out +again all right. There was no time for explanation whilst I was aloft; +but, just before I caught sight of the channel through which we entered, +I distinctly saw one on _this_ side of the island, through which we +could have beaten the little craft without much difficulty. It appeared +to have only two reaches, and I think we might have laid up one of them +on the port tack, and the other on the starboard tack; and as to getting +out, it will be a run with the wind free all the way. But what do you +think of our berth?" + +"Snug and comfortable as heart could wish," responded he, with an accent +of keen enjoyment; "and I _do_ hope as you'll give us all, and the +little craft, a holiday of a day or two, now we're here. 'Twon't do any +of us any harm; and I really feels as though I could go ashore and lie +down under the shade of them trees all day, and do nothing but just +enjoy the rest and the coolness, and ease my old eyes by looking up at +the beautiful green leaves, with the clear blue sky peeping between 'em +here and there." + +I had a very similar feeling; for, though the island had nothing very +specially attractive about it, to us who had looked on nothing but sky +and sea for so long, it appeared but little short of a paradise. So I +very readily acquiesced in his proposal, the more so as I felt that our +health would be very greatly benefited by the change. + +By the time that we had our boat put together and hanging astern by her +painter, tea was ready; so, after a comfortable ablution, by way of +bringing the day's work to a close, we all seated ourselves at the small +cabin-table, and discussed our meal with a luxurious enjoyment of the +perfect steadiness of the cutter, and of the absence of all anxiety of +every kind, which was quite a novelty. We finished the meal by +lamplight, and then adjourned to the deck, where, as was our regular +custom. Bob and I smoked our evening pipes. + +Those only who have endured the monotony of a long sea-voyage can +understand the pleasure with which we regarded our surroundings, and +compared them with those of many an evening past. The night had +completely closed in, and the deep, unclouded, purple vault above was +thickly studded with stars, which, unlike those in the northern +hemisphere, instead of _glittering_ spark-like and cold, beamed with the +deep, mellow lustre of the softest lamps, each being clearly reflected +in the mirror-like surface of the unruffled lagoon. + +We were, as I believe I have said before, on the western or lee-side of +the island, so completely sheltered from the wind by the +thick-clustering trees and shrubs which covered its surface, that only +the faintest zephyr could approach us, though it swept briskly through +the topmost branches of the cocoa-nuts, gently agitating their leaves, +and producing a soft rustling sound, above which the loud roar of the +surf beating on the reef to windward could be distinctly heard. +Mingling with this, there issued from the shore a continuous chirping +and singing from innumerable multitudes of insects, which, swelling +shrill and high, merged into one vast wave of sound, which completely +filled the air. Tens of thousands of fire-flies flitted to and fro, +their tiny sparks gleaming brilliantly against the dark background of +dense foliage; and, if we looked over the side for a moment, we saw the +deep obscurity of the tranquil ocean constantly flashing into sudden +brightness, as a long trail of pale phosphorescent sparks, or a +momentary halo, betrayed the movement of some finny denizen of the deep. + +We remained on deck until nearly midnight, when, having observed nothing +whatever to excite the slightest apprehension as to our absolute safety, +we resolved to dispense with the formality of a watch and therefore all +retired below, with an understanding that the morrow was to be observed +as a strict holiday by all hands. + +Volume Two, Chapter III. + +AT CLOSE QUARTERS WITH A SHARK. + +I awoke soon after sunrise the next morning, and, calling Bob, in +accordance with an arrangement made overnight, we both jumped on board +the boat, and, pulling to the opposite side of a tiny headland about a +mile away, stripped and plunged overboard, where we swam and dived, and +wallowed about in the deliciously cool element for a good half-hour, +enjoying our bath as thoroughly as though we were a couple of +school-boys playing truant. We were strongly tempted to make a small +preliminary exploring excursion inland after this, but Miss Ella had +solemnly bound us both down not to do so without her; so we returned to +the _Water Lily_ instead, wonderfully refreshed and invigorated by our +dip, and quite ready for the early breakfast which was to form the first +regular feature in the programme for the day. + +As we rowed back to the cutter, I embraced the opportunity to pass once +more over the spot where I thought I had observed the oyster-bed and, on +reaching it, and peering down in the shadow of the boat, I found I was +right there lay beneath us a bed of several yards extent of what I felt +sure were oysters. + +We described a short circuit round our little craft before stepping on +board again; and I felt so ashamed of her dingy, weather-beaten +appearance, that I resolved she should have a fresh coat of paint before +she went outside again. This we decided she should receive next day, I +undertaking to wield the paintbrush whilst Bob employed himself in +overhauling the rigging and examining the spars. + +Breakfast was soon disposed of, as we were all equally eager to stand +once more on mother earth; and then, Bob providing himself with a few +biscuits, whilst I did the same, adding a few knick-knacks for my fair +companion, we jumped into the boat, and in a very few minutes reached +the shore. + +The painter was made fast to the stem of a stout shrub which grew close +to the water's edge; and then Bob went straight towards the widest patch +of shade, and the softest turf he could find, and flung himself +forthwith upon the ground, asserting that it was his fixed intention to +remain there for the rest of the day, and enjoy his holiday in +accordance with his own peculiar notions. + +After a few vain attempts to persuade him that he would find it much +more pleasant to accompany us in a ramble over the island, we gave him +up to his own devices; and, Ella accepting the support of my arm, we +strolled slowly away. + +Our steps were directed, in the first instance, towards the northern end +of the island; our path being sometimes over the short tender grass with +which the ground was thickly clad, and at others along the sandy beach, +to which we were occasionally compelled to diverge in consequence of the +dense undergrowth, through which it would have been impossible for my +companion to force her way. + +We picked up several very beautiful shells on the beach, and Ella +promised herself a long ramble before leaving the island, expressly for +the purpose of collecting a few of the choicest varieties. + +I was rather disappointed to find such a scarcity of fruit, there being +none, as far as we could discover, beyond the cocoa-nuts and a few wild +figs the latter rather insipid to the taste, though still a welcome +change after the food we had all been accustomed to. + +Ella very thoughtfully collected a little of this fruit for Bob, when we +chanced to meet with a tree bearing figs of a superior flavour to the +average, and I promised her that on our return I would secure a few +cocoa-nuts, and treat her to a draught of the delightfully refreshing +cool new milk. We found walking to be far more fatiguing than we had +expected, after being pent up so long on shipboard, and I think I found +it even more so than my companion, she having had until recently the +comparatively wide range of a ship's deck upon which to take exercise; +whilst we of the _Water Lily_ could only boast of "a fisherman's walk, +two steps, and overboard." + +I kept a sharp look-out for fresh water, intending to entirely refill +our tank and casks; and Ella was equally anxious for such a discovery, +as she gave me notice that she intended to hold a grand wash; desiring +me, at the same time, to make up a bundle of all my soiled linen, etc., +and deliver it over to her. This I, of course, flatly refused to do, +assuring her that I was fully equal to the task of doing my own washing, +and that I never would consent to her descending to the performance of +so menial a task for me. + +"What!" said she, releasing my arm to speak with the greater energy, +"not allow me to wash a few shirts and socks for you, and your +pocket-handkerchiefs? Indeed, but you _must_; it is woman's peculiar +province to wash clothes. Men never wash properly: they either half do +it or else beat to pieces whatever they may be washing in the vain +endeavour to properly purify it. Now you _must_ let me have my own way +just this once, please." + +I still refused, and added laughingly: "It seems to me to be a part of +your creed that `it is woman's peculiar province' to do certain things +for men; and that, if she is not at hand to do it, it cannot be done at +all, or at all events in a satisfactory manner. I remember your urging +the plea that `it is woman's peculiar province' to cook, as a means +whereby to gain my consent to your taking charge of that department; and +very grateful am I to you for so doing, for we have enjoyed our meals as +we never did before; but as to your doing any washing but your own, I +cannot and _will_ not consent to it." + +"But _why_ not?" she persisted. "Woman was created as a help-meet for +man; and I am sure you will admit that our sex is more thoroughly +qualified for the performance of certain duties than is man; and, where +that is distinctly the case, it seems to me to point naturally to the +conclusion that such duties form a part of her share of the work +necessary for the comfort and happiness of the race. Of course I would +not offer to wash for you or for myself, if we were in a large ship and +with proper servants to do such work; but in our present circumstances I +see nothing whatever of a menial or degrading character in it." + +"Perhaps not," I replied. "I cannot enter quite so deeply as you do +into the question. I can only say that the idea is too repugnant for me +to consent to any such division of the `necessary work' so please say no +more about it, for my mind is made up, and I can be as stubborn as Bob +himself upon occasion." + +"I quite believe you," she retorted, half playfully and half disposed to +be angry, "though I do not consider Bob stubborn at all. _He_ always +lets me do whatever I like; and what an original character he is. Do +you know, I quite admire him. He is somewhat rough and unpolished, I +admit, but he is as gentle to me as was my own dear mamma; and I hold to +the opinion that a man who is gentle and courteous to women is a man of +sterling worth, let his manner be as uncouth as it may. I believe that +gentleness and courtesy to our sex is the _first_ and most +distinguishing mark of nature's nobility. But why do you permit him to +be so familiar and disrespectful in his manner of addressing you?" + +"I do not consider him in the slightest decree disrespectful," I +replied. "He is much older than I am, and a man of far wider +experience, at all events in all matters connected with our profession; +and that, and our long and severely-tried friendship, abundantly +justifies the familiarity of his mode of address. I dislike formality +with every one except strangers. It is all very well as a means of +keeping at a distance those you dislike and have no desire to become +intimate with, but it is a rather formidable barrier to friendship." + +"So I think, responded Ella with animation. I _do_ so wish--" + +"What?" I inquired. She hesitated a little and blushed a great deal, +and then, apparently with some effort, replied: + +"Well, I wish you would exchange the formal `Miss Brand' for the more +friendly and familiar `Ella;' that is, if you consider me worthy of your +friendship." + +"I will indeed," I replied, "with very great pleasure, if you will +permit me to do so; and I trust that you, in return, will call me, as I +love to be called by all my friends--Harry." + +"Very well," she replied gaily, "I will; that is, as long as you are +good to me, and do not displease me in any way. The sign of my +sovereign displeasure will be a return to the formality of `Mr +Collingwood.'" + +We chatted blithely on after this upon all sorts of subjects, and I was +both surprised and delighted at the depth and extent of my companion's +information. She had evidently read much, and, what was more to the +purpose, had selected her reading with sound judgment, storing her mind +abundantly with useful facts which she always had ready for production +in support of an argument, or by way of illustration, and she frequently +graced her conversation with choice quotations, introduced in the best +taste and with a manner as far as possible removed from anything like +affectation or pedantry. I was charmed beyond measure, and over and +over again thanked the lucky accident which had rendered it my good +fortune to be put upon terms of such close intimacy with so fascinating +a little creature. + +At length we completed our tour of the northern end of the island, +returning by way of the eastern shore, until we were abreast the clump +of cocoa-nut trees; when we struck inland; and, after a somewhat +tortuous course between the thick-growing shrubs, reached the beach on +our own side once more. + +Unfortunately for Ella's projected laundry operations, we had not been +able to discover the slightest sign of a spring of fresh water anywhere. + +When we arrived opposite the point where the _Water Lily_ rode +peacefully at anchor, Bob was nowhere to be seen. The boat still +remained moored to the shrub, as we had left her, so I concluded that he +had grown tired of inactivity and had gone off, in the opposite +direction to ourselves, for a stroll. I therefore proposed to Ella that +she should rest awhile upon the soft, velvety turf, whilst I returned to +the cutter for a piece of rope, to aid me in my ascent after the +cocoa-nuts. + +The rope was soon obtained; and, returning to the shore, I passed it in +a loose band round the trunk of one of the trees, leaving room in the +band for the introduction of my own body. + +By bearing against this whilst I raised my feet and then slipping the +band up the tree, I was easily and quickly enabled to reach the fruit, +from which I selected an abundant supply of the finest specimens and +flung them to the ground. + +Whilst thus engaged Bob hove in sight, and when I reached the ground +again he reported that, having soon grown tired of doing nothing, he had +started away on a walk to the southward, about half an hour after we +left him, and had gone to the extreme end of the island; that he had +enjoyed his walk amazingly, was excessively tired, and, like ourselves, +had failed to find any fresh water. + +Under these circumstances poor little Ella was compelled to postpone her +washing-day, I promising that she should have the necessary time allowed +her at the first suitable island we happened to reach. + +By this time the dinner-hour was approaching, and Ella desired to be put +on board the cutter to make the few slight preparations for the meal +which were necessary. + +As soon as we had put her on board and whilst she was thus engaged, I +took Bob away with me in the boat to try for a few oysters. We had no +means of trawling for them; but I estimated that they lay in not more +than about two and a half fathoms of water, and I considered myself +quite diver enough to reach that distance. + +As soon as we arrived at the spot I stripped and plunged in, taking down +with me an old canvas clothes-bag, which I slung round my neck. + +I soon found that I had been deceived, by the crystal transparency of +the water, into underestimating the depth. It was fully four fathoms to +the bottom; and this, together with the difficulty I experienced in +keeping the mouth of the bag open, necessitated four plunges before I +had obtained half the bag full. There was not time to do more just +then, so I dressed, the bag was hauled up, and we returned with our +prize to the cutter. + +We resolved to commence dinner with a course of oysters, and I forthwith +proceeded to open some, a task which gave me a very considerable amount +of difficulty. + +Imagine, if you can, my surprise and delight when on opening the second +oyster I found that it contained several small pearls; the third was +opened, and it also contained several the fourth had none, but the fifth +on being opened revealed three beauties, each as large as the top of my +middle finger. To be brief, I was soon satisfied that I had stumbled +upon a bed of pearl-oysters, about half of the bivalves yielding when +opened more or less pearls, the greater quantity being small, such as +are set in rings; but several good-sized pearls were also found, and one +magnificent fellow, as large as a cherry. + +As may easily be imagined, we were all excitement after this; and I +proposed that, as soon as dinner was over, we should move the cutter +down and anchor her upon the bed, and devote the remainder of the +afternoon to systematic pearl-fishing. The proposition was rapturously +received, Ella declaring that she had often read of pearl-fishing, and +should very much like to witness the operation. + +Accordingly, dinner was no sooner over than we weighed and stood down to +the spot under our jib, and having reached it the cutter was anchored as +nearly as possible over the centre of the bed. I had hit upon a plan by +which, I thought, some of my difficulties of the morning might be got +over; and, as soon as we were brought up, Bob and I got our +floating-anchor on deck, stretched the canvas upon it, and rigging out +our spinnaker-boom, a rope was passed through the sheave in the outer +end of it, and bent to the crowfoot of the floating-anchor, which thus +hung suspended, like a large tray, over the water. It was then lowered +to the bottom; a small pig of ballast was got on deck and slung to +another rope's-end, and I then went below and changed my dress for an +old white shirt and duck trousers, buckling a belt round my waist, to +which, as it happened, a strong sharp sheath-knife was attached. + +Being now ready to descend I looked over the side, and satisfied myself +that our floating-anchor lay all right at the bottom, and in such a +manner as properly to perform its new functions as a tray. I then +slipped over the side into the water, grasping firmly the rope to which +the piece of ballast was attached; and, having well filled my lungs with +air, I waved my disengaged hand. Bob let go the rope, and the ballast +draped me swiftly to the bottom. + +Still retaining my hold upon the sinker with one hand, I now rapidly +shovelled the oysters into my "tray" with the other, as long as I could +hold my breath; and I was satisfied, at the first experiment, that my +expedient was a complete success, thrice as many oysters being deposited +in the tray at one dive as I had obtained altogether in the morning. + +I soon had to rise to get a fresh inhalation; but by hauling up the +sinker every time, so as to have the benefit of its assistance in taking +me to the bottom, I was enabled to reserve all my breath and energy for +my work at the oysters; and so successful was I, that, in three +descents, I managed to place upon the tray as many oysters as it would +hold. It was now hauled up, its contents carefully transferred to the +cutter's deck, and the anchor or tray again lowered to the bottom. + +This operation had been repeated five times, with the result that a +goodly pile of bivalves now graced the deck; and I had crone down a +second time on the sixth _round_ (if I may so express myself), when +suddenly a dark shadow fell upon the spot on which I was at work. I +glanced upward, and, to my unspeakable horror, saw an enormous shark +floating motionless within a fathom of, and directly above, me. + +Why he did not attack me at once I could not imagine but I conjecture +that it was because, lying flat upon the ground as I was, he had not +room to turn, as sharks invariably do when seizing their prey. My blood +seemed fairly to congeal in my veins as I realised my appalling +position. + +I _must_ rise to the surface in a very few seconds or drown where I was; +and I felt convinced that the moment I was far enough from the bottom to +permit of the monster making his rush, he would do so. + +Suddenly, the remembrance of my sheath-knife flashed across my brain. +There was no time to hesitate; my powers of endurance were almost +utterly exhausted, and I felt that I could hold my breath but a second +or two longer so I quickly drew the knife, and darting suddenly upwards, +succeeded in grasping the shark with my left hand by his starboard fin, +whilst with my right I plunged my weapon to the hilt in his gleaming +white belly, extending my arm to its full length as I did so, and thus +inflicting a wound nearly or quite two feet in length. + +Remembering the wonderful vitality of the shark, I did not content +myself with this; but thrusting my armed hand into the gaping wound, I +drew the knife two or three times rapidly across his interior +arrangements, inflicting such severe injuries that in less than a minute +after I rose to the surface blood-stained from head to foot, and +speechless with exhaustion, the shark also appeared, floating dead +within a dozen yards of the cutter. + +Bob's strong and ready hand was promptly extended to assist me in over +the cutter's low gunwale but so thoroughly exhausted was I, that I felt +utterly unable to make the slightest effort in aid of my shipmate's +exertions, and he was obliged to drag me bodily inboard, where, after an +unavailing effort to stand, I sank upon the deck, gasping for breath, +and utterly unable to utter a word. + +Ella's eager face blanched deadly white at the horrifying spectacle I +presented as I lay prone at her feet, my once white clothing now deeply +imbued with blood, and I thought she would have fainted; but she +struggled bravely against the weakness, though she could not repress a +violent shudder, which thrilled through her from head to foot. + +Sinking to her knees at my side, she gently raised me until my head +rested upon her throbbing breast, and gazing upon my face with a look +expressive of the deepest anxiety, she inquired, "Where are you hurt, +Harry? Is it much? Are you in _very_ great pain?" + +I made a powerful but unavailing effort to reply, when seeing my lips +move, but without any sound issuing from them, she suddenly lost her +self-control, and shrieking, "He is dying, Bob; dying, I tell you. Oh! +what can we do to save him?" burst into an overwhelming passion of tears +and clasping me convulsively to her bosom, she sobbed forth wild prayers +for mercy, mingled with the tenderest and most endearing epithets that +ever sprang from the heart of a passionately loving woman to her lips. + +Surprised beyond all power of expression, and almost overwhelmed with +delight at this utterly unexpected betrayal of her feeling for me, I +could not suffer her to continue; so having by this time somewhat +recovered my breath, I gasped out, "I am not hurt, Ella; indeed I am +not; I was only overcome for the moment with exhaustion; pray calm +yourself." + +"Not hurt!" she exclaimed eagerly; "not injured at all? Thank God, oh, +thank God for that! But--was it kind, sir--was it like a gentleman, to +permit me to be surprised into such expressions as those which have just +escaped my lips? How can I ever hold up my head again in your presence, +or look you in the face?" + +"Hush, Ella, darling," I whispered. "Do not distress yourself, I +entreat you. I have much to say to you, and what has just passed has +but precipitated matters a little. Retire below for a short time, and +calm your agitated feelings; and this evening I will ask you to favour +me with a few minutes of your society on shore, when I will enter into +such explanations as I trust will prove entirely satisfactory, and have +the effect of completely healing your wounded sensibility. + +"Why," continued I cheerily, "that is well; the roses are already +returning to your cheeks, and by the time that I have been down once or +twice more, and have secured another--" + +"Merciful Heaven!" she exclaimed, in horrified accents, "do I hear +aright? Is it possible you can be mad enough to contemplate going into +the water again, after having so narrowly escaped from such a horrible +death? You _must_ not, Harry and you _will_ not, if you entertain the +slightest feeling of--of--friendship for me. Indeed, I could not bear +it; another shock, such as I have just received, would kill me. _Pray_ +have some little compassion upon me." + +"Enough, Ella, and more than enough, I answered, deeply moved. +Henceforward your wishes are law to me and, since you object to my going +overboard again, I promise you faithfully that I will not do so. Now go +below, dear, and lie down for a short time, whilst Bob and I take the +cutter back to her old moorings." + +As soon as she was out of sight, Bob, who had stood patiently on one +side whilst the above _denouement_ was taking place, approached, and, +extending his hand, exclaimed: + +"Now that the little beauty has done with ye, lad, give an old friend a +shake of your flipper. I'm right down glad to see ye well and hearty, +my dear boy," he continued, with strong emotion. + +"We both saw that doubly and everlastingly damned brute range up and +take a berth close above ye; and, to own the plain, honest truth, I put +ye down as good as done for. There warn't no time to do anything by way +of warning ye, or lending ye a hand anyways; for, afore I could collect +my scattered wits, we saw ye let go the sinker, and next minute the +water alongside was like a biling pot; and then we seed the blood, and +damn me if I didn't turn that sick and queer I couldn't see a thing, +just for a moment; and when I hauled ye aboard, I couldn't for the life +of me tell whether you was dead or alive. Now let's get up them few +h'isters that was like to have cost us all so dear, and get away from +the spot as soon as we can." + +We were not very long in getting the remainder of the oysters on board, +and soon afterwards we had the cutter back at her old berth. Our first +task, as soon as the craft was at anchor again, was to transfer our +booty to the shore, where we spread them out on a large tarpaulin on the +sand to die. The method pursued by the regular pearl-fishers, I +believe, is to allow the fish to remain until they are in an advanced +stage of decay, when the pearls are sought for amongst the putrid mass. +I felt no inclination, however, for such a task, and, moreover, did not +care to expend so much time as this process involved. I conjectured +that, the fish once dead, they might be opened with comparatively little +difficulty; and I thought that by the time our overhaul and painting was +completed, the oysters would be in a fit state for operating upon. + +Ella now reappeared on deck somewhat more composed, though there was +still a slight nervous flutter perceptible in her movements. I took +advantage of her presence on deck to remark casually that I would now go +below and change my dress, and cleanse myself from the traces of my +recent encounter, which I forthwith did; and when I had refreshed myself +with a copious ablution, I really felt very little the worse for my +adventure. Indeed, I believe that I was less discomposed by it than +either of the others. + +After tea was over, I took occasion to remind Ella that I had somewhat +to say to her, and requested her to accompany me on shore and take a +short walk on the beach, that I might speak without being embarrassed by +Bob's presence. + +She stepped silently into the boat, and in a few minutes more we stood +together on the strand. Taking the arm which I offered her, she said: + +"Now, Harry, what is it you wish to say to me?" + +"Simply this," I replied. "From the nature of my occupation I have had, +as you may suppose, but very few opportunities of associating with your +sex. With the solitary exception of my sister, I cannot say that I am +intimately acquainted with any woman; and I am an utter stranger to +everything relating to womankind. I know nothing whatever of their +characteristics, and have not the slightest idea of how they are likely +to be influenced by powerful emotions. It may be that, under such +circumstances, they sometimes utter words of which they are wholly +unconscious, and which have not the most remote relation to their actual +sentiments. If this really be the case, a man of honour, chancing to +hear such words escape the lips of a lady, will forthwith forget that +they were ever uttered. This I am prepared to do with regard to the +words spoken by you this afternoon, Ella, if you wish me to understand +that they had no meaning. True, it will dispel a brief but blissful +dream in which I have dared to indulge for a short hour or two: but what +right have I to suppose that I have awakened within your breast any +sentiment beyond that of the merest friendship, if I may dare to aspire +even to that, especially when I take into consideration the shortness of +the time you have known me? It has been but a few days, I know but +almost