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diff --git a/39729.txt b/39729.txt deleted file mode 100644 index feec140..0000000 --- a/39729.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10857 +0,0 @@ - COURAGE, TRUE HEARTS - - - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: Courage, True Hearts - Sailing in Search of Fortune - -Author: Gordon Stables - -Release Date: May 18, 2012 [EBook #39729] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COURAGE, TRUE HEARTS *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - -[Illustration: WITH IT FELL CONAL! _Page_ 162] - - - - - Courage, True Hearts - - Sailing in Search of Fortune - - - - BY - - GORDON STABLES - - Author of "The Naval Cadet" "For Life and Liberty" - "To Greenland and the Pole" &c. - - - - "I've wandered east, I've wandered west, - Through many a weary way; - But never, never can forget - The love of life's young day." - - BLACKIE & SON LIMITED - - LONDON AND GLASGOW - - - - - The Peak Library - - _Books in this Series_ - -Overdue. Harry Collingwood. -The Dampier Boys. E. M. Green. -The King's Knight. G. I. Whitham. -Their London Cousins. Lady Middleton. -The White Witch of Rosel. E. E. Cowper. -Freda's Great Adventure. Alice Massie. -Courage, True Hearts! Gordon Stables. -Stephen goes to Sea. A. O. Cooke. -Under the Chilian Flag. Harry Collingwood. -The Islanders. Theodora Wilson Wilson. -Margery finds Herself. Doris A. Pocock. -Cousins in Camp. Theodora Wilson Wilson. -Far the sake of his Chum. Walter C. Rhoades. -An Ocean Outlaw. Hugh St. Leger. -Boys of the Priory School. F. Coombe. -Jane in Command. E. E. Cowper. -Adventures of Two. May Wynne. -The Secret of the Old House. E. Everett Green. - - -_Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow_ - - - - - CONTENTS. - - BOOK I. - - IN SCOTTISH WILDS AND LONDON STREETS. - -CHAP. - - I. Hope told a Flattering Tale - II. Hurrah for "Merrie England"! - III. The Boys' Life in London - IV. Wild Sports on Moorland and Ice - V. A Highland Blizzard--The Lost Sheep and Shepherd - VI. "The breath of God was over all the land" - VII. The Parting comes at last - - BOOK II. - - THE CRUISE OF THE _FLORA M'VAYNE_. - - I. The Terrors of the Ocean - II. A Fearful Experience - III. Bound for Southern Seas of Ice - IV. On the Wings of the Wind - V. Johnnie Shingles and Old Mr. Pen - VI. "Back water all! For life, boys, for life!" - VII. "Here's to the loved ones at home" - VIII. Captain Talbot spins a Yarn - IX. Tongues of Lurid Fire--Blue, Green, and Deepest Crimson - X. So poor Conal must Perish! - XI. Thus Hand in Hand the Brothers Sleep - XII. Winter Life in an Antarctic Pack - XIII. A Chaos of Rolling and Dashing Ice - XIV. "Heave, and she goes! Hurrah!" - XV. The Isles of Desolation - - BOOK III. - - IN THE LAND OF THE NUGGET AND DIAMOND. - - I. Shipwreck on a Lonely Isle - II. A Weary Time - III. Children of the Sky - IV. Treasure-hunters. The Forest - V. Fighting the Gorillas - VI. An Invading Army--Victory! - VII. The Mysterious Stone - VIII. The Battle at the Ford - IX. The very Identical Bird - X. The Welcome Home - - - - - BOOK I - - IN SCOTTISH WILDS AND LONDON STREETS - - - - -CHAPTER I--HOPE TOLD A FLATTERING TALE - - -Had you been in the beautiful and wild forest of Glenvoie on that bright -and blue-skied September morning--on one of its hills, let us say--and -heard the music of those two boys' voices swelling up towards you, -nothing that I know of could have prevented you from joining in. So -joyous, so full of hope were they withal, that the very tune itself, to -say nothing of the words, would have sent sorrow right straight away -from your heart, if there had been any to send. - - "Cheer, boys, cheer, no more of idle sorrow, - Courage, true hearts, shall bear us on our way; - Hope flies before, and points the bright to-morrow, - Let us forget the dangers of to-day." - - -There was a pause just here, and from your elevated situation on that -rocky pap, looking down, you would have rested your eyes on one of the -prettiest rolling woodland scenes in all broad Scotland. - -It was a great waving ocean of foliage, and the sunset of autumn was -over it all, lying here and there in patches of crimson, brown, and -yellow, which the solemn black of pine-trees, and the funereal green of -dark spruces only served to intensify. - -Flap-flap-flap! huge wood-pigeons arise in the air and go sailing over -the woods. They are frightened, as well they may be, for a moment -afterwards two guns ring out almost simultaneously, and so still is the -air that you can hear the dull thud of fallen game. - -"Hurrah, Conal! Why, that was