from the moment that we met upon the deck of the _Copernicus_, a +new and hitherto unknown feeling has animated me; it has grown with +every hour of my life since then, and, without analysing its nature, I +have permitted it to strengthen until it has become a part of my very +life itself; a feeling which I must perforce still continue to cherish-- +whether for weal or for woe, it is for _you_ to say--as long as life +remains. In saying that I never analysed this feeling I am stating what +is strictly true; but in that dread moment this afternoon, when I +unexpectedly found myself face to face with death in one of its most +dreadful forms"--my companion shuddered violently--"in that terrible +moment, I say, the discovery flashed upon me that the feeling to which I +have referred is _love_, the most passionate, devoted, idolising love. +Tell me, Ella, tell me, my darling, may I dare to hope that at some time +in the distant future, when you shall have had opportunities of becoming +better acquainted with me--" + +"Cease, Harry," the dear girl interrupted with deep emotion, "cease, I +pray you, to agitate yourself with causeless fears. Why should I +hesitate--after having already given such unequivocal expression to my +feelings to avow that, like yourself, I have loved almost from the first +moment of our meeting. I know not whether now, or at any future time, +you will deem my heart too easily won; but, if you do, remember that the +advantage has been from the first all on your side. You appeared as my +deliverer from a situation of peculiar trial to a young and delicately +brought-up girl, and of peril the nature and extent of which you are +better able to realise than I am to tell, so, in judging me, you must +not forget to take into consideration, and give me the benefit of, the +peculiar circumstances of the case. And whether lightly won or not, you +shall find, dear Harry, that my love is not the less sincere and loyal +on that account for _never_ was there a truer or more devoted wife than +I will be to you, if it please God to permit us to become united." + +And saying this, my little darling turned, and with unaffected confiding +simplicity, wound her soft arms about my neck, and raised her sweet lips +to mine. + +The conversation which followed, deeply interesting as it was to the +parties engaged, need not be reproduced here suffice it to say that the +insight I thus obtained of Ella's character and disposition amply +justified the sudden and precipitate step I had taken. That it _was_ +precipitate I could not and did not attempt to conceal from myself, and +that it would have been highly imprudent under ordinary circumstances +thus to connect myself by so binding a tie as betrothal to one of whose +very existence I was ignorant but a short fortnight before, I was also +fully aware; but, after all, marriage is, to a very great extent, a +lottery and one can never be really certain, until after the nuptial +knot has been tied, whether one has drawn a prize or a blank. + +There are some women in whom a fresh trait of character is always +revealing itself, so that, just when you think you have at last +succeeded in thoroughly understanding them, you discover that you are +just as far off any reliable knowledge of their character as ever. + +But with Ella it was very different. There was a childlike openness and +ingenuousness of manner about her which quickly revealed to the +observer, not only the salient points, but also the finer gradations of +her character and temperament; and I believe that I had a clearer +insight into both at the time that I thus hastily offered myself, than +many men who do the same thing after an acquaintance of a "season," and +with such knowledge as they are able to pick up by meeting their charmer +at balls, picnics, canters in the "Row," and what not. + +At length we returned to the cutter, where we found Bob, with his pipe +still between his teeth, sitting aft fast asleep. I wished Ella +"good-night," and then roused Master Bob up; and whilst we smoked a +final pipe together, communicated my good fortune to him. + +"Ay, ay!" said he, as soon as I had told him, "you may thank `Jack +Shark' for having it come upon ye so soon, lad; it was _bound_ to come +sooner or later. I've seed it clearer and clearer every day, but it +warn't for me to say a word one way or t'other; but the narrer squeak +you had for it this a'ternoon just took the little lady flat aback, and +afore she could pay off, you see, she let run a whole string of lovin' +words that there warn't no way of hauling aboard and coiling down out of +sight ag'in; and so she hadn't no ch'ice but just to haul down her +colours as soon as you opened fire. Well, you've made a pretty prize, +Harry, and I congratulate ye with all my heart. A trimmer model, or one +better ballasted with the right sort of feelin's and idees, no man need +wish to sail the v'y'ge of life in company with, and as to her being +fond of ye, why, she couldn't help showing of it, try all she would. +She couldn't talk of nothing else from morning to night but you. It +don't matter what the conversation started with, whether 'twas ships, or +flyin'-fish, or hurricanes, waterspouts--_anything_ in heaven or airth, +she'd bring it all round in a sort of great-circle-sailing fashion to +you. And now that you've got her, lad, I hope as you'll be able to sail +her properly. Women is very ticklish craft to handle, you must hear in +mind; as tender in a squall as a racin' cutter with all her flyin'-kites +aloft; and you'll have to keep a sharp look-out to win'ard, and have the +halliards and sheets all ready for lettin' run at a moment's notice, or +you'll maybe get something ser'ous carried away, or have a reg'lar +downright wrack altogether afore you knows where you are." + +I could not help smiling at this characteristic speech of congratulation +and caution of Bob's, to which I of course made a suitable reply and +then shaking hands, we went below and tumbled into our respective +hammocks. + +Volume Two, Chapter IV. + +THE LILY AMONG BREAKERS. + +The next morning we were up betimes, and that Ella might be removed from +the scene of dirt and confusion which the cutter would present during +the day, our first act was to convey on shore the necessary rear and +materials for the preparation and consumption of our meals there, it +being anticipated that one day would suffice for all we intended to do +just then. + +By the time that we had done so and had returned to the cutter, Ella +made her appearance on deck, meeting me affectionately, and then turning +to thank Bob for the congratulations the honest and warm-hearted fellow +saw fit to offer on the occasion. These over, I pulled the dear girl +ashore, and she forthwith set about seeking for a favourable spot where +to spread the tablecloth upon the sward, and to arrange her equipage, a +fire having already been lighted and the kettle suspended over it, +gipsy-fashion, from three crossed sticks. + +Whilst she was thus engaged I returned on board, and routed out our +small stock of paints, and set to work mixing them, whilst Bob, having +already washed down inboard, busied himself in casting off and easing up +the rigging preparatory to a regular overhaul, the first thing after +breakfast. + +As soon as the meal was ready, Ella came down to the beach and waved her +pocket-handkerchief, the signal agreed upon; and we pulled ashore and +took a hasty meal, it being understood that the day would be a busy one, +I being desirous of finishing all before sunset, so as to make a start +again next day, there being nothing to detain us or to make it worth our +while to prolong our stay where we then were. + +Breakfast over, Bob and I pulled back to the cutter, where we at once +commenced work in earnest, leaving Ella to amuse herself by strolling +along the shore and making her proposed collection of shells. By +dinner-time I succeeded in finishing the painting, giving the craft not +only a coat of black from her rail down to the copper, with a white +stripe or ribbon round the ornamental groove cut for that purpose in the +covering-board, but also a coat of pale stone-colour all round the +inside of her low bulwarks, as well as a touch of varnish on the teak +and mahogany-fittings of the deck. + +This left me free to assist Bob in the afternoon, and such good progress +did we make that by sunset the rigging had been overhauled and lifted, +the mast-head examined in the eyes of the rigging, new service put on +where required, and everything got back into its place again, the +lanyards all set up, and the mainsail rebent, which it badly required. + +We then had a good wash and adjourned to the shore, where we found our +fair companion awaiting us with tea all ready, and a collection of most +beautiful shells to exhibit, the fruits of her day's gathering. As soon +as the meal was over, everything was transported on board again, and put +in its place; and I then rejoined Ella, who remained on shore, and we +had a very enjoyable ramble, enlivened with such conversation as lovers +delight in. + +The next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, we all adjourned to the +shore once more; and whilst Ella, at my recommendation, took another +stroll about the island. Bob and I set to work upon the oysters. They +were all dead by this time, of course, and not only so, but in such a +condition that it taxed our resolution to the utmost to go through with +the task about which we had set ourselves. + +But what will man not do for the sake of wealth? It is true, we both +felt sanguine about finding our treasure-island; and if the account we +had received of it was true, there was more wealth there than we had the +means of taking away with us; still we could not resist the temptation +to secure this, comparatively speaking, small windfall that had come in +our way, so we persevered; and we certainly had no reason to be +dissatisfied with our reward. + +When all was over we found that our acquisition amounted to about a +quart-measure full of seed-pearls, and a similar measure full of pearls +of a large size, ranging from the size of peas to, in one instance, a +splendid fellow fully as large as a pigeon's egg, many others being +nearly as fine. + +This task occupied us all the morning, and when it was finished we +returned to the cutter, and at once set about taking our boat to pieces +and stowing her away below. + +This done, we took dinner, immediately after which Bob and I got the +canvas set, hove up our anchor, and stood away for the western passage +through the reef. + +This passage was much wider than the one by which we had entered, and +not nearly so crooked; and as we were just within the influence of the +trade-winds, and it trended generally in a westerly direction, we had a +fair wind through, so we had no difficulty whatever in passing out +between the reefs, which we did under easy sail jetting the gaff-topsail +and spinnaker upon the craft, however, as soon as we were fairly +outside. + +The wind was blowing fresh, but steady, from about south-east, and as +our course was west-north-west, we flew merrily away very nearly dead +before the wind, with our spinnaker boomed out to port. + +Bob took the afternoon watch, and I retired below and lay down, as it +was my eight hours out that night. + +Ella remained on deck chatting gaily with Bob, and busying herself with +some mysterious bit of sewing, and I soon dropped off into a doze. + +Nothing of importance occurred for the remainder of that day, nor during +the next. + +Ella now regularly kept the first night-watch with me, whenever it was +my eight hours out, and many a pleasant chat did we have together; and +more and more reason did I see for congratulating myself upon my choice +of a bride, hasty as that choice had been. + +Now that we had had an explanation, and there no longer existed any +reason for the fair girl's concealing her ardent attachment to me, many +little puzzling peculiarities and contradictions, which I had before +observed in her conduct, disappeared; and I found her society more +charming and her conversation more frank and enjoyable every day. + +There was not a particle of coquettishness, or nonsense of any kind +about her, and she made no hesitation whatever about acknowledging +frankly yet modestly, the warmth of her affection. + +She questioned me eagerly, and with the utmost interest, about my +father; and I saw with delight that there was already springing up +within her breast a feeling of regard for him, simply _because_ he +happened to be my father, which promised, with but a little +encouragement, to blossom into deep affection. + +In the prospect of finding the treasure she also exhibited an interest, +but it was nothing in comparison with the other. + +On one occasion, for example, when in speaking of it, I endeavoured to +explain to her that there was no absolute _certainty_ of our being able +to find it, and that if we failed I should be compelled of necessity to +return to my own profession as a means of support, she replied, "Well, +Harry, dear, I really _do_ hope you _will_ find it, for it would be very +hard to have you away from me for many months at a time, or indeed at +all but I could reconcile myself to that if we only happen to be +fortunate enough to find your dear father, so that I might have the +satisfaction of knowing that when my darling was absent from me, he +would be with a beloved parent." + +She was not at all insensible to the advantages of wealth; but I could +see, in many little ways, that she was quite sincere in the statement +she often made, that she would willingly sacrifice our chances of +securing the gold for the certainty of discovering my father. + +When I went on deck at seven-bells, in answer to Bob's call, on the +morning but one succeeding the day of our departure from the island, I +found that the wind had dropped almost to a dead calm, the _Lily_ making +no more than about three knots; and that there was a heavy sultry +feeling in the air, quite different from the usual freshness of the sea +breeze. A thin and almost impalpable vapour was spread over the entire +firmament, like a curtain, and away to the eastward a heavy bank of dark +menacing cloud was slowly rising above the horizon. + +A glance at the aneroid, which was fixed in the companion-way, so as to +be visible to the helmsman, revealed the fact that the pointer of the +instrument had gone considerably back; and this, together with the +threatening aspect of the heavens, made me fear that we were about to +have a very unpleasant break in the fine weather we had been favoured +with since entering the Pacific. + +"I don't like the looks of things, Harry," said Bob, as I glanced round +at the aspect of our surroundings; "that glass there has gone back a +good inch within the hour, and this light-flying stuff overhead has +sprung from Lord knows where within the last ten minutes; and that bank +down yonder seems to me to be working about in a way that's altogether +onaccountable, and looks very much as though 'twas breeding mischief. +I'd ha' called ye before, lad, but it's only within these ten minutes +that there's been anything out of the way about the look of the +weather." + +"It has a threatening look about it, certainly," I replied, "and we will +not waste a moment in getting the canvas off the craft, and in making +her snug for whatever may befall. Leave the tiller to take care of +itself, Bob, and in with the gaff-topsail, whilst I hand the spinnaker. +Never mind about rolling them up; we can do that by-and-by, if we have +time. So that's well. Now settle away the peak halliards, or--here, +let me have them, and I will lower away both peak and throat, whilst you +gather in the sail. Now roll it snugly up, and stow it securely, and +put the cover on, whilst I get in the jib and lower the topmast. Be as +lively as you like, Bob; we shall have none too much time, by the look +of things astern. Now we may yet roll up these sails and get them out +of the way below, if we are smart. You do that, whilst I close-reef the +foresail. I hope that whatever is coming will not last long; for we are +in rather an ugly berth here among so many islands, and it may not be an +easy matter to avoid them if we are obliged to scud, as I expect we +shall be." + +We worked with a will, and in a quarter of an hour had the craft +stripped, with the exception of a close-reefed foresail, and her topmast +lowered. All the time that we were working, the heavy bank astern had +been rising and spreading itself over the heavens like a dark canopy, +the vast mass of vapour of which it was composed writhing and twisting +like the contortions of a wounded snake; and by the time that our +preparations were complete, the entire sky was overspread, with the +exception of a low strip away on the western horizon, which was rapidly +lessening, even as we looked upon it. + +The interposition of this vast curtain of vapour between us and the sky +caused an awful semi-darkness to fall upon the scene, and this was still +further increased by the presence of a kind of smoky mist, which now +filled the air, rendering everything so obscure that it was difficult to +see further than a mile on either side. + +Ella now came upon deck to announce that breakfast was ready, but we had +something else to occupy our attention just then; and the fair girl +placed her arm in mine, and gazed with us in silence at the +awe-inspiring scene. + +The wind had died away altogether, but the inky sea exhibited a singular +and alarming appearance, leaping into low waves which had no run in any +direction, and which presented more the appearance of what we see on the +surface of a simmering caldron than anything else to which I can compare +it. + +Suddenly a blinding flash of lightning rent the canopy overhead, and +simultaneously came the cracking, rattling crash of the thunder. I +directed Ella to retire below, and not to attempt returning to the deck +unless I called her, advising her also to get her breakfast at once, and +clear everything away, if she wished to save the crockery, as I expected +we should soon have more of both wind and sea than we wanted. + +I then closed the cabin doors and drew over the slide, and well it was +that I did so; for at that moment there came another flash, another +deafening, stunning peal, and then the floodgates of heaven were opened, +and the rain descended in such blinding sheets that our deck was in less +than a minute full to the low rail, notwithstanding that there was an +inch of clear space all round the craft, between bulwarks and +covering-board, to enable her to free herself rapidly of water. + +This lasted perhaps five minutes, and then the rain ceased as suddenly +as it had come on. It was, to compare great things with small, like the +emptying of a bucket of water. It was a deluge whilst it lasted, and it +ceased as suddenly as would the shower from a bucket when its contents +had all fallen to the ground. + +Another minute or two of suspense succeeded, and then a pale, +primrose-coloured streak appeared on the horizon to the eastward, +rapidly increasing in size, and a hollow moaning sound gradually became +audible in the air. I did not like it at all. I was sure something out +of the common was about to happen, and I desired Bob to go forward and +haul down the foresail, and stow it. + +He had just done this, and was coming aft again, when he sung out, "Here +it comes at last, Harry; stand by the tiller." I looked, and away +astern, right and left, far as the eye could reach, was a rapidly +advancing and widening streak of white foam. On it came, outstripping +in speed the fastest express train, the sea in front of it inky black, +whilst behind it was all as white as milk. I sat down on deck, bracing +my feet against the companion, and desired Bob to do the same and it was +well we did so, or I verily believe we should have been blown overboard. + +The hurricane struck us fairly astern, and I fully expected to see the +mast go clean out of the cutter, whilst the foam boiled up over the +taffrail and surged inboard, filling our decks, and piling; over us in a +truly alarming manner. However, our rigging was all first-rate, and +stood the tremendous strain bravely and, the laws of nature asserting +their supremacy even in this wild scene, the little _Lily_ rose and +shook herself clear of the water which had swept in over her, and then +away she flew, at a perfectly frightful speed, dead before it. + +Had she been of the usual model, her bows would have been forced under +by the enormous pressure of the wind behind, and she would have gone +down head foremost; but, sharp as were her water-lines, her bows curved +boldly out above water, and thus afforded her a support forward, which +now proved her salvation. + +The first fierceness of the gust lasted perhaps five minutes, possibly +not so much, but it is difficult to measure time on such occasions as +these, and then we got the strength of the gale proper. I thought it +blew pretty hard off Cape Horn, but it was a trifle compared with this. + +The sea remained perfectly smooth, for the simple reason that it _could +not_ get up. The tops of the surges, as they rose, were taken by the +wind and swept off as neatly as you would cut a flower from its stalk +with a riding-switch, and the air was filled completely with this scud +water, rendering it so thick that it was impossible to see a cable's +length ahead. + +As all immediate danger was for the present over, I now desired Bob to +push back the companion slide, leaving the doors still closed however, +and go below and get a mouthful of something to eat, as I did not know +what call might yet be made upon our energies, and it was desirable that +we should not allow ourselves to become exhausted from want of food. + +As soon as he had snatched a hasty meal, he relieved me, and I went +below in my turn, when I found that Ella had contrived to keep some +coffee hot for us, as well as a supply of the cakes or rolls which she +was so fond of making; and the dear girl, pale and terrified as she was, +took her place at the table, attending to my wants with true womanly +assiduity and self-forgetfulness. + +She earnestly entreated to be allowed to accompany me on deck, and share +whatever danger there might be, but this of course I would not allow, +asserting, a little ungallantly, I fear, that she could do no good +there, and would only be in the way. I gave her permission, however, to +stand in the companion-way and look abroad upon the strange scene, +providing that she wrapped herself well up, and put on my macintosh to +prevent becoming wet through, and this concession she gratefully +accepted. + +Hour after hour we flew before the fury of the gale, my anxiety +increasing with every mile that we travelled, for my chart told me that +a group of islands lay directly ahead as we were then steering; and I +knew, by my reckoning, that we must be drawing fearfully close to them, +if indeed we were not already actually among them. + +The wind had moderated, to a certain extent, from its first terrific +violence, but it was still blowing far too hard to permit of our +rounding-to, and making use of our floating-anchor; any attempt to do so +must inevitably have resulted in the craft "turning the turtle" with us, +and I had, therefore, no choice but to keep scudding. + +The sea began to get up, too, now, and followed us in a very menacing +manner, the huge foaming crests rearing high above our taffrail, and +threatening every moment to fall on board. So great did this danger at +last become, that I reluctantly directed Bob to go forward and set the +foresail (which I had close-reefed before it was stowed) upon the craft. + +This, in such weather, and with only one hand to do the work, promised +to be a task of no ordinary difficulty; but Bob was the man to do it if +any one could, and he set about the work with all the care and skill of +which he was master. + +I sheered the cutter about one point to port to keep the sail steadily +drawing; and, the sheets being carefully trimmed, the old fellow took +the halliards in one hand, knelt down upon the sail, and cast off the +stops by which it was secured. He then steadied the halliards taut, +sprang to the weather-side of the deck, and swayed away, catching a turn +under a belaying-pin the moment the sail was up. + +It almost set itself, and by Bob's careful management it was filled and +drawing without a single flap, which would at that moment have insured +its destruction. + +The effect of the exhibition of this mere shred of canvas was such a +material acceleration of speed that we were no longer in any great +danger of being "pooped;" but, on the other hand, we were now rushing +with the greater impetuosity down upon the dangers which, I had too much +reason to fear, awaited us ahead. + +Indeed, I had abundant confirmation of these fears within the next +half-hour, for we soon afterwards dashed past an extensive reef--over +which the sea boiled and seethed with terrific violence--at so short a +distance that, but for our slight alteration of course when the foresail +was set, we must have plunged headlong upon it. To add to my anxiety, +it still continued thick as ever, rendering it utterly impossible to see +above a cable's length, or two at the utmost, on any side of us. + +So anxious did I at last become, that I was on the point of resigning +the helm to Bob, that I might go below to consult the chart, and +ascertain as nearly as I could our exact position, when suddenly, +directly ahead, appeared a wild waste of boiling foaming surf, swirling, +seething, and leaping high in the air, where it became instantly +dissipated in the form of a dense driving mist. + +I glanced wildly to port and to starboard, vainly hoping I should see +clear unbroken water on one side or the other, though we were already +too near the breakers to escape them. But far as the eye could +penetrate the dense atmosphere on either side, stretched the remorseless +breakers, and in another minute we were among them. + +On first catching sight of the broken water, I had pointed to the +companion in which Ella still stood; and Bob, seeing the action, caught +my meaning in a moment, and with rather scant ceremony, thrust the poor +little girl's head below and drew the slide close over. + +At the same instant I thought I detected a spot where the sea was +breaking somewhat less madly than elsewhere, and I gave the cutter a +strong sheer to starboard, that we might enter the surf at that point, +it being my opinion that then lay the deepest water. + +I had no hope of escaping, but the instinct of self-preservation +asserted itself, as it always will, and prompted me to avail myself of +even the slenderest and most doubtful chance in our favour. + +The cutter heeled violently down, burying her lee gunwale half-deck high +in the seething water, and I thought for a moment that she was going +over altogether with us; the foresail jibed with a loud flap, and blew +clear and clean out of the bolt-rope, and at the same instant the _Water +Lily_ plunged wildly into the boiling surf. + +I braced myself for the shock which I expected would instantly follow, +accompanied by the crashing in of the poor little craft's timbers, but +she did not touch. + +The water tumbled on board forward, aft, everywhere, and Bob and I were +frequently standing waist deep; and still the cutter rushed furiously +on, all my efforts and energies now being directed to keeping as much as +possible in those parts where the sea broke with least violence. + +After the first half-minute or so, finding that we did not strike, hope +faintly revived within me, especially as the cutter suddenly shot into a +belt of unbroken water. + +Down this channel we rushed, sheering now to port, now to starboard, as +we followed its windings, the water becoming smoother with every fathom +we proceeded. + +I began to hope that our troubles were coming to an end, when suddenly +the channel took a quick bend to windward, and without sail upon the +boat it became impossible to follow it. + +Selecting, as before, that part where the surf broke least heavily, I +was fain therefore once again to let the little _Lily_ drive into the +white water, and the next moment we touched, though but lightly. + +Another perilous quarter of a mile was run, and then, the air being +rather clearer, I saw, some distance ahead, beyond the now much reduced +surf, clear water again; but there was an unbroken barrier of foam +between us and it, and from its appearance I greatly feared that the +reef rose everywhere in that direction dangerously near to the surface. + +There was not much to choose in the way of a course just then, so I +steered for the nearest point of the new channel, and was just +congratulating myself that we should reach it without touching again, +when we plunged into the thickest of the foam, struck heavily, and +sheered broadside to, heeling over so violently that Bob lost his +footing and his hold together, and fell into the sea to leeward. + +The main-sheet was lying coiled upon the deck under my hand, and I threw +it over to him bodily. He fortunately caught it, and, exerting his +utmost strength, succeeded in clambering on board again. + +As he did so, a huge roller came foaming and tumbling towards us, +striking our upturned side so violently that it hove us fairly over on +our beam-ends, whilst it lifted us clear of the ledge to which we had +hung, and launched us into the unbroken water to leeward. + +Once clear of the ledge, the little craft instantly righted, and I put +the helm hard up. We soon paid off, and swept away to leeward once +more; but we were now in a good broad channel, with comparatively smooth +water, and I saw, with satisfaction, that the surf on each side of us +was becoming less and less heavy every minute. + +Five minutes might have elapsed perhaps after we last struck, when I saw +land looming through the haze ahead, and soon afterwards we found +ourselves clear of the reefs altogether--inside of them, that is--and +floating on the comparatively smooth surface of an extensive lagoon. + +High land now distinctly appeared ahead of us, and we shortly discovered +that it formed a portion of an island of considerable size, the northern +end of which lay about three points on our starboard-bow. + +Towards this point I at once directed the head of the cutter, with the +object of getting under a lee as quickly as possible, and, if +practicable, into a berth which would permit of our careening our poor +little craft and examining into the extent of her damage. I directed +Bob to open the companion now, as I was fearful that Ella might have +received some injury when the cutter was hove on her beam-ends; but, to +my great joy, as soon as the doors were thrown back, there she was, +clinging desperately to the ladder, terribly frightened, but unhurt, as +she assured me, beyond a few unimportant bruises. + +As we neared the northern extremity of the island, towards which I was +steering, we found that it terminated in an almost perpendicular cliff +of some fifty or sixty feet in height, constituting the northern part of +the base of a high hill, rising almost to the dignity of a mountain, +which was thickly-wooded almost to its summit, and to the very verge of +the cliffs, close under which we were now gliding swiftly along. + +As my eye ranged over the northern face of these cliffs, which we had by +this time opened, I detected a rather singular break in them at a +particular point; and, curiosity prompting me, I sheered the cutter a +little closer to get a nearer view of it. + +Approaching still nearer, it seemed to me that this break extended quite +to the water's edge; but it was not until we were almost past it that I +felt convinced not only that this was the case, but that there actually +was a bay or cove of some sort inside it. + +This discovery was made barely in time to enable me to jam my helm +hard-a-starboard and just fetch the opening, through which in about five +minutes afterwards we gently slid, finding ourselves in the midst of a +deep basin of almost perfect circular form, so completely landlocked and +with such a narrow and artfully-concealed entrance that it was not until +we were within a biscuit-throw of the rocks that I felt absolutely +certain there, really existed a passage at all. + +The basin, as I have already said, was of circular form, and I judged it +to be about a mile in diameter. The entrance was at the most northerly +point in its circumference; at which spot, as I afterwards ascertained +by sounding, there was nearly forty fathoms of water, though the horns +or cusps of the encircling cliffs approached each other so closely that +it would have been impossible to take even a small square-rigged vessel +through without bracing her yards sharp fore and aft, and a craft of say +a couple of hundred tons could not have been carried through at all. + +At the entrance the cliffs rose almost perpendicularly out of the water, +both outside and inside, terminating in a wedge on either side. + +From this point, however, they gradually widened away in the form of a +gently-rising plateau, out of which two spurs of the mountain sprang, +one on each side of the basin. + +Between these spurs or shoulders lay a ravine, which sloped evenly down +from the level of the plateau on each side until it terminated, at the +southern extremity of the basin, in a beach of fine sand. This ravine +lay, of course, directly ahead of us as we entered; and its smooth, +lawn-like surface, swelling gradually upwards towards the mountain in +the rear and the plateaus on each side, formed a truly lovely picture +under any circumstances, and especially to us who had, within the last +hour, been battling with a stormy sea. + +Its central portion, for perhaps a mile in length and a quarter of that +width, was luxuriantly clothed with the freshest verdure, but was quite +destitute of trees. + +Beyond these limits, however, the whole face of the country was +thickly-wooded, cocoa-nuts and bananas being conspicuously abundant. +The beach ran about three-fourths round the basin, being broadest +immediately in front of the ravine and gradually narrowing away to +nothing at about a mile's distance on either side. + +At the western extremity of the beach a beautiful cascade tumbled over +the edge of the cliff upon a low rocky platform below, from whence it +dispersed itself into the sea. + +I took the glass, and carefully swept the entire ravine with it to +ascertain whether there were any indications that the island was +inhabited, for I felt convinced that were it so this lovely spot would +be the first selected as a place of abode. But for all that I could see +no human foot had ever pressed the soil, and I felt encouraged to go +close in and anchor; though, before doing anything else, I determined to +make a voyage of discovery inland, and settle the question as to the +existence or nonexistence of inhabitants. + +If it should really prove that we had this lovely island all to +ourselves, nothing could possibly be better suited to our purpose of +careening the cutter: for I found, by repeated casts of the lead, that +the water shoaled with almost mathematical regularity as we approached +the beach. + +On shooting through the narrow entrance we had found ourselves almost +becalmed under the lofty cliffs, though the gale still howled overhead, +so, having made up my mind as to the berth in which I would place the +cutter, I desired Bob to get the jib on her, and under this short canvas +we slid quietly across the basin to our anchorage, bringing up in three +fathoms. + +We immediately got our boat out and put her together and, as soon as she +was ready, I took a double-barrelled shot-gun, and got Bob to put me +ashore, leaving him to take care of Ella and the cutter, and telling him +that in the event of anything transpiring to render his assistance +necessary I would fire both barrels quickly one after the other, and not +otherwise. + +If a distant view of the country was attractive, it was, upon a closer +inspection, perfectly enchanting, everything having the appearance +rather of the happiest effects of landscape-gardening than of an unaided +effort of nature. The ground, which from a distance appeared almost too +regular for perfect beauty, I found to be finely broken; and on each +side, as I walked up the ravine, were constantly recurring elevations +and declivities, ornamented with fine clumps of tropical trees. + +Besides the cocoa-nuts and bananas, I found plantains, figs, breadfruit, +pine-apples, superior in size and flavour to any that I had ever before +met with, and a large variety of other fruits with the names and +qualities of which I was unacquainted. + +Innumerable birds of the most beautiful plumage sported among the trees, +and a few of them sang very sweetly, but for the most part the sounds +which they emitted were quite unlike any that I had heard before. + +I saw no traces of animals or reptiles, great or small and none whatever +of man. + +I walked quite to the head of the ravine, and then turned off to the +right, with the object of passing round the base of the mountain; but, +after an hour's walk, I found that I had my labour for my pains, for I +came out upon the edge of the cliff on the north-western side of the +island, and now discovered that at that spot it not only extended for +some distance to the southward, but swept round the northern base of the +mountain inland, rising sheer like a wall for quite a hundred feet. +After searching unavailingly for some time for a point at which it might +be possible for me to pass, I was obliged to give it up and retrace my +steps. + +Reaching the head of the ravine once more, I now struck off to the left +with the intention of passing round to the eastward. Another walk of +about an hour, during which my progress was much impeded, as it had been +on the opposite side, by the dense undergrowth, and I came out upon a +small platform on the extreme eastern side of the mountain. This +platform terminated on my left at the edge of the cliff, and ahead it +gradually narrowed until there was barely room for a man to pass, and +not then unless he had remarkably steady nerves: for on the right rose a +perpendicular precipice, and on the left was the cliff-edge, with the +lagoon nearly two hundred feet below. From my present position I was +now able to see that this ledge was the only available point of passage +from the northern to the southern side of the island unless one chose +fairly to scale the mountain, which I was convinced would be a work of +considerable difficulty, on account of the thickness of the bush or +undergrowth. + +Along this narrow ledge, then, I proceeded to take my way and, after a +perilous journey of half a mile, came out upon safe ground once more. +Half an hour afterwards I reached the southern side of the island, and +clambering with considerable difficulty to the top of a precipitous +knoll, I obtained an uninterrupted view of the whole southern side of +the island. It extended from the point upon which I stood a distance of +quite twelve miles, running nearly due north and south, and was divided +pretty evenly by a ridge or spur of the mountain, which passed down its +entire length. + +The island varied considerably in width, being irregularly shaped +somewhat like a diamond or lozenge, with numerous bays and creeks on its +western side, but none whatever on the east. It was well wooded +throughout, and presented a magnificent park-like appearance. + +I had brought my most powerful glass with me, and from the commanding +elevation upon which I stood, I now carefully swept the entire island as +far as the range of my glass permitted, but without detecting the +slightest trace of inhabitants. + +Greatly gratified at the perfect security which this promised, I now +retraced my steps, as the sun, which had burst through the clouds, was +by this time approaching the horizon; and in about a couple of hours I +found myself once more on board the cutter, where I was joyously +welcomed by my companions, who had both begun to feel very uneasy at my +prolonged absence. + +Of course I did not fail to take back with me a plentiful supply of +fruit, upon which we regaled ourselves luxuriously after a late dinner, +during which I gave a detailed report of my explorations. + +So satisfactory was this, that my companions were both delighted when I +announced my intention of remaining there for a sufficient length of +time to careen and examine the cutter and as this would of course +necessitate the taking of everything movable out of her, it was arranged +that we should commence our work next morning by rigging-up a couple of +tents on shore, in which to take up our quarters until the cutter was +once more ready to receive us. + +Volume Two, Chapter V. + +ATTACKED BY SAVAGES. + +When I awoke next morning the sun was just appearing above the cliffs +which bounded our basin on its eastern side, the sky was cloudless, and +the trade-wind had once more resumed its supremacy, sweeping in a gentle +breeze over the tree-crowned summits of the cliffs, though down in the +basin we only felt the mildest zephyr. + +Calling Bob, who was still sound asleep, I proceeded to the deck to +enjoy the balmy freshness of the morning and await his appearance; and +as soon as he joined me we both jumped into the boat, armed with soap +and towel, and directed our steps to the cascade, which was hidden from +our present berth by a slight projection of the face of the intervening +cliff. + +When we arrived at the spot we found that instead of falling sheer from +the top of the cliff to the bottom, as it appeared from the basin to do, +it was arrested at several points in its fall, by which the force of the +descending water was so much broken that I thought we might safely +venture to place ourselves beneath it, and thus obtain a most +magnificent shower-bath. + +The rock upon which it fell had gradually been hollowed away by the +action of the descending water, and presented the appearance of a +gigantic shallow bowl, of nearly thirty feet in diameter, brim-full of +the purest crystal water, which gushed away over the western or lower +edge into the sea. The depth varied regularly from a few inches round +the edge to about three feet immediately under the cascade, and the +whole formed a most princely bath. + +We lost no time in stripping and plunging in, when, after indulging in a +thorough ablution, I ventured upon the shower experiment. The shock was +tremendous, and as much as ever I could bear; but its after effects were +delicious. I felt braced and strengthened, refreshed, and ready for +anything; but more especially for a good breakfast, which of course we +found awaiting us in due course when we returned to the cutter. + +As soon as the meal was over Ella packed up the washing she was so +anxious about, and I put her and Bob ashore, the latter trudging happily +along by the side of his light-hearted companion, and bearing her bundle +on his shoulder. I then returned to the cutter, hove up the anchor, and +ran her in under her jib, until she gently took the ground, when I set +about mooring her stem and stern to the beach with warps made fast to +stakes firmly driven into the sand. + +Bob soon returned, and we then unbent the mainsail, struck the topmast, +cast adrift the boom and gaff, and ran in the bowsprit and unrigged it; +and, then, transporting these spars and all our sails to the beach, we +rigged up a couple of small but comfortable enough tents, into which we +transferred our several belongings, and such necessaries as we expected +we should require during our short experiment in camp life. We at the +same time availed ourselves of so fine an opportunity as was now +afforded us, to thoroughly air our spare suit of sails. + +It took up the entire day to clear the cutter of everything, ballast +included; and, even then, we were compelled to leave our large +water-tank on board, from sheer inability to get it out of the craft +without breaking up her deck, which, of course, we could not think of +doing. + +We succeeded, however, after a great deal of difficulty and trouble, in +shoring it firmly up close to the deck beams (having first of all, of +course, pumped all the water out) and this left us sufficient room to +get at the ballast, though with none to spare. + +With everything out of her, the cutter floated a good three feet +lighter, and we at once hauled her in as close to the shore as she would +come, so as to work at her, if need be, without the boat, simply +standing in the water. + +The next morning we ran our anchor the necessary distance away out to +seaward, broad upon our starboard beam, brought the cable on board, and +hooked it to the throat halyards, taking a good look, first of all, to +our shore fasts. + +It was easy work heaving her down for the first half-hour but as soon as +we got her fairly down upon her bilge, we obtained an idea of how stiff +the little craft was, even without an ounce of ballast in her. + +We hove and hove until everything cracked again; and I really was afraid +at one time that we should either spring the mast or carry its head away +altogether, but we succeeded at last in getting her past the point of +greatest resistance, without meeting with any casualty, and after that +she came down pretty easily. + +An hour and a half of hard work saw us, at length, with the cutter keel +out, and an anxious scrutiny of her bottom immediately followed. + +To our intense satisfaction, we now saw that she had struck, on both +occasions, on that portion of her keel which was loaded with lead, two +dints in the metal being distinctly visible. One was very trifling; the +other was a jagged notch of some five inches in depth, the lead being +bent upwards and outwards to starboard in a kind of lip. + +Beyond these there were no other injuries even of the slightest kind +visible, at least on the port side, and the copper was as unwrinkled as +the day it was put on. + +Half-an-hour's work with the hammer put the keel completely to rights +again; and whilst I busied myself about this, Bob employed himself in +diligently scouring the copper, and would not be satisfied until he had +made it almost as bright as gold. + +I had very great hopes that we should find the starboard side in an +equally undamaged condition; but we determined, whilst we were about it, +to make our overhaul complete, so, as soon as dinner was over, we swung +the craft, and hove her down again, and soon had the gratification of +finding our hopes confirmed. + +The copper on the starboard side, of course, received its due share of +scouring, for the sake of uniformity; and about an hour before sunset, +the tackles were eased up, and the little craft floated on an even keel +once more, with her slight damages made good, and everything in as +perfect condition (the ordinary wear and tear excepted) as when she came +out of the builders' hands. + +The next day was devoted to a thorough cleansing of the little craft's +interior, fore and aft, so favourable an opportunity not being likely to +offer again until after our return to England, unless, indeed, we really +should prove fortunate enough to find our treasure; but she required it +even now, so we gave it her, finishing off with a coat of paint. + +Before leaving her for the night, we unscrewed all the dead-lights in +the deck, took off the skylight-top, and left the companion wide open, +so as to ensure a thorough draught through her, this answering the +double purpose of drying the paint and removing its objectionable odour. + +The following day saw us as busy as ever, getting things back into their +places, filling up our water, etc.; but we did not strike our tents that +day, a stronger smell than was quite agreeable still remaining from the +new paint. + +To fill up our time, therefore, we turned to upon our fire-arms, and +gave them a thorough cleaning up, so that they might be in perfect +order, and ready for service at a moment's notice. + +We were up betimes next morning; and, after our matutinal bath and a +good breakfast, dowsed the tents, got our spars on board and in their +places, bent the sails, and put the few finishing touches which were +necessary to make the cutter all ready for sea once more. + +This done, it was time to see about finding a way out from among the +numerous reefs which girt the island, as we believed, entirely round. + +We had come through, or, rather, over them once, it is true, but it was +in a fashion that I should have been very sorry to see repeated; and on +that occasion we had no choice; but as I had no fancy for the little +craft's again _scraping_ such rude acquaintance with the rocks, I +resolved to take the boat and make a trip in her along the western side +of the island, in search of a safe channel to sea. + +Accordingly, Bob and I got the light spars and sails of the boat out, +rigged and stepped the former, bent the latter, and then we all sat down +to an early dinner. + +It was my original intention to have gone away alone, but Ella begged so +hard to be allowed to come with me that I had not the heart to refuse +her, especially as there was no sufficient reason for so doing. So I +consented, promising her that after our exploration was over, if time +permitted, she should have a ramble on shore, on the southern side of +the mountain, when we would lay in a sea-stock of fruit at the same +time. + +Bob said he would accompany us, and try his luck with the fishing-lines, +whilst Ella and I took our proposed stroll; and to this also there +seemed no objection, as the cutter was in a berth where the hardest gale +that ever blew could not have endangered her safety in the slightest +decree. + +Accordingly, as soon as the meal was over, we shoved off, some instinct +prompting me, at the last moment, to take one of our revolving rifles +and a small supply of cartridges with me. We soon slid out of the cove, +and shortly afterwards rounded the north-western extremity of the +island. + +This was the first trial of our _sliding-gunter_ mainsail upon our +singularly-constructed boat; and Bob and I were thrown into perfect +raptures at the truly marvellous speed with which it propelled the craft +along. The _Water Lily_ was wonderfully fast; but in smooth water and +light winds, her boat would have sailed round and round her. + +We skimmed rapidly along the edge of the western reef, and when we had +run about four miles to the southward, found a good wide break, which +looked as though it led out to sea. I up with the helm at once, and +away we darted almost dead before the wind, down through it. + +It was rather a circumbendibus sort of affair, and somewhat narrow in +places, though everywhere there was sufficient room to work the _Lily_ +in; and after a run of about half an hour, we shot out between two +overhanging ledges, the extremities of which showed about six feet above +water, and found ourselves rising and falling on the long swell of the +open ocean. + +So far, so good, and we now hove about to retrace our steps, I noticing, +as we passed in between the two ledges I have mentioned, that the rock, +instead of being of coral formation, appeared to be composed of a +lava-like substance; and I then became confirmed in an impression, which +had crossed my mind once or twice before, that this island was certainly +of volcanic origin, and that the mountain had once been the crater of an +active volcano. + +And the conformation of the summit seemed also to suggest this, for it +did not taper away to a cone, but appeared to form a flat tableland of +some extent; this, however, might perhaps have proved on inspection to +be hollow, the flat appearance of the top resulting merely from +regularity in the height of the crater walls. + +In about an hour after re-entering the passage through the reef, our +boat grounded gently on the beach, on the western side of the island. I +leaped ashore, and assisted Ella to land, desiring Bob, as I shoved the +boat off into deep water again, to meet us in the bay which I expected +he would find behind a low headland which lay about three miles to the +southward of us. + +Ella took possession of my arm now, quite as a matter of course, without +waiting for me to offer its support, and together we sauntered leisurely +along in the grateful shade of the trees and giant plants with which we +were surrounded. + +For the first half-hour or so, we had eyes for nothing but the varied +beauties of nature which lay spread before us in such luxuriant +prodigality. + +The forms of the trees and plants were, for the most part, new to us, +but all were beautiful; and the occasional glimpses of scenery which +presented themselves through unexpected avenues, made glorious by the +adornment of all these varied forms and colours in foliage and flowers, +and enlivened by the presence of thousands of birds of brilliant +plumage, darting through the air like living gems, seemed like an +absolute realisation of fairy-land or Eden. + +Time passed swiftly away with us in the enjoyment of so much loveliness, +especially as we made frequent pauses to admire at our leisure some more +than usually bewitching scene; and I was in the act of remarking to my +companion that Bob would certainly think we were lost in the woods, when +she exclaimed in a startled voice: + +"Oh, Harry! there is an animal of some sort following us. I have +noticed the bushes moving rather strangely behind us once or twice +already, but I did not like to say anything, fearing you would think me +foolish and nervous; but this instant I distinctly saw a dark object +glide swiftly behind that large aloe-like shrub with the beautiful +purple blossoms, that we stood admiring so long." + +"An animal?" I exclaimed. "Impossible, darling; you must surely be +mistaken. No animals are likely to be on an island like this. How +could they ever have come here, unless provided with wings?" + +"That I cannot say," she replied; "but I am convinced I was not +mistaken." + +"Stay here a moment then," said I; "I will go back and see whether any +creature really _is_ lurking there, as you seem to think." + +"Oh no, Harry, dear! please do not," she exclaimed; "I feel so +dreadfully nervous, though I know it is very foolish. But it has +startled me, and I shall not feel at ease again until we are in the +boat. Let us hasten forward as rapidly as possible, please, for I +cannot enjoy the walk any longer." + +"Come, then," said I, "we will go on at once; and since this animal is +behind us, you had better walk on a pace or two ahead of me." + +We now stepped briskly forward, my companion evidently suffering from a +violent attack of nervous agitation. + +I did not believe she had seen anything, and imputed her feeling to the +rather depressing sense of solitude which one is sometimes apt to +experience when wandering in a thickly-wooded locality. Nevertheless, I +took the precaution to glance at my rifle, and satisfy myself that all +its chambers were loaded, and also to verify the locality of my +cartridges. + +We had proceeded in this way perhaps five minutes, and had just emerged +from among the trees upon an open lawn-like level of green sward which +sloped gently to the beach, there about half a mile distant, when +something hissed close past me; and the next moment I saw an arrow +quivering in the earth, a few yards beyond. + +"Savages!" I exclaimed, and I felt my blood curdle and my heart sink +like lead for a moment, as I realised the dreadful nature of the danger +to which my poor little darling was thus suddenly exposed. + +I turned abruptly, but could see no sign of a living creature near; and, +with such cheering words as I could find for the moment, I urged Ella to +hasten her steps towards the open, where I should be upon more even +terms with the enemy. + +Poor child! she needed no urging; she would have taken to headlong +flight had I not restrained her: for I felt certain that such an action +would immediately be followed by a perfect shower of arrows were the +savages in force. + +We had not advanced half a dozen yards before I felt a sharp stinging +sensation in my left arm; it was pierced by an arrow. I looked round +again, but the foe remained invisible, and there was nothing for it but +to push on. The next instant three or four more long slender shafts +hissed past us, confirming my fears and increasing my apprehensions for +my companion's safety. + +She saw that I was wounded, and would have stopped to render me +assistance, but time was valuable now, and moments as precious as years +would be under other circumstances so I only urged her to press forward +as fast as she could without actually running. + +On we sped, and again came another flight of arrows, one of which +pierced me in the fleshy part of the thigh, whilst two passed through +Ella's flowing skirts, but happily without doing the dear girl any +injury. + +I suffered a few moments to elapse, and then suddenly faced about, +bringing my rifle to my shoulder as I did so; and there, in the centre +of the path between the trees, which we had just quitted, knelt a savage +upon one knee, in the act of drawing his bow. + +I was always very fond of shooting, and had acquired the reputation of +being a good snap-shot among the rabbits, and my skill now stood me in +good stead. + +The kneeling figure was instantly covered; I pulled the trigger, and he +leapt convulsively to his feet, staggered forward, and fell upon his +face. I had no sooner fired than some twenty natives sprang from their +cover, and ran towards us. They seemed, I thought, to have seen +fire-arms before, for their advance was made with the confidence of +those who know that their enemy has just emptied his piece; but they +were about to make the acquaintance of a new and terrible weapon, of the +properties of which they were doubtless hitherto ignorant. + +Levelling again, I fired at the foremost, and then quickly turned my +piece upon one close beside him. The reports rang out sharp and clear +one close upon the other, and both the savages fell. Their companions +paused an instant in evident surprise; and that pause proved a serious, +if not fatal, matter to a fourth, whom I immediately afterwards brought +down. + +This was too much for them. They saw that to stand exposed to view was +to court death, and with a yell of disappointed rage, they sprang back +into cover. + +I instantly profited by this retrograde movement on the part of the +enemy to make a push for the beach, hoping that Bob would hear the +rifle-shots (especially the double report, which I had arranged with him +on a former occasion should be a signal of warning or a call for +assistance), and hasten to the rendezvous which was now clearly within +sight, or would be as soon as uncovered by