a splendid shot! I saw you take aim." - -"No, Duncan, no; the bird is yours. You fired first." - -"Only at random, brother. But come, let us look at him. What a -splendid creature! Do you know, Conal, I could almost cry for having -killed him." - -"Oh! so could I, Duncan, for that matter, but the capercailzie[1] is -game, mind, and won't father be pleased. Why do they call it a wild -turkey?" - - -[1] The letter "z" not pronounced in Scotch. - - -"Because it isn't a turkey. That is quite sufficient reason for a -gamekeeper. The capercailzie is the biggest grouse there is, you know, -and sometimes weighs very many pounds." - -"And didn't we find the nest of one in a spruce tree last spring." - -"Ay, and six eggs that we didn't touch; and I've never put any faith -again in that ignoramus of a book, that would have us believe the birds -always build on the bare ground." - -"Written by an Englishman, no doubt, Duncan, who had never placed a foot -on our native heath. But now let us get back to breakfast. I wonder -where our little sister Flora is." - -"I heard her gun about ten minutes ago; she can't be far off. Besides -Viking is with her, so she is safe enough. Give the curlew's scream and -she'll soon appear." - - "Like the wild scream of the curlew, - From crag to crag the signal flew." - - -Duncan threw down his gun beside the dead game, and, placing his fingers -in his mouth, gave a perfect imitation of this strange bird's cry: - -"Who-o-o-eet, who-o-o-eet (these in long-drawn notes, then quicker and -quicker), who-eet, who-eet, wheet, wheet, wheet, wheet, who-ee!" - -The boys did not have long to wait for an answer. For Duncan, the elder, -who was about sixteen, with a stalwart well-knit frame, and even a -budding moustachelet, had hardly finished, when far down in a dark -spruce thicket sounded the barking of a dog, which could only belong to -one of a very large breed. - -He entered the glade in which the brothers stood not many seconds after. -He entered with a joyous bound and bark, his great shaggy coat, black as -the raven's wing, afloat on his shoulders and back; his white teeth -flashing; and a yard or two, more or less, of a red ribbon of a tongue -hanging out of his mouth. - -Need I say he was a noble Newfoundland. - -He stopped short and looked at the 'cailzie, then snuffed at it, and -immediately after licked his master's cheek. To do so he had to put a -paw on each of Duncan's shoulders, and his weight nearly bore him to the -ground. - -But see, here comes little Flora herself--she is only twelve; her -brothers are both dressed in the kilt of hill tartan, and Flora's frock -is but a short one, showing to advantage a pair of batten legs encased -in galligaskins; fair hair, streaming like a shower of gold over her -shoulders; blue eyes, and a lively very pretty face. But across that -independent wee nose of hers is quite a bridge of freckles, which -extends half-way across her cheeks. - -Now a child of her tender years would, in many parts of England, be -treated quite as a child. It was quite the reverse at Glenvoie. Flora -was in reality a little model of wisdom, and many a bit of good advice -she gave her brothers--not that they bothered taking it, though both -loved her dearly. - -Flora carried a little gun--a present from her father, who was very -proud of her exploits and worldly wisdom, and across her shoulders was -slung a bag, which appeared to be well filled. - -"Hillo, Siss!" cried Duncan. "Any cheer?" - -"Oh, yes, three wild pigeons! But what a lovely great wild turkey! I'm -sure, Duncan, it was a pity to kill him!" - -"Sport, Sissie, sport!" said Duncan. - -Yet as he looked at the splendidly plumaged bird which his gun had laid -low in death, he smothered a sigh. He half repented now having killed -the 'cailzie. - -Homeward next, for all were hungry, and in the old-fashioned hall of the -house of Glenvoie breakfast would be waiting for them. Through the -forest dark and deep, across a wide and clear brown stream by -stepping-stones, a stream that in England would be called a river, then -on to a broad heathy moorland, with here and there a cottage and little -croft. - -Poor enough these were in all conscience, but they afforded meal and -milk to the owners and their children. Chubby-cheeked hardy little chaps -these were. They ran to gate or doorway to greet our young heroes with -cheers shrill and many, and Flora smiled her sweetest on them. Neither -stockings nor shoes nor caps had they, winter or summer, and when they -grew up many of them would join the army, and be first in every bayonet -charge where tartans would wave and bonnets