an extensive screen of bush +which lay a couple of hundred yards on our right. + +I also reloaded with all dispatch the emptied chambers of my rifle, with +which I hoped to be able to keep the savages at bay until we were fairly +afloat once more. + +But the fight was by no means over yet, for we had not gone far when a +shower of at least thirty arrows flew about us from a point on our left, +showing that the savages were following us up under cover, evidently +with the intention of heading us, if possible. + +I was wounded thrice by this discharge: one arrow sticking in the back +of my neck, and causing me the greatest uneasiness, a second lodging in +my left shoulder, and a third completely piercing the calf of my leg. I +succeeded in removing some of these annoyances by thrusting them right +through the flesh, breaking off the heads, and drawing out the broken +shafts; but those in my neck and shoulder were firmly imbedded in the +muscles, and I found I could not remove them without some sort of +surgical assistance. + +Ella had fortunately escaped again, and as soon as I had rid myself as +far as I could of the arrows, we pressed on once more, I keeping as much +between my companion and the cover of the foe as was possible. The poor +girl was nearly fainting with terror, but she made a brave effort to +keep up her spirits, and really behaved wonderfully well. + +There was now a pause of a minute or two in the attack, and this enabled +us to reach a point where we were not only nearly out of range of the +arrows, but where we were also enabled to get a clear view of our goal. + +We passed beyond the cover of the intervening bush, and there lay the +beach, with no less than fifteen canoes drawn up on it. They were of +various sizes, some large enough to carry perhaps thirty men, others not +capable of accommodating more than four or six. + +The headland I had indicated to Bob lay about a mile on our right; but +the boat was nowhere to be seen. Fortunately there seemed to be no one +left in charge of the canoes, and I at once made up my mind to take the +smallest (if I could succeed in gaining the beach), and push off in it, +and finish the fight afloat, trusting that Bob would yet arrive in time +to lend us his aid in effecting our escape. + +I told Ella, in a few hasty words, what I intended, directing her to get +into the smallest canoe the moment we reached the beach, and then lie +down flat in the bottom of it. We hurried forward, for increasing +weakness and an occasional swimming of objects before my sight, warned +me that my strength was rapidly failing with the blood which was +trickling from my wounds. + +I had just communicated my intentions to Ella, when I saw something +passing swiftly along beyond the low point which formed the northern +extremity of the bay, which I knew at once to be the head of the boat's +mainsail, and presently she shot clear of the land, and headed well up +for the very spot where the canoes lay. + +The savages no doubt saw her too, for a shower of arrows was immediately +let fly at us; but by this time we were out of their range. A second +shower followed, but with no greater success; and then, with a savage +yell, at least a hundred blacks sprang forth into the open, apparently +_determined_ to prevent our escape. + +I at once faced round, for, though we were beyond the reach of their +arrows, they were by no means beyond the reach of my bullets; and, +quickly levelling my rifle, I took deliberate aim, calling on Ella to +make the best of her way to the canoes as I did so, covered the nearest +savage and fired. Without lowering the rifle from my shoulder, I +quickly selected another mark, which, in my haste and eagerness, I +missed, hitting a man close behind him however, so that my shot was not +thrown away; then another, and another, and a fifth. + +This checked their rush, and a sixth shot stopped them altogether. My +rifle was now empty. I glanced over my shoulder, and saw that Ella was +within a few yards of the canoe I had indicated, and that Bob was coming +up at a rattling pace; so I suddenly dropped the rifle from my shoulder, +and turned and ran for the beach as fast as my now rapidly failing +strength would permit, reloading as I ran. + +This, as I expected, proved the signal for a general chase, the savages +rushing after me two feet to my one, uttering the most terrific cries +and yells, brandishing their clubs and spears, and sending an occasional +arrow after me. + +I was soon unpleasantly informed that I was once more within reach of +their missiles, one of the arrows entering my left shoulder and piercing +the shoulder-bone, a second sticking in my left arm, close to the former +wound, and three entering my right leg almost simultaneously, taking +effect about six inches above the knee. I still staggered on, however, +and, in about two minutes more, which spread themselves out to the +length of ages in that exhausting and agonising race, I reached the +canoe in which Ella had already placed herself as I had directed. + +I had succeeded in reloading all six chambers of my rifle, and I now +turned to open fire upon my pursuers once more, in the hope of checking +them long enough to get the craft afloat. As I did so, the whole earth +appeared to rock and heave about me; my eyes became dizzy and my sight +failed, so that I could see nothing but a vast dark crowd of savage +faces scowling upon me, and surging to and fro before my reeling vision. + +Into this heaving crowd I discharged the contents of my rifle rapidly, +but without any attempt at aim, and then turning and flinging the +now-useless weapon into the canoe, I concentrated all my fast fleeting +energies into one supreme effort to launch her. + +I faintly heard Bob's shout of encouragement, and earnestly prayed that +he might succeed in saving my darling. I felt that _I_ was lost, and, +as the cheering cry rang across the water, I threw myself with all my +weight against the light craft, which was already half afloat, braced +myself against the stem, and felt her move. A spear at this instant +pierced me in the back; but its effect for the moment was but to +stimulate me further, and with another violent effort I succeeded in +getting her fairly afloat. + +I saw, or fancied I saw, the boat within a few yards' distance, and Bob +in her, with a rope in his hand ready to heave and plunging heavily into +the clear cool sparkling water, I gave the canoe one final desperate +outward impulse, and at the same moment felt a crashing, stunning blow +at the back of my head--a million stars seemed to dance before my +darkening eyes--a momentary feeling of the intensest agony surged +through my brain and I sank insensible into the ankle-deep wavelets +which came rippling merrily up to the shore, Ella's despairing shriek +ringing in my ears as the last faint glimmering spark of consciousness +faded away. + +When consciousness at length returned, it was accompanied by a sensation +of almost unendurable agony from my numerous smarting, inflamed, and +stiffening wounds; and to this was added the torture of a burning +thirst. + +I was lying, completely naked, upon the scorching sand, a few yards +distant from the water's edge, whither I had been dragged, apparently +for the purpose of being stripped of the poor spoil of my clothing. + +The sun, now nearing the horizon, poured his fiery beams full upon me, +still further increasing the tortures from which I was suffering; but I +believe that to this circumstance alone am I indebted for my +preservation from death, for the glowing rays dried and hardened the +blood as it oozed from my wounds, and thus prevented my bleeding to +death. + +To my great surprise, I was entirely alone. The sand around me was +impressed with numerous footprints from unshod feet; and, on looking +more intently about me, I saw that they had all left me in the direction +of the beach, and the canoes were gone. + +This circumstance excited within me anew the direst apprehensions; for I +had not the slightest doubt that the savages were away in pursuit of the +boat, and I every moment dreaded to see her reappear, and to hear the +triumphant shouts proclaiming our enemies' success. + +But the moments, laden with excruciating mental and bodily torture, wore +slowly away, and nothing appeared to disturb or break in upon the +solitude which surrounded me; and now, urged by the desire for a cooler +spot, I sought to drag my agonised frame from the burning sand to the +cool, fresh, verdant greensward, which was but a few yards distant. + +Slowly, and writhing at every movement with the keenest anguish, I +crawled foot by foot upwards along the beach, and at length, after half +an hour of intense torment, sank utterly exhausted upon the utmost verge +of the grass-covered plain. + +My exertions caused all my wounds to burst open afresh, and I now became +aware that I had received several in addition to those inflicted in the +fight; these last being doubtless the result of wanton cruelty and +savage delight on the part of my enemies at finding me in their power. + +But I was still as far as ever from the means of slaking my burning +thirst, for there was not a drop of fresh water within miles of me, as +far as I knew; and had there been, my strength was by this time so +completely gone that I could not have crawled another half-dozen yards +to save my life, or even to quench that thirst which was now to me +almost worse than death. + +Stern, stubborn endurance was therefore my only resource, and I sank +back upon the cool grass to await, in bitter helplessness, the death +which I felt must soon come to my relief. + +I now relapsed into a state of semi-consciousness, my thoughts wandering +away from my present condition and fixing themselves, with strange +pertinacity, upon subjects of the most trifling import; now plunging +into vague speculations, and anon indulging in all sorts of fantastic +fancies, as fever began to assume its burning sway over my tortured +frame. + +From this state I was aroused by hearing a joyous shout in the tones of +Bob's well-remembered voice; and, raising myself with difficulty, only +to sink back in utter feebleness, I caught a momentary glimpse of the +boat in the act of grounding on the beach. + +In a few brief seconds more Ella and Bob were beside me, the former +raising my head upon her knee, and gazing into my face with an +expression of the fondest pity and concern, as her fingers swept the +hair gently off my forehead, wet with the clammy dew of suffering. + +Bob, too, knelt at my side, uttering expressions of sympathy and +encouragement, expressed, as usual, with true nautical figurativeness of +speech. Seeing that I was conscious, however, he speedily changed his +discourse, and informed me that it was necessary I should be immediately +removed; for, though he had succeeded in decoying the whole of the +savages away in pursuit of the boat, and had led them to such a distance +as to admit of his evading them and returning in search of me, they were +still in chase, and no time must be lost in getting away from the +present spot, and returning to the cutter, or we should again be brought +into dangerous proximity with them. + +Having explained thus far, therefore, he at once proceeded to raise me +in his powerful arms; and though he did so with the utmost gentleness, +the agony attending the movement was so intense that I swooned away. + +When I recovered, we were afloat and under way, standing off, with +flowing sheets, for the headland I have mentioned as forming the +northern extremity of the bay. + +Ella was seated on the boat's platform or deck, with my head in her lap, +and was bathing my face and neck with her pocket-handkerchief, wetted +from a pannikin of water which stood by her side, and which was supplied +from a small breaker we had brought with us. + +As soon as I opened my eyes the dear girl bent over me, and asked, with +the tenderest solicitude, whether I felt any better. + +"Yes, darling," I answered; "but, for the love of mercy, pray give me +some water. I am dying for want of it." + +She handed the pannikin to Bob, who immediately filled it, my eyes +drinking in, in eager anticipation, every cool, sparkling drop of the +precious liquid, as it gurgled crystal-clear out of the bung-hole of the +breaker; the next moment the pannikin was drained to the bottom, and I +was craving for more. Oh, what a delicious draught was that to my +parched and burning lips and throat! + +Surely the man who first dreamed of nectar must have been thinking of +water, clear and cool, tasted under similar circumstances to those in +which I was then placed. My thirst at length temporarily assuaged, Ella +once more resumed the bathing of my wounds, tearing up the skirt of her +white cotton dress to bind them up with afterwards. I begged her to +desist, alluding as delicately as I could to my naked condition, and the +shock to her modesty which it must occasion and assured her I could and +would wait until we reached the cutter, when Bob would have leisure to +attend to me and enact the part of surgeon. + +"I know what you mean, Harry, love," she answered; "but do not feel any +distress on my account. I am, I trust, as truly and perfectly modest as +any woman living; you will never have the slightest reason to complain +of me in that respect. And you know, dear, that to the pure in thought +all things are pure; and I can look, as I have already looked, upon your +naked body, without one thought save that of sorrow and deepest pity for +the cruel wounds with which it is covered. My modesty is not of the +spurious kind which would cause me to turn away my face and hide it with +simulated blushes, leaving those gaping wounds to remain uncared for; +and I hope you will not think the worse of me if I say that I intend, +not only to dress every one of them _now_, but as often as they require +it, until, with God's blessing, you are completely restored. And am I +not your promised wife? That alone, and apart from any abstract +question of humanity, is sufficient to justify my resolve, in my own +eyes, as I trust it will in yours, dearest. Bob is well enough, he is a +dear old fellow in many ways; but utterly unfitted to exercise the +delicacy and care, and ungifted with the lightness of touch, necessary +in your case. Besides, it is woman's peculiar province to--What are you +smiling at? Ah! I know. You are laughing at what you have styled my +`pet phrase' but never mind! I am rejoiced to see that you _can_ smile +at _anything_ in the midst of your pain, my poor darling." + +We were by this time rounding the point, and the savages had been +visible some five minutes about three miles to the southward, paddling +away most furiously, so Bob said, in the vain hope of overtaking the +swift boat. + +It was not a very long journey from this point back to the cove, in +which the _Water Lily_ was lying, and in about three quarters of an hour +we were alongside. + +To transfer me on board and below was a most painful operation, and I +again swooned away soon recovering, however, under Ella's gentle +ministrations. To my surprise I found she had caused me to be placed in +her own cot forward, a proceeding against which I at once protested as +strenuously as my feeble powers would allow. + +"Dearest, dearest Harry," said she, leaning over me, and pressing her +quivering lips passionately to mine, "do not, I pray you, exhaust +yourself and distress me by saying a single word. You are far better +here than you would be in your hammock. There you would have no room to +turn, whilst here you have plenty there it is close and stifling hot, +whilst here there is a cool and refreshing draught from the open +deck-light; and here, too, I shall have more room to move round and get +at your numerous wounds to dress them. And here I can remain at your +side and watch you constantly, whilst I could not do so very well in the +other cabin, without turning poor Bob out of it altogether." + +"But," said I, "I protest against your devoting yourself to me so +completely as these arrangements imply; you will be ill--" + +"Not another word, Harry," she interrupted, stopping my lips with a +kiss; I will not listen to it. I am already your wife in the sight of +God, and He knows that no wife can love more fondly than I do; so in +this dreadful time I shall perform all a wife's duties towards you, +dearest, as in that way only is there any hope of saving you. You are +now still under the influence of excitement, and do not know the extent +of your injuries; but you will find all that out by-and-by, when you +become more calm, and then you will need the most vigilant watching and +the utmost care to save you from sinking under the effects of +exhaustion. + +"Oh! Ella, what can I do to repay you for all this?" I exclaimed, +deeply moved by the dear twirl's devotion. + +"Live, Harry," she replied passionately; "live, my dearest; recover, and +bless your poor little Ella with such love as her heart now feels for +you. But this will never do," she added quickly, and with a powerful +effort to regain her self-control; "I must lose no time in getting these +dreadful wounds bound up, for they are all bleeding afresh; and, +remember, I forbid you to speak another word." + +It was time, for I was so utterly exhausted that I felt doubtful whether +I should ever recover; so I lay passive whilst Ella tripped about, +procuring basins of warm water, bathing my wounds, and binding them up +carefully and tenderly with soft lint and ample bandages. I had heard +Bob's heavy tread bustling about on the deck above for a short time, but +I now missed it, and endeavoured to inquire where he was gone; this, +however, my nurse would not permit, assuring me that I should learn all +that it was necessary to know in due time, and when I was stronger and +better able to listen. + +The work of dressing my injuries was a long and tedious one, for I had +no less than seventeen wounds in different parts of my body, the most +serious of which were the spear-wound in my back, and three, close +together, in my right breast; the blow at the back of my head; the +arrow-wounds in my neck and left shoulder where the weapons had been +dragged violently out, lacerating the flesh terribly, no doubt when I +was stripped; and a spear-thrust in my right thigh, which completely +pierced the limb and seemed to have severed some important artery, from +the quantity of blood which gushed from it and deluged the bed on which +I lay. + +It was quite dark, or as dark as it _could_ be with a full moon riding +in cloudless beauty overhead, before the painful task was over; but the +soothing effects of the bathing and the bland and cooling properties of +the ointment applied to my smarting wounds were such that I soon felt at +ease and free from pain, compared with what my condition had been an +hour or two before, and I sank into a feverish doze, in the midst of +which I still remained conscious of the frequent application of cool wet +cloths to my burning brow, and of the constant moistening of my parched +lips with a cool refreshing beverage of some kind. + +Gradually I dropped off into a sounder sleep, from which I awoke but +once in the night, to find my gentle nurse half-sitting, half-reclining, +in a chair beside my cot, fast asleep, with one soft round arm +encircling my neck and her fair head resting on the pillow close to my +own. + +Volume Two, Chapter VI. + +IMPORTANT NEWS. + +The next day I was in a raging delirium, and for nearly a week did I +remain utterly unconscious of all that surrounded me, entirely +engrossing the attention of my companions, and taxing their energies and +ingenuity to the utmost to prevent my leaping out of the cot or doing +myself some injury, in the unnatural strength and violence of the fever +which burned within me. + +At length their unremitting care and watchfulness were rewarded by +seeing me fall into a deep sleep, in which I remained all night and +until the next morning was far advanced; and when I awoke reason had +resumed her sway. I knew them both, and could answer their affectionate +inquiries by a faint pressure of the hand or a feeble whisper, but +beyond this I had no power to go. + +Ella, poor child! looked terribly pale and careworn, as well she might, +for I afterwards learned that during the whole of that fearful time she +had never once lain down to rest; such sleep as she had been able to +obtain being snatched at uncertain intervals in a chair by the side of +my cot. Bob had, of course, insisted sturdily and stubbornly on +performing his full share of the watching but my poor little darling +could not even then tear herself away, though she was able to do but +little beyond supplying my incessant demands for water, it being utterly +impossible during the whole time to renew any of the bandages. + +And now ensued the terrible state of exhaustion and utter prostration +consequent on my great loss of blood and the fever which had so long +been devouring me. I had not strength even to raise my hand without +assistance, and as to turning myself, I might as well have attempted to +fly. + +For nine days did I thus lie hovering between life and death, my +weakness being such that my wounds had to be dressed one at a time and +at intervals; and the very pressure of the sheet--the only cover it had +been possible to throw over me from the time that I was first brought on +board--seemed almost more than I could endure. + +At length, however, the assiduous care and ceaseless attention which +were bestowed upon me had their effect, and I began to rally and, the +turning-point once passed, soon mended rapidly. + +The moment that my recovery seemed at all probable Bob got the tents +rigged up ashore again; and, one fine morning when I appeared a little +stronger than usual, and seemed able to bear the removal, I was +transferred to the boat and thence to the shore where my own hammock, +carefully slung and provided with clean linen, awaited me. The change +from the confinement of the small cabin to the tent, the fresh and balmy +air, scent-laden from the adjacent groves, and, above all, the view from +the open end of the tent of the clear sparkling water gently ruffled by +the passing breeze, with the tree-crowned, sunlighted cliffs on either +side, did more for me than the most skilful doctor or the most potent +drugs could have effected, and I felt that I was drawing in new life +with every inhalation. + +I now slept much and soundly, the effect, no doubt, of the fresh, cool +air which was freely admitted to the interior of the tent; and when I +was not sleeping I was generally eating, Ella exerting all her +ingenuity, which was great, in the concoction of light, tempting dishes, +to provoke my languid appetite. + +Bob, too, was indefatigable in his exertions in my behalf; now ranging +the woods with his air-gun, in search of a species of pigeon which he +had discovered; anon going away in the canoe (in which Ella had escaped, +and which he had contrived to retain) to the rocks, and bringing in +sundry delicately-flavoured fish; and then off to the woods again for +fruit, of which the island afforded any quantity of various kinds. + +As I progressed toward recovery, so did Ella regain in a measure her +former cheerfulness of manner, which intense anxiety had greatly +subdued; and now that she was once more able to take her natural rest, +the roses speedily returned to her cheeks, and her eyes began to resume +their former brightness. + +At length the day arrived when I was considered strong enough to listen +to Bob's story, and be made acquainted with all that had occurred since +the disastrous afternoon of our walk on the south side of the island. + +You must know, he began, "that as soon as I left you and your precious +little dearie here ashore, I went straight away back to the channel, and +anchored the craft in a bit of a nook in the first reach, where I +thought as I should find some sport. Well, I didn't get so much as a +nibble, and, at last--whether 'twas the heat of the sun, or what 'twas, +I can't tell ye--I dropped clean off to sleep. How long I slept I can't +say, but I was woke up by the tug-tugging of the line, which I'd made +fast with two or three turns round my finger. I started to haul in, and +had got my fish very nigh out of water, when he broke away, and I lost +him. I was just baiting my hook afresh, when I thought I heard your +rifle; and I fancied I'd overstayed my time, and that you was firing a +signal to jine company. So I rouses up my killick, and makes sail; and +whilst I was doing it, I hears two reports, one close upon t'other. I +guessed at once't that something was amiss; so I crowds all sail upon +the craft, and steers as straight as she would go for the p'int. Whilst +I was running down towards it I fancied I heard a shout, though I +couldn't be sure, but you may depend upon it I was now pretty anxious to +get round the pint, and see where you was and what was going on. As +soon as I cleared it, I sees you and dearie hurryin' towards the beach, +as though somethin' was amiss, but what it was I couldn't at first make +out, until I see'd the blackies jump out of the bushes, and then I +knowed at once what a reg'lar fix you was in. I see'd ye fire at 'em, +lad, and bring 'em up with a round turn, and my fingers was just all of +a itch to be alongside of ye with one of them same revolvin' rifles in +my fist, though I'm, a'ter all, no great matter of a shot. Well, I +see'd ye run, and I see'd the little lady here step into the canoe and +lie down and then in course I knowed what you was after, so I shapes a +course accordin'. You knows what foller'd, lad, but you don't know, and +I can't tell ye, what I felt when I saw ye struck down almost within +reach of my arm, and dragged away by them incarnate devils. It seemed +to me as though every mother's son of 'em was fighting for the first +blow at ye, and I give ye fairly up for lost, sartain. But there warn't +much time for thinkin', for some of 'em started to launch their canoes +at once't in chase of dearie here, and I only had jist time to sheer +alongside and take the craft in tow, when they was afloat and a'ter us. +I stood away to the south'ard, hardly knowing what I was doin', and soon +ran away from 'em hand over hand. I was getting little miss here out of +the canoe into the boat the best way I could, for she'd fainted, when +the idee comes into my old head that if I could but entice the whole lot +of 'em to chase me, I might lead 'em far enough away to give 'em the +slip and run back and get your body--for I never doubted but what you +was dead. So I goes for'ard and lets run the main-halliards, and down +comes the sail, accidental like. The niggers gives a shout as soon as +they sees this, and I hauls my wind as though I couldn't go no further +to leeward without my mainsail; and, sure enough, the trick answered to +perfection, for the whole posse of 'em comes scurryin' down to the +beach, launches their canoes, and shoves off, paddling like mad to the +south'ard, to cut me off. `All right, my hearties, go it,' says I, +`but,' says I, `you haven't the pleasure of knowin' a sartain Robert +Trunnion,' says I, `if you supposes as you're going to circumvent him +that a'way.' So I lets 'em come well up with me, and the nearer they +got, the louder they yells, and the harder they paddles; and you might +ha' thought by the row that all hell had broke loose, as perhaps it had, +or them devils wouldn't ha' been there. Well, I'd got the +main-halliards led aft to where I was sittin', and as they closed, I +gently sways the sail up, a few inches at a time, and keeps grad'lly +away, until we was all spinnin' away dead to the south'ard, they +paddlin' like fury, and I just keepin' far enough ahead to be out of +range of their harrers. We'd run, I s'pose, a matter of four knots, +when I sees that the reef sinks lower and lower below the water and by +the time that we had gone another couple of miles, there was unbroken +water all over it. So I edges easily away to the west'ard, they +following, till we'd got an offing of about four miles from the shore, +and there was a tidyish jump of a sea for 'em to paddle ag'in, though I +know'd 'twould make no matter of difference to the boat; and then I +gives the tiller to the little lady, who'd come round ag'in, goes +for'ard and h'ists the sail full up, and then hauls sharp up and goes +about, keeping as straight away for the bay ag'in as I dared for the +reef. The devils set up another yell at this, and round they goes like +tops, heading about east, to cut me off; but I soon seed as they was +pretty well done up--for I'd kept 'em paddlin' all they knowed, in the +hopes of coming up with me--and I felt satisfied as I'd be able to get +back in time to get your body and be off ag'in afore they could overhaul +me. Well, you knows that part of the story too; so it needs no telling. +Directly you was in your cot, I rouses the gun out of the cutter into +the boat, takes a goodish lot of cartridges, shot and shell with me, and +out I goes agin, fallin' in with the rascals just off the nor'-western +end of the cliffs. They was hugging the shore pretty close, and I was +dreadful afraid as they knowed the cove, and was bound in there. So as +I'd loaded the gun afore starting, I just gives 'em a shell, right into +the thick of 'em, and that seemed to sicken 'em all at once; for they +ups helm, and away they goes faster even than they'd come, and I a'ter +'em. The first thing I did was to get between them and the land and as +soon as they see'd that there warn't no chance of gettin' ashore and +takin' to their cursed woods ag'in, away they all goes helter-skelter +for our passage, and directly they was fairly in it, I heaves the boat +to, loads the gun ag'in, and a'ter 'em once more, for I was determined +that I'd drive 'em fairly out to sea, and then blow 'em all to hell, +where they come from and--to make a long story short--that's just what I +did, lad, bearing down upon a canoe until I _couldn't_ miss her, and +then plumping a shell into her at one eend and out at t'other. I tarred +the whole lot with the same brush, except one little craft with only +four hands in her, and she I chased clean out to sea altogether, givin' +'em a shot close past 'em, as a freshener of their energies, just as I +hauled my wind; and if ever they gets back to their own country-- +wherever 'tis--I'll bet my life they'll never be for coming to _this +here_ island ag'in." + +Such was Bob's story, and such the end of the adventure, for though we +remained at the island nearly seven weeks, we never saw any further +signs of savages. + +In about a month from the date of the adventure I had so far recovered +as to be able to hobble about a little, a few yards only at a time; and +then I began to regain strength rapidly. By the end of the following +week I was able, with the assistance of Bob's strong arm, to get as far +as the cascade every morning, and take a bath; and this, too, helped me +on wonderfully towards entire convalescence. My wounds had closed, and +were by this time so far scarred over that I was able to dispense with +all dressing and bandages, and we began to talk about making another +start, finally arranging to do so as soon as the new moon attained her +first quarter, which would be in another fortnight. + +It was, I believe, on the Sunday following this arrangement that Bob set +off the first thing after breakfast to attempt an ascent of the +mountain, he having discovered, as he believed, a spot at which an +active man with good nerves might surmount the natural impediments which +existed near the base. + +I cautioned him to be very careful for our sakes as well as his own, for +I was still too weak to afford him any very effectual assistance in the +event of a mishap and a broken limb halfway up the mountain-side would +have been death to him just at that time. + +Ella and I were, of course, society for each other, and we wandered +about the lawn-like ravine and reposed at frequent intervals beneath the +grateful shade of the trees, in blissful oblivion of the passage of +time, waiting quite contentedly until Master Bob chose to rejoin us, +which he faithfully promised he would in time for dinner. + +At length, however, the position of the sun in the western heavens +warned us that the hour named was long past, and I proposed a walk as +far as the head of the ravine, hoping to meet the truant returning. We +walked slowly, my strength not yet being sufficient to permit of very +active exertion, and by the time that we reached the point aimed at, the +entire landscape was flooded in the lovely pinky-purplish haze which +immediately precedes sunset. Still no Bob made his appearance, and I +began to grow seriously alarmed. We waited another half-hour, and then, +just as the sun was about to disappear in the purple western wave, and +we had made up our minds to return to the cutter, thinking he might +possibly have passed down the ravine on its opposite side, he made his +appearance. + +To my surprise, he seemed singularly uncommunicative, and we could get +but little out of him beyond the fact that he had, with very great +difficulty, reached the summit, and found my conjecture as to its being +an extinct crater correct. He thawed a little during dinner, and +volunteered the information that he had seen land far away on the +southern board--nearly or quite a hundred miles distant, he supposed-- +and had seen the loom of land to the westward, or about west-north-west, +and also to the northward. He was of opinion, he said, that our late +enemies had come from the land seen to the southward and were bound +north, touching at our island on their way, on some marauding excursion, +as he had been able completely to sweep the island in every direction +from the commanding elevation of the mountain-top, and had detected no +sign whatever of "niggers" in any direction. With this he dropped the +subject and adverted to my condition, questioning me solicitously-- +unusually so, I fancied--as to how I felt, the extent of my strength, +where we had been, and what we had seen. He was particularly curious on +this latter point, and asked the same question so repeatedly that Ella +made some laughing remark, I forget what, upon it, and he carefully +avoided any further repetition of it for the remainder of the evening, +at least as long as Ella was with us. + +When at length she retired to her own tent for the night, however, he +became more communicative. I was already undressed and in my hammock, +and he was sitting smoking beside me, and after a silence of some ten +minutes or a quarter of an hour, during which he seemed to be ruminating +deeply, he began. + +"I've something to tell ye, lad," said he, knocking the ashes +contemplatively out of his pipe as he spoke, "but dash my ugly old wig +if I'm at all sartain that I ought to say anything about it to-night, +seeing as it can't do much good, and might only be upsetting of ye for +the night; but your head's better nor mine in matters of this sort, and +I confess I should like to have your idees upon the subject afore I +sleep. Maybe they'll in a way mark out a course upon which my idees can +travel a good bit of a way betwixt this and morning, and even that +much'll be an advantage gained. The fact is that I've see'd something +as I didn't expect to see whilst I was away up aloft there--" pointing +with the stem of his pipe backwards over his shoulder toward the +mountain--"and the sight has disturbed me a little and set me thinkin' a +good deal." + +"Indeed," said I, "what have you seen, Bob? You must perforce tell me +all about it now, for you have excited both my curiosity and my +apprehensions." + +"Not much need for the last, boy, I hope and believe," answered he, "but +it's best perhaps as you should know at once--so, without any further +palaver, the _Albatross_, the pirate brig, is inside the reef, and is +lying at anchor at this very moment in the bay where you was so near +losing the number of your mess." + +"The _Albatross_!" exclaimed I "nonsense, Bob; surely you must be +mistaken! Is it not some whaler, think you, come in to water!" + +"No, no," said he; "it's no whaler, Harry. Whalers wouldn't come so far +within the group as this here island. And when did ye ever know me +mistaken about a vessel as has given us such good reason to remember her +as this here brig? I knowed her the minute I set eyes on her: firstly, +by a patch in her foresail, as you might ha' noticed the last time we +see her nextly, by the shape of her main-topmast-staysail; and, thirdly +and lastly, by the whull look of her, which enables a seaman to +recognise a ship in the same way as one of your 'long-shore folks +recognises an acquaintance in the street when they see him, though he +may be dressed exactly like a score of other people within hail. And +what's more, I can make a pretty near guess as to what's become of that +whaler that he went a'ter when he found we wasn't to be had, for I see +he's got three of the chap's whale-boats, to replace the two as was +expended in our little trifle of a brush, no doubt." + +"This is important news, indeed," said I "and news that provides matter +for very serious reflection. What do you suppose has brought them in +here, Bob? Did you see anything by which you could form an opinion?" + +"Yes," replied he, "I did. Want of water may be one thing but it's my +idee that they've come in here to give their craft an overhaul, for +they'd no sooner let go their anchor than they outs boats, and one watch +pulls ashore and turns to building huts on the green, whilst t'other +watch sends down t'gallan' yards and masts, and unbends the sails and +sends 'em all down on deck." + +"Then they are likely to make a pretty long stay," said I, "and, in that +case, we may be discovered at any moment." + +"That they're likely to stay here some time I'll not deny," returned +Bob; "but I don't feel partic'lar oneasy about bein' discovered. It's +like enough as some on 'em may take the fancy in their heads to scale +this here bit of a mountain; but I've made it my business to give the +place a reg'lar overhaul this a'ternoon, and the thing _can't_ be done +from the south'ard--not without ladders, that is, and good long uns at +that; and I've found out, too, that though you may get round to t'other +side of the mountain from here, you can't get down to the level ground +beyond. I never see such a place, it's nothing but precipices one atop +of t'other; and there's one place I come to which one man might defend +ag'in just as many as ever like to come a'ter him, by just standin' +behind a sort of wall in the cliff and shoving of 'em over the edge as +they tried to get round it. No, no; you make your mind easy on that +p'int, lad we ain't to be got at except 'tis by water, and I reckon +they'll be all too busy to spare a boat's crew to come the length of +this; and if they did, it's a thousand chances to one that they'd never +find the openin' into this here cove. Why I run past it myself the day +as we brought you in here wounded, and I'd never have found it if I +hadn't knowed just where to look for it. So it's my opinion as we may +stay here quiet and comfortable enough so long as we've a mind to; and +then, when we're tired of waitin', we can slip out quietly in the night, +and nobody be any the wiser. So much for that. Now for an idee that's +come into my head, and that I can't get rid of noways. Wouldn't it be a +pretty trick to sarve these chaps, if we was to take the brig and carry +her out to sea under their noses, leavin' of 'em here to amuse +themselves the best way they could?" + +"It _would_ be a pretty trick indeed," I replied, "if it were possible +but at this moment I cannot see how it is to be done. The difficulties +in the way of its accomplishment are too many for only a couple of men +to overcome. Were we half-a-dozen, or even four, we might perhaps do +it; but we could never get her out clear of the reefs by our two selves. +Besides, before we could get the canvas on her, they would be alongside +of us in their boats, even if the watch, which they will of course leave +on board, were overpowered." + +"I don't reckon as they'll keep much of a watch aboard her where she's +lying," returned Bob. "She's as safe as if she was in harbour, not +more'n a mile from the beach, and on the lee-side of the island; and as +to gettin' her out, you've only to stand to the south'ard under +fore-and-aft canvas, and it's my belief as she'd fetch out clear of the +reef from where she's lyin' in one tack. You recollect as I told ye +that the reef dipped as it went to the south'ard? Well, it's my opinion +as there'd be water for her over it by the time she was far enough south +to make it worth while to think about heaving of her about. That's the +road as she came in by." + +"If that is the case, perhaps it _might_ be done, then, if we could +contrive to gain possession of their boats first of all," said I "but +what is to become of the cutter in the meantime? I've no fancy for +leaving her here to fall into their hands; and to speak the truth, now +that she has brought us so well thus far. I should like to finish the +voyage in her. No, if such a thing were attempted at all it would be +attended with the utmost risk, and could only be successful in the event +of our being able to _steal_ on board; and the cutter is not suitable +for such service. But I'll tell you what has just occurred to me. +There is just a bare possibility of our being able to steal on board in +the canoe some dark night, and set fire to the brig; and then come back +here, get the cutter under weigh, and be off at once. But this even can +only be done in the event of there being no one left on board at night, +and this I consider very unlikely." + +"That's the plan!" exclaimed Bob, with enthusiasm. "Burn the craft +afore their eyes, and leave 'em to get off in their boats, if they +like." + +"Not so," said I. "If this scheme is undertaken at all, I should +certainly do it effectually. Take their boats away, and burn the brig, +and here they must remain prisoners for a considerable time at least; +for this island is quite out of the route of all honest craft, ourselves +perhaps excepted." + +"Better and better still!" exclaimed Bob, in high glee. "Now, I never +should ha' thought of that, because, somehow, it seems cruel and +unnat'ral like to burn sich a beauty of a craft as that there brig; but +it's the proper plan, Hal--there's no doubt of that. We two _couldn't_ +take care of both the brig and the cutter in anything but the very +finest of weather; and it's better to burn the craft, beauty as she is, +than that them villains should misuse her to rob and murder honest +seamen, and do worse to their wives and darters. Curse 'em! I shan't +forget in a hurry that poor young thing as we see lying dead in the +cabin of that American ship; and I'd burn the finest craft as ever was +launched, afore they should have the chance to commit another sich a +piece of devilish villainy. Now, Harry, lad, mind me, we _do_ this here +little piece of work. You've got hold of the eend of the right coil of +idees, and I can see as your heart's set upon it; and I, Robert +Trunnion, am the man as'll back ye up in it through thick and thin, and +there's my hand upon it. You get well and strong as fast as you knows +how, and I'll go aloft there every day, and keep my eye upon 'em all day +long, and see what 'tis they intends doing; and the first chance we has, +mark me, the job's _done_. Now, let's blow the light out, and get a +good night's sleep upon it." + +Bob suited the action to the word, and in less than ten minutes I had +auricular evidence that, as far as the sleep was concerned, he was +carrying his precept most thoroughly into practice. + +On the following morning, as soon as breakfast was over, Bob and I set +off up the ravine, my companion providing himself with our best +telescope, a few biscuits, and a flask of weak grog, as it was his +intention to remain on the summit of the mountain the entire day +watching the motions of the pirates, unless he happened to see anything +rendering an earlier return advisable. + +I did not feel quite so easy in my mind as Bob did with regard to the +chances of a boat being detached to examine the island, and, in such an +event, of our cove escaping detection; so I arranged with him that, if +he observed anything of the kind, he was to fly his handkerchief from +the branch of an isolated tree which grew on a small projecting platform +near the summit, and which was quite visible both from the cutter and +the ravine, but was hidden by the mountain-top itself from the pirates; +and I decided that, if the signal were displayed, I would convey Ella to +the spot he had spoken of on the previous evening as capable of being so +easily defended, and would then return to the cutter, try the effect of +a shell or two upon the boat if she appeared within the cove, and +afterwards, if need be, retire to the place of Ella's concealment, and +make a stand there. + +In furtherance of this arrangement I got Bob to show me the spot, which +I found, on personal inspection, to be fully as impregnable as he had +declared it to be; and I also ascertained, as he had done, that it was +quite impossible to get round the mountain by land. + +We then separated, Bob making the best of his way up the mountain-side, +and I returning to the shore, loading myself, as I went, with the finest +and choicest fruit I could find. + +I was met, about halfway up the ravine, by Ella, and we both strolled +quietly back to the beach together, my fair companion following my +example, and loading herself with fruit. + +When we reached the beach, I set about striking the tents, and got the +sails, spars, and lighter articles back on board the cutter, as there +was now no knowing at what moment it might be necessary for us to be +off; and this task, in my then weak condition, occupied me the greater +part of the day--getting them on board, that is, and putting the spars +in their places, rigging them, and bending the sails. + +By the time that I had finished, everything was back into its old berth, +with the exception of about a couple of canoe-loads of heavy articles, +which might be run on board in twenty minutes or half an hour, and then +we should be ready to start at a moment's notice. + +I even contrived to take our tube-boat to pieces and stow her away +below, though the tubes gave me some trouble in getting them inboard; +but I managed this at last by parbuckling them up over the side with the +aid of the throat-halliards. + +Of course I kept a strict watch on the tree near the summit all this +time; but no signal fluttered from it, so I assumed that they were all +too busy on board the brig to make explorations, relying on their +numbers for safety in case of an attack; or else, that whatever +explorations might be afoot were being conducted by land. + +At length everything was done that my unaided efforts could effect; and +then, taking Ella on shore with me in the canoe, I set out for another +walk up the ravine in quest of a little more fruit, to complete our +sea-stock. I was rather anxious to take as much of this as possible to +sea with me, for I have always held the belief that the fruit which +flourishes best in any particular climate, if partaken of in moderation, +is beneficial to the health whilst breathing the air of that climate. + +Ella expressed her surprise once or twice during the day, both at the +somewhat abrupt manner in which our encampment on shore was broken up, +and at Bob's sudden predilection for so unsailorlike an amusement as +mountain-climbing; but I answered her carelessly, anxious not to alarm +the dear little girl by acquainting her with the fact that we had +unexpectedly acquired such very undesirable neighbours. + +Near the head of the ravine, I was fortunate enough to come upon a +banana-tree laden with exceptionally fine fruit, and I succeeded in +possessing myself of two noble bunches of bananas which had arrived at +exactly the right condition for cutting. Each bunch was as heavy as I +could well lift, and, having got them to the ground without bruising any +of the fruit, I cut a strong stake, and placed it, with a bunch at each +end, fair in the pathway which I knew Bob would take on his way to the +beach, feeling certain he would know why it was placed there, and would +bring it down with him. + +We then returned, cutting a few splendid pines and gathering a little +breadfruit and a few figs as we went, and paddled back to the cutter, +where Ella and I remained, fully occupied with each other, until it was +quite dark, when, just as the little fairy was on the point of going +below to see to the tea, I heard Bob's hail, and, jumping into the +canoe, I soon joined him on the beach. + +"Well, Harry," said he, as I drew the light canoe up a foot or two on +the beach, "it seems that you haven't been noways idle whilst I've been +aloft there spying into the inimy's movements. I hardly knowed what to +make of it when I first found the tents struck and 'most everything +gone. But I'm glad in one sense that matters is so far for'ard, though +I'm sorry in another; for I'm greatly afeared you've been working hard +and have tired yourself, and there's just a chance of our havin' our +hands full of work to-night. I stumbled over these here bananas as I +was coming down the ravine, and brought 'em along, as I s'pose it was +intended I should." + +"Just so," I answered. "Now let me hear the result of your day's +observations. I have amused myself, as you see, in getting as many of +our things as I could back into the cutter; for I felt that, in the +present condition of affairs, it may be imperatively necessary for us to +be off at a moment's notice. But I do not feel very much fatigued; I am +picking up strength rapidly, and my experience of to-day has shown me +that I am stronger than I really thought I was. There are a few things +still lying about here which were rather too heavy for me single-handed; +but when these are on board and stowed away, we can be off at any +moment." + +"So much the better," returned Bob. "Let's get a few on 'em into the +canoe to once't, and whilst we're working I can be telling ye what I've +see'd from my perch up aloft there. It won't take very long in the +telling. In the first place, two boats has been right to the south eend +of the island. They went away full o' men, and landed all hands, +excepting a couple of men in each boat; and while the shore party was +reg'lar beating the woods the boats paddled slowly back, keepin' close +in shore, to take their shipmates off in case of anything going wrong, +at least that was my idee. Then I soon made out that another party was +working their way to the nor'ard from their camp, giving this eend of +the island a overhaul. I see'd 'em often, crossing the open country +between the different clumps of trees, and was able once or twice to +hear faintly their shouts to one another. This lot would ha' made me +very oneasy, hadn't I give the place such a complete overhaul myself no +later'n yesterday, for they seemed to be bent on getting up the bit of a +mountain, and stood off and on, this way and that, as though they +_wouldn't_ be beat; but they had to give it up at last and go back, +though I make no manner of doubt as they've pretty well decided to come +this way with a boat to-morrer, and finish their surwey of the island. +So much for the shore gang. They're all back in their camp by this +time, and if they don't sleep without rocking it won't be for want of +walking, and shouting, and hollering; and let me tell ye, lad, it's no +joke to be fighting your way through thick bush for hours at a time, as +most of them chaps have been doing this blessed hot day. + +"Now, as to the brig, it's my opinion as they means to careen her, just +as we've done with our little barkie. They've been working like +galley-slaves aboard there all day, and have stripped her to her lower +masts. The sails are all gone ashore, for I saw 'em lowered over the +side into the boats with these same two good-looking eyes of mine, but +the spars is still aboard. They've been striking out cargo wholesale, +and, to my mind, in a most lubberly, unseamanlike fashion. If it had +been me, now, I should ha' built a raft with all the spars, and rafted +the things ashore, but they've done everything with their boats; maybe, +hows'ever, it's valyable stuff, and they didn't care to trust it to a +raft. It was a'most all boxes and bales, of all sorts and sizes, the +pickings of many a good ship's cargo, I'll warrant. Now I reckon that +a'ter the work as this lot has got through to-day _they'll_ sleep pretty +sound too, so it's my idee that we ain't likely to have a much better +chance for playin' our little trick upon 'em than we shall have +to-night. They're all as tired as tired can be, you may take your oath +upon that; and they'll sleep without any fear of savages, for the reason +that they've give the island a pretty thorough overhaul without findin' +any. And to-morrow it may be too late for if so be as they comes this +way in a boat, it won't do for us to be found here, and the chances is +that we shall have to cut and run for it, without doing 'em a +farthing's-worth of harm a'ter all. The sails all being took ashore +knocks my little plan for carryin' the brig off clean on the head, even +if her spars was aloft to set 'em on, which they're not. So I s'pose we +shall have to burn the pretty little craft, if we're to do anything at +all. Now what say ye, lad?" + +"Simply, that whatever is to be attempted must be attempted to-night," I +replied. "The reasons for doing so are too obvious to need enumeration; +so we will get our few traps on board, have tea, and then snatch what +rest we can between this and midnight, when we must be stirring again. +I would give a great deal to see this brilliantly starlit sky overcast, +but we must take things as we find them, and only use the greater +precautions. Now I think we have as much in the canoe as she will +safely carry, so let's shove off; we can come back for the remainder +after tea. And mind, Bob, not a word of this before Ella." + +"Trust me for that," returned Bob. "Let the little dearie turn in and +get her night's rest ondisturbed by any anxiety on your account. We can +slip off quietly at the right time, without her bein' a bit the wiser; +and it'll be soon enough to talk about this here job when we've done +it." + +We were by this time close alongside, and no more was said. Everything +was got out of the canoe and stowed in its proper place, and we then +went to tea, getting the remainder of the goods on board and stowing +them away immediately that the meal was over; after which Bob stretched +himself out on the lockers below, and went to sleep, whilst Ella and I +remained on deck until about ten o'clock. I was glad when the dear girl +wished me good-night and left me; for I could not but feel that, +praiseworthy and righteous as was our proposed adventure, it was one +which most seriously involved her safety and well-being, closely knit +with ours as her fortunes were, and I could not conceal from myself, +either, that we were about to run a tremendous risk, ignorant as we were +of what the camp arrangements of the pirates were; and I wished to have +time to reflect calmly upon all the risks we ran, and the best possible +means of avoiding them, before setting out. Everything would depend +upon whether a watch were set on board the brig or not. Bob was +strongly of opinion that they left her to take care of herself at night, +but I thought otherwise. + +Volume Two, Chapter VII. + +DESTRUCTION OF THE "ALBATROSS." + +I remained on deck until midnight, in anxious self-communion; and then, +slipping off my light canvas shoes, went below and quietly aroused Bob. +He instantly arose, and accompanied me, noiselessly and bare-footed, to +the deck. We had no tools or implements of any kind to hamper us, my +sole provision for the expedition consisting of a couple of boxes of +matches, which, with our sharp knives and a bottle of grog, I considered +was all that we needed. + +I confess that my heart throbbed a little more rapidly than usual as our +paddles dipped in the water, and the light canoe shot away from the +cutter's side, but it was from a feeling that I was at that moment +leaving, perhaps for ever, and to a terrible fate, one whom I loved more +dearly than my own life, and that, too, without one word of farewell; +rather than from personal apprehension. I left a hastily-scrawled note +in pencil on the cabin-table, to the effect that we had occasion to go +away for a short time, but hoped to be back in time for breakfast, in +case we should be delayed longer than we anticipated; but this was all. + +As soon as we were fairly out of the cove, I communicated my plans to +Bob, impressing upon him all my arrangements, in case of contingencies +requiring an alteration in my original plan; for, as soon as we were +fairly at work, everything would have to be done, as far as possible, in +absolute silence, and I did not wish to leave any explanations for a +moment when, perhaps, a single word incautiously uttered might lead to +our betrayal. + +We paddled on close under the cliffs, and in about half an hour reached +the spot where the sandy beach on the western side of the island +commenced. Here we gently grounded the canoe, laid our paddles +cautiously and noiselessly in, lifted the craft far enough up on the +beach to prevent her floating away, and then, keeping as much within the +shadow of the trees as we could, made the best of our way along the +beach to the low point already mentioned as forming the northern +extremity of the bay which had witnessed the fight with the savages, and +in which the pirate brig now lay at anchor. + +There was no moon at this time, the young crescent having set some hours +before; but the night was brilliantly starlit, and, though the light +thus afforded was an assistance in one way, it was very much against us +in another, materially increasing our chances of detection. + +Half an hour of rapid walking brought us to a point where I thought +that, by striking inland, we might contrive to cut short across the neck +of land forming the junction of the headland with the main, so to speak; +and now the utmost caution became necessary. + +I warned Bob to avoid everything which had the remotest likeness to a +branch or twig of any kind, the sudden sharp snapping of which would be +sure to attract attention, I thought, though the air was filled with the +chirping of millions of night insects of all kinds. + +At length we caught sight of the pirates' bivouac, and, almost at the +same instant, saw a figure rise from the ground, stretch itself wearily, +and throw a pile of branches upon the dying embers of the fire. + +This showed that, hard as their work of the previous day might have +been, here was one wakeful individual, at all events, among them; and +upon him we kept our anxious gaze intently riveted, watching his every +motion with the closest scrutiny. + +We saw him walk to the outside of the circle, beyond the limits of the +feeble light from the nearly extinguished fire, and peer earnestly into +the darkness on every side, going all round the circle, and making the +same careful inspection outwards in every direction; and, lastly, he +walked down towards the beach far enough to satisfy himself that the +boats (which we could just discern) were all right; when he returned, +flung more wood on the fire, and then sat down close to windward of it, +out of the way of the smoke, filled his pipe, and lighted it. + +Of course we took very good care to conceal ourselves effectually whilst +this patrol of the camp was being made, and I embraced the opportunity +to point out to Bob that all the boats seemed to be anchored at a few +yards' distance from the beach, excepting a small punt, and she was +drawn a foot or two up on the sand. + +The fire now began to blaze up brightly, and I thought this a favourable +moment to proceed; for, whilst it afforded us a sufficiency of light to +enable us to avoid such obstacles as roots of trees and twigs and +branches of shrubs, it would dazzle the eyes of the lonely watcher, and +effectually prevent his seeing anything beyond a few yards distant. + +I accordingly pulled Bob's sleeve to attract his attention, and, +pointing to the punt, intimated to him that she must be our first object +of attack. + +We now both rose to our feet once more, and, stealing as rapidly forward +as we could, taking advantage of every little bit of cover that offered +to pause and reconnoitre for a moment, reached, after about twenty +minutes of breathless suspense, the half-stranded punt. To our infinite +chagrin, there were no oars in her, and without these we could do +nothing. + +We now commenced a hurried consultation in cautious whispers as to what +had better be done, keeping a wary eye upon the sleeping camp and its +solitary watcher all the while. Whilst we were doing this, I suddenly +caught sight of a pair of short oars, which I knew in a moment must +belong to the punt, reared against a tree in the very midst of the +bivouac, and in the full light of the now brilliant fire, and within +view of the watching seaman. + +I saw it was absolutely necessary that we should have those oars, so I +pointed them out to Bob, and directed him to remain _perdu_, whilst I +made an attempt to secure them. + +I then set off down the beach until I was far enough away to be able to +walk across the open and into the shadow of the bush without being seen, +which I succeeded in doing. Once there I commenced a stealthy approach, +putting each foot carefully and noiselessly to the ground, and not +venturing to raise one until the other was firmly planted. In this +manner I contrived to make my way onward unobserved, and at last gained +a cover behind the trunk of the tree against which the oars were +standing. + +I now took as complete a survey of the bivouac as I could without +exposing myself, and, counting heads, I found that there were no fewer +than eighty-three sleeping pirates within a few yards of me, in addition +to the man on watch. He appeared to be, just at the moment, either in a +fit of deep abstraction or a doze; so, without waiting for a better +opportunity, I cautiously reached my arm round the tree-trunk, grasped +one of the oars, and brought it round to my own side, without so much as +the rustle of a leaf. Emboldened by my success, I now tried for the +second, which I also succeeded in securing. + +Taking an oar in each hand, I at once proceeded to retrace my steps, +and, for the first stage, aimed at getting behind a tree which stood +only about three yards distant. I soon reached this spot, and on +slipping behind the trunk, and taking a hasty glance backward, I was +greatly alarmed at seeing the pirate on watch on his feet, looking +intently in my direction, and shading his eyes with his hand. I at once +concluded that I had been seen, and waited in breathless expectancy for +the shout which was to raise the entire crew upon me; but, instead of +this, I heard, after a short pause, the voice of the man in soliloquy +close to the tree against which the oars had been placed. + +"It's damned odd," I heard him mutter; "but I could have sworn that them +paddles was standin' up ag'in this here tree, half-an-hour ago; what the +hell's become of 'em? Sure_ly_ none of the chaps is slipped off to have +a yarn with old Steve; he won't thank 'em for disturbing of him at this +time o' night, and rousing him out from between the guns, where I'll lay +anything the old dormouse is snugly coiled away, instead of looking +a'ter the brig, as is his dooty. I'll just slip down to the beach, and +see if the boats is all right." + +I crouched down behind the tree, and peeped cautiously round the bole; +and there, sure enough, was my watchful gentleman sauntering down +towards the boats. I allowed him to get far enough away to prevent his +seeing me if he suddenly turned round, and then quickly made my way +along the edge of the sward, keeping within the shadow of the bush until +I thought I was far enough away from the fire to permit of my cutting +straight across to the punt as soon as the man was once more out of the +way. + +I achieved this before the pirate reached the beach, and then stood +anxiously watching for what might befall. I did not fear for Bob; I +knew that his eyes had been taking in everything which happened from the +moment I left him, and I felt quite satisfied that he would not spoil +our game by running any risk of discovery. The pirate walked quietly +on, and at length reached the punt, looked into her, probably for the +missing oars, and then turned round and walked back again. He had not +advanced half-a-dozen paces before I saw him waving his arms violently I +thought I heard a stilled cry, and then he fell heavily to the ground; +and I saw another figure--Bob's--kneeling over him. I at once started +off as fast as I could run, taking the oars with me, and in about five +minutes I stood by my companion's side. He had got the man down on his +face, and was busy lashing his arms firmly behind his back. I forthwith +assisted, and, between us, the unfortunate pirate was soon so securely +bound, hand and foot, that it was impossible for him to move. + +"He can't sing out," whispered Bob, "for I've stuffed my han'kercher as +far down his throat as I could get it, and have made all fast with a +turn of his own necktie through his jaws with a reef knot at the back of +his head. He's safe enough till morning." + +So it appeared, and we therefore left him, with perfect unconcern, to +his fate; lifted the light boat and carried her into the water until she +was afloat, and then stepped noiselessly into her--Bob taking both oars, +whilst I sat in the stern-sheets ready to take possession of the other +boats. They were moored at but a very short distance from the beach, +one of them being anchored, and the rest hanging by their painters in a +string, astern of her. Bob backed the punt gently off until I had got +hold of the painter of the anchored boat, which I easily raised, there +being only a small boat-anchor attached to its end; this I carefully +placed in the stern of the punt in such a position as to afford a secure +hold, and then, taking an oar apiece, we pulled noiselessly and as +quickly as we dared direct off shore, with the whole fleet of boats in +tow astern of us. + +I considered that we were safe when we had attained an offing of +half-a-mile, for I thought it very unlikely that the pirates would then +attempt to overtake us by swimming--the only means of pursuit they now +had--even if an alarm were given; but everything still remained +perfectly tranquil, and continued so until we had rounded the low point +so often mentioned after which, of course, we were unable to see +anything which transpired in the bivouac. + +We decided to take the boats, five in number besides the punt, over to +the mouth of the channel, and anchor them there until we could pick them +up again on our way out in the cutter, and then go back after our canoe, +so as to prevent the possibility of her falling into the hands of the +pirates. Whilst doing this, Bob volunteered an explanation of his +motives for attacking the pirate. + +"I see'd all you done, Harry," he observed, "and thought as everything +were going right, until that fool of a feller took it into his head to +come down to the beach. I stowed myself away as well as I could under +the quarter of the punt--but if his eyes hadn't ha' been choked up with +sleep he must ha' see'd me. Hows'ever, he didn't, and when he turned +round to go back, thinks I, `It wouldn't be a bad idee to put a stop to +them wanderin' habits of yourn,' thinks I; `we should be in a pretty +mess if you was to come down ag'in, afore we'd got fairly off with them +there boats;' and almost afore I knowed what I intended to do, I'd crept +up behind him and flung my arm tight round his neck, with my knee well +into the small of his back, and down he comes. He tried to sing out, +but the minute he opened his mouth I rammed my handkercher down his +throat, and that kept him as quiet as a mouse; and so he's like to be +till morning, when I reckon he'll find hisself just about in the centre +of a hobble, with these here boats all gone, and the brig afire fore and +aft, please God. D'ye think I did right, lad?" + +"Excellently," I replied; "nothing could possibly have been done better. +Now, here we are, and there goes the anchor. Now, let's stretch away +as hard as we can for the canoe; we have been longer than I bargained +for over this business, and we shall have daylight upon us before we are +finished if we do not look sharp." + +I now told Bob what I had heard the pirate say, and that, from his +remarks, I gathered that "old Steve" was the only man left on board the +brig. + +I arranged with Bob that he was to answer in the event of the said "old +Steve" hailing us as we went alongside, and directed him what to say, as +Bob's phraseology was habitually seasoned far more highly with nautical +slang than was my own, and he would, therefore, be less likely to be +suspected in the carrying on of a haphazard conversation than myself. + +We soon reached the canoe, which lay just as we had left her, and, +taking her in tow, we pulled away at once straight for the brig. + +In half an hour we reached her, and, contrary to the pirate's surmise, +"old Steve" proved to be pretty broad awake. + +"Boat ahoy!" hailed he, as we approached. + +"Ay, ay!" answered Bob. "Is that you, Steve?" + +"In course it is," replied that worthy. "Who the hell are you, and what +do you want off here at this no time o' night?" + +"Whisht!" returned Bob warningly. "Belay all that, you old sinner; +there's no need to let everybody know as two friends has brought ye off +a bottle of grog and a bit of queerish kind of news. Heave us a +rope's-end, will ye? for it's that dark that hang me if I can find +anything to make fast this here boat's painter to!" + +"Ay, ay," answered "Steve;" "look out--here ye are! But who _are_ ye at +all? I can't make out your woice, damn me if I can! And who's that +with ye?" + +"Not make out my woice!" retorted Bob. "No, I s'pose you can't. And I +ain't surprised at it neither, considerin' the bushels of smoke as I've +swallered from that fire ashore, and the thousands of muskeeters as has +flied down my throat; so that's all right. Here's the grog, old cock." + +"Steve" leaned over the bulwarks and seized the grog, and Bob and I both +climbed the brig's side at the same instant. In another moment "Steve" +was on his back, with Bob's knee and his whole weight on his chest; and +I was soon busy securing the prisoner with a piece of the rope which was +lying about in any quantity on the deck. This was quickly done, and the +man gagged with a belaying-pin; after which we made a rapid tour of the +deck, cabin, and forecastle, and satisfied ourselves that there was no +one else on board to dispute or interfere with our actions. + +We decided to set the brief on fire in three places--forward, aft, and +in midships--and we lost no time in making our preparations. We found a +lot of old sails in a locker at the fore end of the forecastle, and +these we divided, taking away a sufficiency to kindle a good rousing +fire in the hold; and over these, as soon as we had deposited them in a +suitable position, as well as over those remaining in the locker, we +poured a few buckets of tar from a cask we found abroach on deck. + +We had no fear about the craft not burning well, for she had a large +quantity of combustible materials of all sorts in her hold; and we +hastily made as large a heap of these as we could, so as to ensure her +effectually taking fire. + +We then went into the cabin, and piled the bedding from all the berths +upon the floor, heaping the chairs and table upon it, and pouring a +copious libation of tar upon the whole. We then put a light to it, +staying long enough to see the mass burst into fierce flame; when we +rushed on deck, and I dived into the hold, whilst Bob went into the +forecastle, where we quickly kindled our respective heaps, and then as +quickly returned to the deck. + +Thin clouds of smoke already poured up through the various openings of +the deck, promising speedy and effectual destruction to the brig; so we +had now nothing to do but get away from her, and return with all speed +to the cutter. + +"Steve" was lowered over the side into the punt, Bob and I followed, and +we at once pushed off for the cove, in the highest glee at having so +successfully carried out our daring scheme. + +Daylight was just breaking as we pushed off, and by the time that we +entered our cove the sun was above the horizon. + +We dropped the punt and canoe astern, and the sails being all bent and +loose (I having made every possible preparation for an immediate start +whilst waiting for the hour at which to set out upon our raid), we were +under way and standing out of the cove in ten minutes more. + +Bob got our big gaff-topsail on the craft as we ran down towards the +passage, and I kept a bright look-out for any signs of alarm in the +pirate camp. The camp itself we could not see, of course; but I +expected to see men moving about on the shore. Nor was I disappointed, +for I soon descried a knot of figures standing upon the low point, which +was the nearest land to the brig, watching, in apparent stupefaction, +the progress of their vessel's destruction. + +The brig was by this time almost enveloped in flames, and had the entire +crew been on board, they could then have done nothing to save her. + +We were quickly discovered, of course, and great was the confusion which +our appearance seemed to excite; but I cared nothing about that--indeed, +it was a part of my programme that the pirates should know to whom they +were indebted for their present disaster. + +Very shortly a crowd of men appeared hurrying along the beach in our +direction, and, as we bore away for the passage, they saluted us with a +straggling musketry fire, more in impotent anger than for any harm it +could do us, for the shot all fell very far short. + +When about a quarter of a mile from the entrance to the channel, I hove +the cutter to, and we hauled the punt alongside, took out one of her +oars, and cast "Steve" adrift from his lashings, leaving him to get +ashore to his comrades as best he might with one oar. + +We then filled away once more, and ran down upon the boats, took them +all in tow, and stood out through the channel. Another volley of +musketry betrayed the irritation of the pirates at the sight of our +departure and the loss of their boats, to which Bob replied by giving +three ironical cheers. + +At this juncture Ella appeared on deck, wonderfully surprised, of +course, at all she saw, and I was at once called on to explain. I did +so, briefly narrating the circumstances of Bob's fortunate discovery of +the arrival of the _Albatross_ at the island, of his having watched the +crew all the previous day, of our plan, and of the manner in which it +had been carried out, pointing to the burning brig as the issue of it +all. + +"Oh! Harry," exclaimed she, bursting into tears, "how _could_ you run +such a fearful risk! Only fancy, you two men venturing into the very +centre of these dreadful people's camp, and without arms too! Why what +would have become of you if you had been taken? Really, I could almost +find it in my heart to be downright angry with you both. I cannot +understand men a bit. They seem--some of them--to have been born +absolutely devoid of the faculty of perception of danger, even when it +is staring them in the face; and accordingly they rush into the midst of +all sorts of perils, seemingly with a happy unconsciousness that they +are doing so, and with a heedlessness as to consequences which is +perfectly bewildering. No--now do not try to coax me, Harry, for I +really _am seriously_ angry with you. And to think, too, of your being +up all night, weak as you are! I am surprised that you are not ill +again. Oh, Harry" (with fresh sobs), "how thankful I am that you are +safe, and that I did not know anything of this until now! And do not +look grieved, darling; I did not mean what I said. It was very naughty +of me, I know, but I was frightened at the thought of the risks you have +run, and how all this _might_ have ended. Oh, mercy! what is that?" + +A shock, as if the cutter had struck upon a rock--a dull, heavy _boom_-- +and the fragments of the burning brig were scattered far and wide, to +come pelting down again the next minute in a perfect shower of charred +and splintered wood, spars, ropes, and the thousand-and-one other +matters usually found on board a ship. The brig's powder magazine had +blown up. A heavy cloud of dark smoke marked the spot where the +explosion had taken place; and when it drifted away before the fresh +morning breeze, one or two half-burnt timbers floating on the water were +all that remained of the _Albatross_. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Bob, who was busy coiling down the various halliards, +etc., "I've been expectin' that any time this past half-hour, and I only +wonder it didn't happen afore. Well, that's a good endin' to a good job +well begun, and I reckon them chaps ashore there may's well make up +their minds to stay where they be for the rest of their nat'ral lives, +for they've neither ship nor boats, nor stuff to build 'em with either. +I don't reckon there's many trees on yon island that'd be much use in a +ship-buildin' yard." + +"No, said I. I think we may safely consider that their career of crime +and bloodshed is put an effectual stop to, for some time at least; +unless, indeed, some unfortunate ship should come to the island, in +which case they would have her to a certainty." + +"Ay," returned Bob, "but that's a very onlikely chance. These here +islands don't lie in the road to nowhere, and it may be years afore they +sets eyes on a sail again after they loses sight of that good-lookin' +topsail of ourn. I s'pose they won't starve there, will they, lad?" + +"No," said I, "there is very little fear of that. The island yields an +abundance of fruit, as you know, amply sufficient for all their +requirements; and they have their punt, which will serve them to go +fishing on the lagoon, though she is too small for any of them to +venture to leave the island in her. So, on the whole, I think they are +quite as well off as they deserve." + +We were by this time clear of the reef and in open water, so I went down +to breakfast, leaving Bob at the tiller. Ella was very penitent for her +late "naughtiness", as she termed it, and was so lavish with her +endearments, to make up for it, that I would very willingly have +experienced such a "thunder-squall" every day of my life to have the air +cleared afterwards in so agreeable a manner. + +When I returned to the deck, Bob asked me, previous to his going below +to get his breakfast, what I intended to do with the boats and the +canoe, all of which were in tow. I had not thought very much about it, +but now that the question was put, I decided to retain the canoe +altogether. She was so small and so light that I thought we could +easily carry her on deck in anything but very bad weather, and, +ordinarily, she would tow very comfortably astern. If we could contrive +to keep her, I thought, she would frequently save wear and tear in our +tube-boat; and where a passage of a short distance across the calm +surface of a lagoon, from the cutter to the shore, was all that was +required, she would answer the purpose perfectly well. As to the boats +of the _Albatross_, I decided to tow them fairly out of sight of the +island, and then abandon them; thus effectually precluding the +possibility of their getting back into their owners' hands, the +prevailing winds there being from about south-east, which would drive +the boats ever farther and farther from the island. We accordingly +retained them in tow for the remainder of that day and all next night, +and cast them adrift on the following morning. + +We were now within two days' easy sail of the spot which had been +indicated to me as the position of the treasure-island and our thoughts +naturally reverted to the question as to whether the treasure really +existed or not; Bob feeling the utmost confidence that it would be found +precisely as the dying Spaniard had described it, whilst I began to +entertain grave doubts as to our success. The important conversation in +which the existence and position of the treasure were revealed was +recalled, almost word for word, and the notes which I had made at the +time were frequently referred to: and certainly everything seemed to +abundantly justify Bob's confidence, whilst I was quite unable to point +to a single word or circumstance tending to confirm my doubts; the fact +is, I suppose, that as we drew nearer to our goal, and began to realise +more fully the vast influence which the possession of the treasure would +exercise upon our future, I must have been influenced by a feeling that +it was "too good to be true." There was so very decided an infusion of +the romantic element into everything connected with the affair, that my +matter-of-fact mind refused to accept the possibility that there might +be truth in it after all. I was young then, but I have now lived long +enough and seen enough of the world to feel convinced that romance +enters so largely into the ordinary circumstances of life, that any +middle-aged man might easily furnish, from his own experience, materials +for half-a-dozen sensation novels and I believe that no novel that was +ever written is half as sensational as would be a minute and strictly +true record of the incidents marking the life of such a man. I have in +my mind at this moment a man whose life and occupation has for many +years been _apparently_ of the dullest and most commonplace description. +To every one but myself he has appeared to be simply a thorough +business-man, punctual to the minute--almost to the second--methodical, +accurate, without a thought, apparently, for anything but business; his +very conversation being brilliant only on matters connected with +business; he is, in short, with those who know him pretty well, and even +with his own kith and kin, about the very last man who would ever be +supposed to know anything about romance, beyond its name. Yet +circumstances have revealed to me, beyond all possibility of cavil or +doubt, that this man has been the hero of a romance, so thrilling, so +startling, so very extraordinary in all its phases, that it would +indubitably make the fortune of the great sensation novelist of the day +forthwith, if that gentleman's fortune be not already made. + +But to return to the _Water Lily_. On the evening of the day following +that on which we sailed from the pirate's island, we found ourselves so +near the reputed position of the treasure-island that I decided to heave +the cutter to for the night, so as to avoid the possibility of running +upon the outlying reef during the darkness. Bob went aloft the last +thing, after the sun had set and before darkness closed down upon the +face of the tranquil ocean, but he could see nothing that he was able to +identify with certainty as land. On the extreme verge of the western +horizon he saw, he said, something which _might_ be an island; but +evening clouds, especially in fine weather and when low down on the +horizon, sometimes assume such forms and hues that it is very difficult +for even the most experienced mariner to decide whether what he is +looking at is land or merely vapour, particularly when land is known or +supposed to exist in the direction in which he is looking. + +We took in our spinnaker and gaff-topsail therefore, housed the topmast, +lashed our helm a-lee, and hauled the fore-sheet over to windward, +allowing; the jib-sheet to flow. It was my eight hours in, that night: +but it was so close below and the weather was so fine, that I brought my +hammock on deck and turned in there, with a waterproof-rug rigged +tent-fashion over me, to keep off the dew. + +Nothing occurred to disturb the tranquillity of the night; and next +morning, as soon as breakfast was over, we filled away upon the cutter +again and made sail upon our course. Bob should have been in his +hammock, or taking his rest in some other fashion, between +breakfast-time and noon; but he was so anxious to catch a glimpse of the +spot which had attracted us over so many thousand miles of ocean, and +had led us to brave so many dangers, that he could not stay below, and +he spent the entire morning at the crosstrees on the look-out. I +obtained a most excellent observation for longitude, about half-past +nine that morning, and on working it up I found that we were barely +twenty miles to the eastward of the point we were aiming for: and as we +had hove the cutter about at midnight, so as to keep her as nearly as +possible directly to windward of the spot, we ought to have been at +anchor at noon. But mile after mile was traversed, and still no land +appeared rearing itself above the horizon, and at length the time +arrived for me to take my meridian altitude. This also was a very +capital observation; and its result was that we found ourselves +_exactly_ where the island was stated to be situated, with no land in +sight in any direction from the mast-head. + +I must confess that, in spite of the doubts which had lately obtruded +themselves upon my mind, I felt keenly disappointed; and as for Bob, he +was so chop-fallen that he had not a word to say. + +It was not until I had carefully gone once more over my calculations of +that day, and had verified the error in our chronometer for which I had +made allowance, and had, in short, satisfied myself thoroughly that we +actually were where we supposed ourselves to be, that I realised how +strongly, notwithstanding my doubts, I had relied upon finding the +island and its buried treasure. So far as the primary object of the +voyage was concerned, it appeared that it had been undertaken in vain; +and had it not been for our accidental acquisition of intelligence +respecting my father, we should now have been without an object for the +further prosecution of the voyage, excepting that of returning home +again as quickly as possible, to secure the best berths we could, and +make up, as far as might be, for lost time. + +We had hove the cutter to whilst I was taking and working up my noon +observation; and, as soon as we had fully realised our great +disappointment, I got out the chart, and Bob and I pored over it for a +full hour in the endeavour to fix upon the one island out of the many in +the great Archipelago which was most likely to be the one upon which the +_Amazon_ was cast away. However, there were so many, all of which would +answer equally well to the imperfect description which we had received, +that we were at last obliged to give it up and revert to our original +resolution of examining _all_ the likely places, in the hope that we +should be more successful in our second search than we had proved in our +first. + +We therefore filled away upon the cutter again, upon such a course as +would take us up through the thickest cluster of islands; and, such is +the elasticity of the human mind, before night closed down upon us we +appeared to have almost forgotten everything connected with the +treasure-island, and thought and spoke of nothing but the chances in +favour of and against the finding of my father. + +Volume Two, Chapter VIII. + +MY FATHER. + +As the sun went down the wind fell light, and we did not average more +than four knots an hour all through the three night-watches. I was at +first afraid that we were about to have another hurricane, as it is not +usual for the breeze to fall so light as we had it just then in the +trades. But the glass was high and steady, and the weather looked +settled, so I did not shorten sail; and when the sun rose next morning +he brought the breeze up again somewhat fresher with him. + +It was my eight hours out that night; consequently I was on deck when +day broke. As morning dawned, and the obscurity of night yielded +imperceptibly before the approaches of the great day-god, I became +conscious that there was a break in the level of the horizon, about four +points on my starboard-bow; and, watching this as it continued to grow +lighter, I found that it was land, a small and low island apparently, +about nine miles distant. + +I was rather surprised at this, as according to our chart, which was +constructed from the most recent surveys, the nearest land was fully a +day's sail distant to the westward. + +I decided to take a nearer look at the place, and as this would involve +a deviation from the course which the cutter was then steering, and +would necessitate a jibe, I left the helm for a moment with a couple of +turns of the tiller-rope round the head of the tiller, and went forward +to take in the spinnaker. + +Formerly we had considered it necessary that both Bob and I should be on +deck when handling this large sail; but practice had by this time taught +us both how to work the cutter alone, so that it was now only on +occasions of emergency that either called the other to assist in making +or shortening sail. + +As the _Water Lily_ drew in closer with the land, I made out that it was +a small coral island, with the usual encircling reef and lagoon. It +seemed to be about two miles long, but, from the direction in which the +cutter was approaching it, I was unable to judge of its width. + +I was soon near enough to distinguish the line of surf which betrayed +the presence of the surrounding coral-reef, and I then called Bob to +come on deck and take the helm, whilst I went aloft, as usual, to look +out for a channel. + +When he came on deck-- + +"Why, Harry, how's this?" he exclaimed. "I thought you said there +wasn't no land within a hundred and fifty mile of us last night, and +here's as pretty a little spot, close aboard of us, as a man need wish +to set his eyes upon." + +"I went by the chart," I answered, "and that showed a clear sea all +about here. But you can never rely upon a chart here, in the Pacific; +what is clear sea at the time that a survey is being made, may very +possibly be dotted with a score of such small islands as the one ahead +in a very few years. I have read that coral islands form very rapidly. +This one, however, cannot be of such very recent growth, for there are +full-grown cocoa-nuts upon it, as well as other trees; I am surprised +that it is not shown on the chart." + +I said this as I was standing at the foot of the mast, and on the point +of going aloft. In a few seconds more I was standing on the crosstrees +and examining the line of surf ahead for the narrow strip of unbroken +water which would indicate the existence of a passage through the reef. +As I stood thus, my gaze was arrested by the appearance of a small +object in rapid motion across the bosom of the lagoon inside the reef, +and a scrutiny of a few seconds was sufficient to satisfy me that it was +a canoe. Seating myself upon the crosstrees, that I might more +conveniently use the glass which I had taken aloft with me, I quickly +focussed the instrument and brought it to bear. With its assistance, I +was now enabled to discern that the canoe was a craft of about the same +size as the one which we had towing astern, and it held three persons. +The two who wielded the paddles were black, but, unless my eyes +strangely deceived me, the third was a _white man_. + +I cannot attempt to describe the extraordinary feeling which came upon +me at this discovery. + +"Can it be possible," thought I, "that this is the island upon which the +_Amazon_ was cast away, and am I about to have the inexpressible joy of +seeing my beloved father once more, and so unexpectedly as this?" I +again had recourse to the glass, and being now somewhat nearer, I no +longer had any room for doubt; the individual who sat in the stern of +the canoe, and who, I now saw, was steering the craft with a paddle, +_was_ undoubtedly white. I now observed, too, that the canoe was +passing through an opening in the south-western edge of the reef. The +passage would have escaped my notice in the then position of the cutter, +had it not been for seeing the canoe passing through it, for it was +broadside-on to us, as it were, and the unbroken water was therefore not +easily detected. I turned my telescope upon the island, and now saw a +thin film of light blue smoke, as from a wood fire, rising from among +the trees; but there was no sign of a wreck of any description within +view, and if anything of the kind existed, it must be on the other side +of the island. + +The canoe was by this time in open water, and I saw that she was +paddling along the edge of the reef towards us. Bob now made her out +from the deck, and hailed me, asking if I saw her. I answered that I +did, and, in an uncontrollable tumult of excitement, descended to the +deck. I directed Bob to keep the cutter away for the canoe, for, +strangely enough, the thought never entered my head that her occupants +might be enemies. I ran down below and got up our club-ensign, which I +hoisted at the peak, and as it blew out in the fresh morning breeze, we +saw the figure in the stern of the canoe rise to his feet and wave his +hat. I took up my glass once more, and was now able to make out that +this figure was tall, deeply bronzed by the sun, and had grey hair and a +thick bushy grey beard. + +"That is a white man, Bob, in that canoe," said I excitedly. + +"A white man!" exclaimed Bob; "then it's the skipper, Harry, for a +thousand pounds." + +"No such luck, Bob, I am afraid," replied I; "this man is grey-haired, +and my poor father's hair was dark brown, if you recollect." + +"True," answered Bob; "but if not the skipper hisself, it may be +somebody belonging to him." + +"That cannot be, either," I returned; "for according to the account we +received from the seaman, there was no one left with him but the chief +mate, who, I presume, was Winter--who, you will recollect, was put into +your berth when you met with your accident; and Winter was quite a young +man--scarcely thirty, I believe." + +"Well, whoever it may be, we shall soon find out all about him now, for +we shall be alongside the little hooker in another five minutes," +remarked Bob philosophically, but with evident disappointment in the +tone of his voice. + +This was true, for we were nearing the canoe fast. I again had recourse +to my telescope, and with its assistance, was now able to see with +perfect distinctness the occupants of the canoe. I scanned with the +greatest intentness the features of him who was steering, and who was +facing directly towards us; and as I did so, in a tumult of the most +painful agitation and suspense, feature after feature once more became +familiar, and notwithstanding the grey hair and beard, I at length +recognised, with unspeakable joy, my father. + +"Hurrah!" I shouted; "hurrah! it is he--it _is_ my father, Bob; and we +have found him after all, and that when we little expected to do so. +Thank God; oh! thank God!" + +"Amen," answered Bob, taking off his tarpaulin reverently for a moment, +while the tears rolled down his weather-beaten cheeks. + +We took room, and rounded the cutter to, and as she came up into the +wind, with all her canvas shaking, the natives vigorously plied their +paddles, and with a few lusty strokes shot their light craft alongside. + +I went to the gangway, and held out my hand to assist my father in over +our low bulwarks, whilst Bob hove the end of a coil of line into the +canoe, shouting to the blacks, "Now then, darkies, look out, and catch a +turn with this here rope's-end, will ye? for if you goes astarn, you'll +have all your work afore ye to overhaul us and get alongside again." + +"Good Heaven! that voice--surely I should know it," murmured my father. +"Thank you, sir. Yours is the first sail I have seen for--Why, how is +this?" + +I had been unable to control myself any longer; and, to my father's +infinite surprise, he suddenly found himself in my embrace, and, as +suddenly, recognised the tones of the voice which called him "father." + +I thought the dear old man would have fainted, but he rallied himself +with a powerful effort, though it was some little time before he could +speak. At length-- + +"My son! my noble boy Harry," exclaimed he. "Great God! Merciful +Father! I thank Thee for this great and unexpected mercy. Little did I +think, my dear boy, when I saw your white sails standing in for the +island, what unexpected happiness awaited me. And, if I mistake not," +added he, "this is my old friend and staunch shipmate, Robert Trunnion. +This is indeed a happy day for me," grasping Bob's hand heartily, "a day +I have despaired of ever seeing again. But, tell me, what has happened, +and how come you to be here in this small cockle-shell of a craft? You +surely cannot have been cast away, and have built her yourselves. If +you have, you are wonderfully good shipwrights. And how came you to +find out that I was here? or is this happy meeting the result of +accident? Everything is so surprising that I feel perfectly +bewildered." + +"You shall know all, dear sir, in good time," I answered. "The story is +too long to be told in a breath. Let us get inside, and come to an +anchor; and as soon as we are sufficiently recovered from our present +excitement to tell an intelligible tale, you shall know everything." + +"Well, well, so be it," answered my father; "and I suppose I had better +play pilot in navigating this `seventy-four' of yours through the +channel. What water do you draw?" + +"Seven feet aft," I answered, "and she works to perfection; so you will +have no difficulty with her." + +"So much the better," answered my father, "as it will be rather ticklish +work. Keep her well to windward, Robert; do not go closer than forty +fathoms to the southern extremity of the surf. And now, my dear boy, +one word more. How is your sister?" + +"Well; quite well, I am happy to say. At least, she was so when we left +England, little more than four months ago," I answered; "and so was +everybody else in whom we are interested." + +"I am delighted beyond measure to hear it," returned my father; "this is +_good_ news, better than I could have dared to hope. Now keep her away, +Robert. Starboard your helm--hard a-starboard; so, steady now as you +go. Do you see the opening of the channel? Steer as straight as you +like for it. This _will_ be a surprise for Winter, indeed." + +"He is still with you, then, dear sir?" said I. "I trust he is in good +health." + +"Yes, I am happy to say he is quite well," returned my father. "Indeed +we have neither of us had a day's illness since we have been on the +island. I was quite an invalid at the time that the ship was lost, +certainly but I soon recovered, thanks to Winter's care and good +nursing. But how did you know of his being with me?" + +"We learned your whole story, from the time of your sailing for home up +to the day of your being so shamefully abandoned," I replied, "and that +by the merest accident. We happened to fall in with one of the men whom +you shipped at Canton, on board a vessel which we boarded on the line, +on our passage out. But here is some one with whom I must make you +acquainted, dear sir," I continued, as Ella's fair head appeared at the +companion. + +I then introduced her to my father, briefly narrating the circumstances +under which she became a member of our little crew, and frankly +explaining the relation in which we now stood towards each other. When +I had finished my explanation, my father took the dear little girl by +the hand, kissed her on the forehead, and said a few kind words to +relieve the embarrassment and agitation under which it was evident she +was suffering; and I had the very great satisfaction of seeing that +these two beings, in whom I was so warmly interested, were mutually +impressed very favourably towards each other. + +We soon worked through the short passage in the reef, and then stood +away to the westward, rounding the southern extremity of the island very +shortly afterwards. The moment that we cleared this point, and opened +the western side of the island, Bob shouted, "Ah! there lies the dear +old barkie, sure enough. Look at her, Harry, lad. She's sorely mauled +about, poor old beauty, but I should still ha' knowed her anywheres, as +far as these old eyes could see her." + +There, indeed, lay the wreck of the _Amazon_, close to the beach, about +two miles off, and sorely mauled about she was; so much so, that I +greatly doubted whether Bob would ever have identified her as our old +ship, had not my father's presence, and the story we had already heard +of her loss, assisted him. Her three lower masts were still standing, +but the whole of her upper works were gone, and I at first supposed that +they had been used for fire-wood, until we opened up a tiny bay somewhat +nearer us to the southward, and saw a small vessel in process of being +built on the beach. + +"You have established a shipyard here, I see, sir," I remarked, as this +object came in view. + +"Yes," answered my father; "but we have made but poor progress, so far. +You will be of the greatest assistance to us, my dear boy--you and +Robert here. Since you have managed to turn out such a sweet little +craft as this cutter, I shall be strongly inclined to pull our work to +pieces and begin all over again afresh." + +"How do you mean, sir?" I inquired. "You surely do not imagine that +Bob and I built this cutter?" + +"Did you not?" returned my father. "Then where did you pick her up?" + +"She was built on the Thames," I replied; "and Bob and I have managed to +bring her out here between us." + +My father was greatly surprised at hearing this, but as we were now +approaching the anchorage, it was decided to defer all explanations +until we could have an opportunity of proceeding with them in a +straightforward fashion. Sail was shortened, and in about ten minutes +afterwards we dropped our anchor in a pretty little well-sheltered bay, +within a couple of cables' length of the beach, and in full view of a +neat little cottage constructed of bamboo, which stood on a lawn of +about an acre in extent, environed with beautiful tropical trees and +plants. + +Winter was down on the beach full of curiosity respecting the +new-comers, and I will leave to the reader's imagination the surprise +and delight with which he recognised in them two of his old shipmates. + +The two canoes conveyed all hands of us ashore, and my father, after +welcoming us heartily to "his dominions" as we stepped from the canoes +to the beach, gave his arm to Ella, and with me on his other side, and +Bob and Winter following arm-in-arm astern, and the two natives bringing +up the rear, we at once wended our way to the cottage, where we found +that Winter had prepared a sumptuous breakfast in anticipation of our +arrival. + +Whilst discussing this meal, I related, at my father's earnest +solicitation, our whole story, commencing with an account of the wreck +on Portland beach, and of the tale of the treasure-island told by the +dying Spaniard, and then going on to relate how we had been induced, by +a belief in this story, to build and fit out the _Water Lily_ and sail +in her in search of the treasure, mentioning, in due course, our meeting +with the seaman who had given us a clue to the _Amazon's_ fate, and of +our resolve, therefore, to search the whole Archipelago, if need be, for +the abandoned ones; and winding up with an account of our late +achievement of the destruction of the _Albatross_, and of the consequent +imprisonment of her crew upon the island we had so recently sailed from. + +Great was the surprise of my father and his companion as I proceeded, +and frequent their comments and interruptions; but at last I got through +with it, and then, of course, I became anxious, in my turn, to hear how +matters had gone with my father and Winter during their long stay where +they now were. + +"I have very little to tell," replied my father, in answer to my +questions; "and that little I should not now be alive to relate, but for +the unceasing care and attention of my friend and comrade, Winter, here, +who refused to save himself from a possible lifetime of captivity on +this island by deserting his commander. He watched me all through a +long and tedious illness, and, under God, was the means of saving my +life for this happy moment. We have never _quite_ despaired of being +restored to home and friends, but latterly we have felt that our +deliverance might be the work of years. At first, we were kept buoyed +up by the hope of being rescued by some passing vessel; but, though we +have maintained a ceaseless watch, we have never sighted a single sail +from the moment of our first arrival here until you hove in sight this +morning. All my charts and instruments of every description were +carried off when the mutineers left in the boats, so that I have but a +very remote idea of our actual whereabouts, but we must be in a very +out-of-the-way corner of the globe, as indeed I now gather clearly from +what you have told me. Our first work, after my recovery, was the +building of this hut: and then followed the preparation of a garden, a +short distance inland from here, so that we might secure the means of +existence. As soon as this was completed to our satisfaction, we went +to work upon the building of a small vessel; but our appliances were so +inadequate to the task, that our progress has been excessively slow, as +you may judge when I tell you that we have been at work now fully two +years, and the craft is yet barely half-finished. Latterly, indeed, we +have got on somewhat better, for the two blacks--who, as far as I can +learn from their signs and the few words of English they have picked up +since being with us, were blown off their own island in a gale of wind, +and came ashore here in the last stare of exhaustion--have been of the +greatest assistance to us in the mere handling of heavy weights; and now +that you have joined us, I think we may make short work of the remainder +of the job." + +I was at first disposed to suggest the abandonment of the half-finished +schooner (for such she was), but, on more mature consideration, I came +to the conclusion that it would be better to finish her, on many +accounts--the chief of which was that as we now mustered seven hands, +all told, including the blacks, whom we could not leave behind, we +should be uncomfortably crowded on board the cutter; and I doubted much +whether we could find room to stow away, in so small a craft, a +sufficiency of water, to say nothing of provisions for so large a party. + +The day was, of course, declared a high holiday on the island; and, +after our mutual explanations had been fully given, we all--the whites, +of course, that is--proceeded to the beach to inspect the craft on the +stocks. She was a much larger craft than the _Lily_, measuring fully +thirty tons. My father and Winter had given a great deal of care and +attention to her design, and the result was a very pretty model, though +her lines were by no means so fine as the cutter's. She was immensely +strong, owing to the fact that it was less laborious to build in the +timbers just as they were taken from the _Amazon_, or only with such +alterations as were imperatively necessary to bring them to the required +shape, than it would have been to reduce them with the imperfect tools +in the possession of the builders. The whole of her framing was set up +and secured, and the garboard and two adjacent streaks on each side +bolted to and that was all. I could easily understand, as I looked on +her massive timbers, how great must have been the labour for two pair of +hands to bring her even thus far forward; and, in addition to this, +there was the pulling of it all to pieces, in the first instance, on +board the parent ship, and the rafting of the materials down to the bay +afterwards. + +After taking a good look at the craft, we shoved off in the canoes for +the wreck, calling on board the cutter on our way, that my father and +Winter might satisfy the curiosity they felt concerning the little craft +which had so successfully traversed so many thousand miles of ocean. +They were, naturally, delighted at everything they saw, and admired her +model greatly: but were, nevertheless, loud in their expressions of +wonder at what they termed our temerity in venturing on so long a voyage +in such a mere boat. + +A quiet paddle of about half-an-hour took us alongside the wreck, which +lay grounded in about ten feet of water, pretty much as she had been +left by the mutineers. We had no difficulty in boarding, a substantial +accommodation-ladder having been constructed to facilitate so frequent +an operation. There was not much to see when we stood upon her deck-- +the whole of the poop having been removed to furnish materials for the +schooner; but Bob and I naturally felt a deep interest in the ship which +had formerly been our floating home, and as to whose fate we had for so +long been in a state of such painful uncertainty. + +We remained on board about an hour, during which Ella insisted on having +pointed out to her the exact spot which my old berth had formerly +occupied; and then we returned to the shore and visited the garden, +which had been formed in a small natural clearing within about a quarter +of a mile of the house. Here we found a goodly patch of wheat, almost +ready for the sickle: a large plot of potatoes, which, my father said, +grew but indifferently well in that climate a few other English +vegetables, some yams, and several fruit-trees of various kinds, +including the very useful breadfruit, which had been carefully selected +and as carefully transplanted to their present position, where they had +flourished amazingly under the not very efficient gardening skill which +had been bestowed upon them by the two recluses. Of animal food there +was no lack, the small island being almost overrun by the many +descendants of three pigs and half-a-dozen fowls, which the mutineers +had, in an unaccountable paroxysm of generosity, left behind. + +The remainder of the day was spent in a tour quite over my father's +limited dominions, Bob and Winter having, however, devoted the afternoon +to the rigging-up of a couple of tents close alongside the hut, for the +accommodation of us of the cutter's crew. During our ramble, which Ella +shared--though she at first wished to remain aloof, thinking my father +and I might have private matters to discuss after so long a separation-- +the subject of the treasure-island again came uppermost; and my father +seemed to be strongly of opinion that, in spite of our failure to find +it, it really existed, and that our disappointment had arisen in some +error as to its exact position. For my own part, I hardly knew what to +think. I could not for a moment believe that the Spaniard, knowing +himself to be a dying man, would tell a wanton and objectless falsehood; +and I had never supposed him to be otherwise than in the full possession +of his senses whilst relating his story. But he had given the position +of the island definitely, and, on our arrival at the latitude and +longitude named, we had found no land at all. True, there had been a +certain amount of reservation in his statement. He had given the +position "as near as he could ascertain it," or in words to that effect; +but, allowing the possibility of an error, that error was not likely to +exceed a few miles, and I thought that, had the island really existed, +we ought to have been able, at all events, to see it from our mast-head +when in the position ascribed to it. + +We talked the matter over at some length--for no one is quite +indifferent to the advantages accruing from the possession of wealth-- +but we could make nothing very satisfactory of it; so at last the +subject was changed, and we discussed and arranged our plan of immediate +operations, my father's longing for home being a thousand times +increased now that he knew we had sent information home of the +possibility of his still being in existence. We all fully shared in his +impatience, as I knew that Ada would soon begin to feel uneasy, if she +were not already so, at the long period which had now elapsed since she +could last have heard from or of us. As for Winter, he was a Portland +man, and the stories Bob told him of his kith and kin fully aroused his +semi-dormant longings to see them all once more. + +The next morning, we all turned to with a will upon the schooner. It +happened that more materials were required from the wreck; and the +obtaining of these, and the rafting of them down to the shipyard, had +hitherto been a work involving the expenditure of much time and great +labour, as, until the arrival of the two blacks in their canoe about six +months before, my father had nothing in the shape of a boat, excepting a +rude catamaran sort of an affair and after the acquisition of the canoe, +though she was, of course, most useful for many purposes, the rafting +down of the timbers and planking was almost as tedious and laborious an +operation as ever, the canoe being too small and too light for towing +purposes, and their usual mode of procedure had been to kedge down +everything. + +But our arrival put an entirely new phase upon this part of the +business. We got out our tube-boat, and put her together and rigged +her; and then we six men--four whites and the two natives, who were +strong, active lads--manned her and the cutter, and proceeded to the +wreck, where we combined our forces in taking apart such portions of the +wreck as we thought most suitable for our purpose. + +By the middle of the afternoon two good-sized rafts were in the water, +and the _Lily_ taking one of these in tow, and the tube-boat (which Bob +insisted on christening as the _Ella_) the other, we got the whole down +to the bay and moored to the beach in little more than an hour--a task +which, my father declared had usually occupied him and Winter the best +part of a day, and even then the amount of material transported had +scarcely been a quarter as great as that now brought down. So great, +indeed, had been the additional assistance afforded by the two pairs of +strong arms belonging to the cutter's crew, that we considered we now +had a sufficiency of material to plank the schooner right up to her +gunwale. + +I do not know whether I have mentioned it before or not, but, in fitting +out the _Water Lily_, I had provided a very complete chest of +carpenter's tools, so that we might have the means of effecting any +necessary repairs to the cutter, as far as our skill would allow and +these now came into play with excellent effect. + +We all worked in high spirits, for it was now no longer a doubtful +question as to whether the schooner could be finished or not, the +additional strength contributed by Bob and myself being found just +sufficient to render manageable, and comparatively easy, work which had +before proved too heavy for my father and Winter alone, or even when +aided by the two natives. These, I may as well now mention, were two +lads of about eighteen years of age, and, having been treated very +kindly from their first arrival by my father, proved very tractable and +willing, and altogether very valuable aids in many respects. + +We were none of us very skilful in the handling of tools, and our work +was, consequently, of no very highly finished character but everything +was as strong as wood and iron could make it, and within a fortnight we +had contrived, by dint of sheer hard work, to get the schooner planked +right up. + +At first we had a great deal of difficulty with our fastenings, from +want of a smith or a smith's forge; and this had been the greatest bar +to my father's progress. Ella was the means of helping us out of this +difficulty, by suggesting an idea which I think would never have +occurred to any of us men. This was neither more nor less than the +construction of a rude but efficient smith's hearth out of some old +sheet and pig iron obtained from the wreck, and the manufacture of a +bellows from some boards and stout tarpaulin, the nozzle being made of +bamboo, and inserted into an orifice in the hearth which was packed +air-tight with clay. It was a clumsy contrivance certainly, but it +answered our purpose well enough to save us a great deal of time and +labour. + +The laying of the deck was our next task; and it took us another +fortnight to do this, as we resolved that everything should be as well +done as possible. This was exclusive of the time occupied in fixing the +combings of the hatch and fore-scuttle, cabin-companion, skylight, and +other openings. As we "got our hands in," however, we made more rapid +progress; and, in little more than two months from the date of the +_Water Lily's_ arrival, the hull of the schooner was completed and in +readiness for the reception of her spars. These we got out of the spars +of the wreck, all of which had been sent down long before by my father +and Winter, and carefully stored up for this very purpose. + +Another month saw these spars all shaped and fitted, and ready to be put +into their places. This had been the work of my father and myself, +aided in the lifting, turning over, and shifting generally by the +natives, Bob and Winter busying themselves meanwhile in the manufacture +of a suit of sails from those belonging to the _Amazon_. Our rigging +was not very trustworthy, being manufactured, for the most part, out of +the old rigging of the wreck; but there had been a good supply of new +rope also on board, as a stand-by, and this we had used in, as far as it +would go, in the most important parts. + +We decided to rig the craft complete upon the stocks, and then launch +her, and tow her down alongside the wreck, to take in ballast, and her +water-tanks, stores, etc. This we accordingly did, finishing off +everything, even to the bending of the sails; and four months to a day +after the _Water Lily's_ arrival saw her caulked, her seams paid, her +hull painted, and, in short, everything ready, even to wedging up, for +launching. + +Volume Two, Chapter IX. + +THE TREASURE. + +This eventful day, it was unanimously agreed, should be observed as a +strict holiday, no work except what was absolutely necessary beyond the +launch being permissible. Every preparation had been completed the day +before, all of us having worked like galley-slaves to achieve this +result, as soon as it became apparent that launching on this day might +be possible. + +The morning dawned fair and serene, the sky was without a cloud, each +quivering leaf and blade of grass glittered with diamond-like dew-drops, +and the air was laden with the perfume of numberless flowers. Nature +appeared in fact to have arrayed herself in gala attire, in honour of +the occasion. Bob and Winter were up by daybreak to dress the schooner +out with the flags of the old _Amazon_, in addition to a brand-new +burgee--red, with a white border, and the name _Ada_, after my sister, +in white letters--which floated gallantly in the breeze from the +main-topmast-head, and which, I need scarcely inform the sagacious +reader, was the work of Ella's skilful finders. The cutter's flags were +equally divided between her and the tube-boat, both craft being moored a +short distance apart in the little bay. Our gun, which had never been +dismounted from the time of the fight with the pirate's boats, was +loaded with a blank cartridge, well rammed down, and the muzzle +plentifully greased to create a louder report, so that the schooner +might be honoured with a salute as she took the water; and one of the +blacks was stationed on board the _Water Lily_, with instructions to +pull the trigger-line directly he saw the schooner fairly in motion on +the ways. A bottle of wine was also slung from the schooner's stem, +that the ceremony of christening might not be shorn of its usual rite. + +This occupied the two mates until breakfast was ready, when we all sat +down to the meal in most exuberant spirits. As soon as it was over we +all proceeded to the beach, and Bob climbed on board the craft, and took +his station forward, in readiness to let go the anchor as soon as she +had slid far enough off from the land. Ella took up a position under +the bows, supported by my father, who instructed her how to perform the +ceremony of christening after the most approved fashion, whilst Winter +and I stood by to knock away the spur-shores, and the second native +launched and jumped into a canoe, to go alongside and fetch Bob ashore, +as soon as his share of the duty was performed. + +When we had all taken our stations-- + +"Is everybody ready?" inquired my father. + +A general "Ay, ay," was the response. Ella took the bottle of wine in +her hand, and Winter and I poised our hammers. + +"Then knock away with a will, lads!" exclaimed the skipper. + +A few lusty strokes brought the shores down, the schooner began to move, +and Ella dashed the bottle against the craft's bows, exclaiming in a +clear, silvery voice, as the wine dripped from the stem: + +"God bless the _Ada_, and send her success and prosperity!" + +We all took off our hats and cheered lustily as the schooner rushed down +the ways and plunged stern foremost into the sparkling sea; the gun went +off with a sharp _bang_, and the native gunner instantly, with a +terrific yell, sprang over the side of the cutter, and struck out for +the shore with all the vigour and activity that fear could impart to his +movements. + +The schooner clove the water smoothly and easily as she drove astern +when once fairly afloat, and held her way long enough to shoot far +beyond her consorts at anchor in the bay. As soon as her speed was +sufficiently reduced, Bob let go his anchor, and we had the satisfaction +of seeing that she floated lightly and on a perfectly even keel. + +As soon as Bob came on shore, he, of course, joined us, and lent his aid +in admiring and praising our own handiwork, as is pretty generally the +custom with all mortals, though some are not so ingenuous in the +exhibition of their actual feelings as we were. And I think we had very +good reason for our admiration, for the craft was more than sightly, she +was decidedly handsome, and we who had put her together were, after all, +it must be remembered, only unskilled amateurs; and though I think I +may, without undue vanity, say that we were all prime seamen, and knew +perfectly well what constituted a handsome and wholesome craft, it is +one thing to know this, and quite another to make your work correspond +accurately with your ideas. + +When we had admired the schooner to our hearts' content, my father +wished to know whether any one had any proposal to make as to the manner +in which the remainder of the day should be spent. It appeared, from +the general silence which ensued that no one had; but on glancing at +Ella, who remained beside him, I noticed an eager look in her face, as +though she would like to speak, but was restrained by a feeling of +timidity. + +"What is it, Ella?" inquired I. If no one has anything better to +propose, she replied, "I think a picnic would be very nice; and I would +suggest that the natives be sent on by land, with everything necessary, +to the northern end of the island, opposite the poor old _Amazon_, of +which we are so soon to see the last, and that the rest of us take +Harry's tube-boat, and sail in her quite round the island--which we +new-comers have not seen very much of as yet--and stop at the point I +have named." + +This, of course, we all cordially agreed to, though I could scarcely +help smiling furtively at the idea of a picnic, when our lives had been +a sort of continuous picnic affair ever since we had been on the island, +though, it is true, our pastime had consisted principally of pretty hard +work. + +However, I made no remark, and we all returned to the house, and +proceeded to pack up the necessary viands, etc., and to start the +"niggers," as Bob invariably termed our black aids, in the proposed +direction. + +When everything was ready, however, it was found that there was more +than we had the conscience to ask the poor fellows to carry, willing as +they were; so Ella's programme was so far departed from as to send them +by water in a canoe, instead of by land; and as soon as they were fairly +away, we shoved off in the cutter's canoe, got on board the tube-boat, +hauled up her grapnel, and made sail to the southward. + +Here another departure from the programme took place, for my father was +curious to see how so singular a craft behaved in open water: so, as +there was a nice fresh breeze blowing, and sufficient sea on outside to +give him a fair idea of her qualities, we worked out through the channel +as soon as we reached it, and sailed round the island _outside_ of +everything first of all, resuming the original plan as soon as we came +inside again. + +Both my father and Winter were much struck with the smooth and easy +motion with which she took the seas, especially when going close-hauled +to windward, the short, choppy head-sea which the breeze had knocked up +having not the slightest perceptible retarding effect upon the sharp, +gently-swelling tubes, which pierced the combing seas absolutely without +any shock whatever; whereas a boat of the usual mould would have pitched +and jerked into them, and half-blinded us and wholly wet us through with +spray. And they were quite as much surprised at her stiffness, for her +amount of heel was barely perceptible, though we were driving her +through it under whole canvas; whilst had we been in the _Water Lily_, +with a proportionate amount of sail set, she would, stiff as she was, +have been lying down gunwale under. + +So rapidly did she skim along over the water too, that, notwithstanding +the extra distance traversed beyond that originally proposed, we were in +ample time for the meal--luncheon or dinner, whichever we chose to call +it--which it was arranged we should partake of picnic fashion in the +open air. + +I was delighted to observe that both my father and Winter keenly enjoyed +this short cruise outside. It was the first time, excepting when my +father came out to meet us and pilot us in, that either of them had been +outside the reef; and that they were now fairly at sea, and with a +staunch and good sea-boat under their feet, seemed an earnest of their +easy escape almost more convincing than the fact that the vessel in +which that escape was planned to be made was now actually in the water. + +Having made the tour of the island both outside and inside the reef, and +admired its many beauties, we at length sat down to our meal in high +spirits, and with appetites which enabled us to do the most ample +justice to Ella's bounteous provision, which, it now appeared, had been +in progress the whole of the previous day, in anticipation of some such +arrangement as that which she had proposed. + +I had noticed an unusual flutter in the dear little girl's manner more +than once during the morning, as well as considerable imperfectly +repressed excitement; but I had said nothing to her about it, +attributing it to that which had produced so much excitement of feeling +among the rest of us, namely, the important event of the launch. This +feeling of excitement still continued to animate us; but, strangely +enough, Ella seemed the least able of the party to control it, and it +appeared to have the effect of agitating her nerves considerably. +Moreover, she seemed to be singularly preoccupied over something, +answering remarks at random--sometimes when she was not addressed at +all--and then flushing up and apologising confusedly. + +When our meal was over, a few bottles from a small stock of +carefully-hoarded wine, from the _Amazon's_ stores, were produced, and +at Ella's especial request, we four men proceeded to regale ourselves, +and assist digestion with "the fragrant weed." The chief topic of +conversation was, of course, the arrangements to be made for a speedy +departure from the island. It was decided that on the following day all +hands should employ themselves in getting the schooner ballasted, +provisioned and watered, and it was thought that, by hard work, all +might be done in readiness for a departure at daybreak on the succeeding +morning. My father, Winter, and the two blacks, were to man the +schooner, whilst Ella, Bob, and myself, were to continue in the cutter, +and it was, of course, a settled thing that we were to keep company as +long as it was possible. We also decided upon certain rendezvous in +case of being compelled, by bad weather, to part company at any +particular part of the voyage. These rendezvous, I may as well mention, +were Melbourne, Cape Town, Saint Helena, Saint Antonio in the Cape de +Verd Group, and Madeira. + +When this topic seemed pretty well exhausted, Ella remarked nervously, +"It seems then, Harry, that you have quite given up the idea of making +any further search for the treasure-island. I have not heard it +mentioned once for--oh! ever so long." + +"I fear we must think no more of that," I replied. "When the story was +first told to me, it seemed an easy matter to sail direct to the spot, +but the fact that some mistake has occurred somewhere with regard to its +position, has quite thrown us out, and to look for it among the numerous +islands which constitute this archipelago would be somewhat like +searching for a needle in a bundle of hay, and the chances of finding +either the one or the other would be about equal, I should say. If I +only held a sufficient clue to warrant the slightest hope of success, I +would willingly prosecute a search, but I do not." + +"Are you _quite sure_ that you do not?" she returned, still very +nervously. "Tell us the story all over again; perhaps some useful idea +may suggest itself to one or other of us, if it is all gone carefully +over once more." + +"Certainly I will," said I, "if it be only to gratify you, little one; I +anticipate no further result. You must know, then, Ella and gentlemen, +that the Spaniard who told me this story was on his death-bed when he +confided it to me. He asserted that a treasure-ship lay buried in the +sandy beach of a certain island here in the Pacific, and he not only +gave me the latitude and longitude of the island, but he minutely +described it, so that I might recognise it at once, and he also +described certain marks whereby I might be able to fix upon the exact +spot in the beach where the buried treasure-ship lay." + +And I suppose you have fixed upon your mind a kind of mental picture of +this island, drawn from the description given you, said Ella, "and I +presume you are of opinion that you would recognise the island in a +moment, if you saw it?" + +"Exactly so," I answered. "I can see it before me at this moment,"-- +shutting my eyes--"as distinctly as possible. There it lies, about +three miles away, with the surf beating all round it; and there, in bold +relief against the clear blue sky, stands the isolated clump of seven +cocoa-nut trees on the extreme northernmost point of the island." + +"Somewhat like these that we are sitting under at this moment?" +interrupted Ella excitedly. + +"Ye-es," said I, "certainly somewhat like these. It is curious now, but +I never noticed until this moment that these trees are seven in number. +If, now, any two of them were _marked_ in any way..." + +"Somewhat like this?" again interrupted Ella, as she started to her feet +and placed her hand upon a very perceptible scar in the trunk of the +central tree. + +We sprang to our feet as one man, infinitely more excited even than Ella +was, and walked up to the tree and carefully examined the mark. There +was no mistake about it, the bark had been deeply cut away with a knife, +and I cannot, for the life of me, say how it was that it had never +attracted my attention, unless it be that the wound was now +weather-stained, and by no means so conspicuous as I had pictured it in +my mind; perhaps it was in a great measure due, too, to the fact that +the island we were on, though answering accurately to the description +given of the treasure-island, was quite unlike the picture my +imagination had conjured up. + +"Now for the other mark," I exclaimed, "it is on one or other of the +remaining six trees, if this really be--" + +"Here it is," again exclaimed Ella, darting to a tree which stood on the +edge of the clump, and again pointing out a mark very similar to the +first. + +Of the nature of this mark, too, there could be no possible doubt. I +seized a half-consumed stick from the embers of the expiring fire: and, +getting the two marked trees in line, I walked away from them, keeping +them in one, until I saw just clear of the trees and bushes on the +southern extremity of the island, a small pinnacle of uncovered rock +peering blackly out from among the snowy glittering surf. I then drove +the stick I held in my hand deep into the sandy beach, exclaiming, "Here +lies the buried treasure-ship, if there be any truth in the story." + +"We'll soon set that question at rest," exclaimed Bob. "Here, you two +niggers, jump into this here canoe and paddle me down to the cutter as +quick as you knows how. I'm off a'ter they shovels as we laid in for +this here very job," he explained, turning to me, "and I'll be back +ag'in in next to no time." + +Whilst he was gone, I sought and obtained an explanation from Ella of +the manner in which she had made this most important discovery. It +seemed that she had amused herself by wandering pretty nearly all over +the island, whilst we were hard at work upon the schooner, and in one of +her rambles her attention had been attracted to this very clump of +trees. Their number had impressed itself upon her, and, endeavouring to +remember what it was she had heard or dreamed connected with seven +cocoa-nut trees, the story of the treasure had suddenly flashed across +her mind. This led, of course, to an examination of the trees and the +discovery of the marks upon them, on the day but one preceding the +launch of the schooner; and, seeing that we were disposed to make the +launching day a gala day, she decided to keep her own counsel until the +arrival of the day itself, and to let the revelation of the discovery be +made at such a time as still further to increase our reasons for +rejoicing. And upon this resolution had been based her plot for the +picnic. + +"I am so delighted, Harry, dear," she added in conclusion, "that it is I +who have made this discovery you cannot think what a pleasure it is to a +woman to contribute to the happiness and prosperity of the man she +loves. And, beside this, there is the satisfaction of knowing that, if +the wealth you have spoken of really lies buried here, and I have no +doubt whatever that it does, you will now be under no necessity for +following up a profession which must inevitably have involved long +separations from me. I am so happy, dearest, for I do not think I could +have endured that." + +I was deeply affected by this and frequent other evidences of the warmth +and strength of Ella's attachment to me, and of the confiding frankness +with which she revealed it; and I believe most conscientiously that the +greatest gratification I derived from the discovery of the treasure +arose from a knowledge of the extended power it would bestow upon me to +contribute to her happiness. + +Bob soon returned with a couple of shovels, and, springing ashore from +the canoe, he handed one to Winter, and began at once to ply the other +most vigorously himself, exclaiming as he did so: + +"There you are, my lad now fire away as hard as you like. There's only +a few feet of sand between us and gold enough to make all our fortin's a +dozen times over, so let's rouse it up and have a look at it, without +any more words." + +The two men worked with a will, and soon stood in a good-sized hole, +about three feet deep, whilst the rest of us looked on at their labours +with the keenest interest. At length Winter's shovel struck upon +something hard, and he announced the fact with a joyous shout. Bob, +however, still continued working away without meeting with any +resistance. A few more strokes of Winter's shovel laid bare a small +patch of damp discoloured planking, a further proof, if we needed one, +of the truth of the story. Bob was still digging away as hard as ever. +Presently he ceased digging, and began shovelling the loose sand off a +piece of the deck or something else which he had got down to. This was +soon uncovered, and we then saw that it was a piece of _loose_ plank, +which he and Winter succeeded between them in raising, and underneath it +lay a dark, hollow cavity. To work they both went once more, and in a +short time three more loose planks were so far uncovered as to permit of +their being removed. + +This accomplished, it was found that we had been so fortunate as to hit, +at the first trial, upon the hole through which the Spaniard had +penetrated to the innermost recesses of the ship. A Creat deal of sand +still remained to be cleared away, however, before we could get at the +gold; and my father and I were on the point of relieving the two mates, +when the natives, who had looked on at the operations with a great deal +of interest and intelligence, stepped forward, and said, "No, no; now me +work." And though they had probably never seen shovels in their lives +before, and were a little awkward at first in the handling of them, they +soon got into the owing of it, and did their work as well as either of +the others. And so they kept on, spell and spell, the mates and the +"niggers," neither party seeming willing that my father or I should +share in the hard work; and in about an hour and a half, Bob's shovel +suddenly struck sharply upon something harder than wood. He and Winter +were both working under the influence of powerful excitement, so it was +not long before they had cleared away the sand sufficiently to enable +them to lay hold of and drag forth an ingot, black and discoloured +almost as rusty iron, but heavy enough to prove most satisfactorily that +it was not that metal. It was handed up, and I at once proceeded to +scrape away with my strong clasp knife upon its surface, quickly +establishing the fact that it was indeed the precious metal. + +This I considered sufficient for one day, especially as it had been +agreed that it should be a holiday. So, with considerable difficulty, I +at length persuaded the two mates to come out of their hole, and rest +after their violent exertions; and shortly afterwards our goods and +chattels were packed up and put on board one of the canoes, in charge of +the two natives, and the remainder of the party embarked in the +tube-boat with the gold--thirteen ingots in all--that had been brought +to light, the sails were hoisted, and we ran down to the anchorage in +the bay with both canoes in tow. + +It would be difficult to express the satisfaction which all felt at this +important discovery, but to Bob and me the satisfaction was peculiarly +great, for we had now accomplished all that our most sanguine +expectations had led us to hope for in projecting this adventurous +voyage--more, indeed; for, as the reader is aware, when the subject was +first mooted we had no hope of finding my father, having quite given him +up as dead. + +The next day saw us hard at work again, and, not to dwell too long upon +matters which may be passed over briefly, in three days we had the box +of gems, and as much gold as we considered we could take. The schooner +was ballasted with it, taking in, as nearly as we could calculate, +twenty tons, and the precious metal was also substituted for the lead +ballast of the cutter. The aperture in the deck of the buried ship was +then carefully boarded over as before, the sand shovelled back into its +place, and to time and the winds were left the work of completely +eradicating all remaining traces of our labours. Both craft were then +fully provisioned and watered, abundant preparation having already been +made, and on the morning following the completion of our final +arrangements, both craft made sail from the island, the _Ada_ leading +out through the channel, and stood away to the southward and westward +under every stitch of canvas that would draw. We soon found, however, +that in moderate weather the _Water Lily_ could sail round and round the +_Ada_, and we had to take in our topsail and haul down a reef in our +mainsail to avoid running away from her altogether; it was only when it +came to double-reefed canvas that her superior power told sufficiently +to produce an equality in our speeds. It seemed as though everything +which we were to meet with in the shape of adventure had befallen us on +the first half of our voyage, for day after day passed by without +anything to distinguish it from the others, and after a quick and +pleasant run, we reached Melbourne just in time to catch the +homeward-bound mail, and to send a hurried letter to my sister, +acquainting her with the agreeable intelligence of our double success. +I here had an opportunity of acquainting the proper authorities with all +the circumstances connected with the destruction of the pirate brig, and +of the crew being imprisoned on the island, and I afterwards learned +that a cruiser had been despatched to the spot, and that the entire band +were captured, tried, condemned upon a mass of evidence, which was soon +collected against them, and hanged. + +Here also I had the happiness of being united to the dear girl who had +in so many ways proved herself worthy of my best and strongest love, and +as our story--excepting that part of it which related to the finding of +the treasure--had got wind, the sympathy and kind feeling shewn towards +us by the warm-hearted colonists, was such as to convert our wedding-day +almost into a day of public rejoicing. All the ships, without +exception, were dressed with flags, and there was a long article in one +of the local papers headed, "Thrilling Romance of the Sea," in which the +story of Ella's rescue from the wreck told with great affect. + +We remained at Melbourne about a week, and then made sail once more, +still with favourable winds and fine weather, until we reached the Cape +of Good Hope--which we did in little more than a month--when we +encountered a very strong breeze from the southward and eastward, from +which we were glad enough to take shelter behind the fine breakwater in +the bay. Here we again filled up provisions and water, and once more +despatched letters home. + +By the time that we had done what we wanted, the gale was over, and we +lost no time in making a fresh start. We soon got into the south-east +trades, and, as they happened to be blowing strong, we made the best of +them, and did not attempt to stop at Saint Helena. We were fortunate +again in crossing the line, getting a little slant of wind, which +carried us handsomely across the usually calm belt which so tries the +patience of the homeward-bound seaman at that spot; and after a +remarkably fine passage of thirty-nine days from Table Bay, we found +ourselves at anchor in Funchal Roads. + +One of the canoes (both of which the schooner carried on deck) was got +out, and my father and I went ashore to the post-office, where we found, +as we expected, letters from my sister in answer to ours from Melbourne. +My poor father was completely unmanned by the warmth of affection +breathed forth in my sister's letter to him, and I was scarcely less so +at the delight she manifested at our safety and success, and the warm +sympathy with which she responded to the timid message my letter had +conveyed to her from her unknown sister. + +We hurriedly got in a stock of wine, and once more made sail, and after +a baffling passage of a fortnight, against head-winds and light airs and +calms, reached Weymouth Bay on a most lovely evening in the last week of +June, having accomplished our voyage round the world, with all its +delays, in somewhat under eleven months. + +The moment that we were at anchor one of the canoes was got into the +water, and my father, Ella, and I were paddled ashore by the two natives +(who could now speak English tolerably well, and had accustomed +themselves to the use of civilised clothing), Bob and Winter remaining +on board their respective craft that night to take care of them. + +We landed at the flight of steps at the pier-end, and made the best of +our way at once to my aunt's house. My sister was there, eagerly +expecting us; for it appeared that she had been on the Esplanade +listening to the strains of the regimental band, and had recognised the +_Water Lily_ as we drew in towards the anchorage. + +I will pass over in silence the rapturous meeting which ensued, for the +feelings of all were of too deep and sacred a character for so +inexperienced a pen as mine to deal with. Suffice it to say that we all +enjoyed on that evening one of those short seasons of perfect, unalloyed +happiness which are occasionally permitted even here on earth. + +Little now remains to be told. We succeeded, after a vast amount of +hard work and difficulty, in turning our gold into cash and the proceeds +were equally divided among us five whites; the result being, as I +suppose, I need hardly say, a magnificent fortune to each. Winter, like +the honest fellow that he was, immediately married the girl who had +consented to share his uncertain fortune as a seaman and the two blacks +attached themselves, as a matter of course, to my father's +establishment. As for Bob, he asserted roundly that his gold would be +of no use or value to him if I "turned him adrift," so he became, I need +scarcely say with my hearty good-will, a fixture in my establishment; +and his whole thoughts are now set on being made sailing-master of a +fine schooner yacht which is building for me. + +I found out Ella's relations, and communicated the fact of her rescue +from the wreck, and of her having become my wife; but I said nothing +respecting our immense wealth, merely stating that I was possessed of a +comfortable independency, as I wished to ascertain whether they were +willing to receive her as a relative, on her own and her mother's +account. I regret, for the sake of human nature, to say that the +interview was eminently unsatisfactory; and I left their house with a +mental resolve that my wife should never, with my consent, enter the +doors of such unnatural relatives. + +The End. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Secret of the Sands, by Harry Collingwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECRET OF THE SANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 35528.txt or 35528.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/5/2/35528/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +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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