nod. - -Laird M'Vayne himself came to the porch to meet his children. These -were all he had, and their mother was an invalid. - -An excellent specimen of the Highland laird was this Chief M'Vayne. As -sturdy and strong in limb as a Hercules, broad in shoulder, and though -sixty years and over, as straight as an arrow. His was a fearless face, -but handsome withal, and he never looked better than when he smiled. -Smiling was natural to him, and came straight from the heart, lighting -up his whole face as morning sunshine lights the sea. - -"Better late than never, boys. What ho! a capercailzie!" - -Then he placed his hand so kindly on Duncan's shoulder. - -"It was a good shot, I can see," he said, "and now we won't kill any -more of these splendid birds. I want the woods to swarm with them." - -"No, father," said Duncan, "this is the last, and I shall send to -Glasgow for eyes, and stuff and set him up myself." - -Then the Laird hoisted Flora, gun, game-bag and all, right on top of his -broad left shoulder and carried her inside, while Viking, enjoying the -fun, made house and "hallan" ring with his gladsome barking. - -Ever see or partake of a real Highland breakfast, reader? A pleasure -you have before you, I trust. And had you been at Glenvoie House on this -particular morning, the very sight of that meal would have given you an -appetite, while partaking of it would have made you feel a man. - -That was real porridge to begin with, a little lake of butter in the -centre of each plate and creamy milk to flank it. Different indeed from -the clammy, saltless saucers of poultice Englishmen shiver over of a -morning at hotels, making themselves believe they are partaking of -Scotia's own _own_ dish. - -All did justice to the porridge, and Viking had a double allowance. -There was beautiful mountain trout to follow, cold game, and fresh -herrings with potatoes. Marmalade and honey with real oat-cakes -finished the banquet. - -About this time, gazing across the lawn from the great window, Duncan -could see the runner bringing the post-bag. Runner he might well be -called. He had come twenty miles that morning with the mails, trotting -all the way. - -Duncan threw open the window, and with a smile and order for postie to -go round to the kitchen for a "piece" and a "drink", he received the -bag. - -The arrival of the runner was always one of the chief events of the day, -for the Laird "let" his shootings every season, and had friends in every -part of the kingdom. - -So had the boys. - -"Ah!" said their father, opening a letter which he had reserved to the -last. "Here is one from our distant relative, Colonel Trelawney." - -"Oh! do read it out," cried Flora impulsively. - -Her father obeyed, as all dutiful fathers do when they receive a command -from juvenile daughters. - - -"_Maida Vale, London._ - -"_My dear 42nd cousin,--I think that is about our relationship. Well, I -was never good at counting kin, so we must let it stand at that. -Heigho! That is my 42nd sigh since breakfast time, and it isn't the -luncheon hour yet. But I couldn't quite tell you what I am sighing for; -I think it must be for the Highland moors around you, on which I enjoyed -so glorious a time in August. Heigho! (43rd). Your hills must still -be clad in the crimson and purple glory of heath and heather whence -scattered coveys or whirring wings spring skywards (Poetry!)._ - -"_Well now, I've got something to propose. Since his poor mother died, -my boy Frank--fifteen next birthday, you know--has not seemed to thrive -well. He is a capital scholar, and is of a very inventive turn of mind. -He delights in the country, and when he and I bike away down into the -greenery of fields and woods he always looks better and happier. But at -home he has nothing to look at that is natural--a few misshapen trees -only, a shaven lawn, evergreens, and twittering sparrows._ - -"_He is lively enough, and plays the fiddle charmingly. He is only a -London lad after all, and his pale face bears witness to the fact._ - -"_Well, cousin, fair exchange is no robbery. Send me your two boys up -here to spend the winter, and then I'll send the whole three down to you -to put in the spring and summer. Expected results? Is that what you -ask, cousin mine? Well, they are these. A little insight into London -life will assist in toning down the fiery Highland exuberance of your -brave lads, and will help to make them young men of the world. While a -spell among your Highland hills shall put more life-blood into my boy, -and make him stronger, braver, and heartier._" - - -"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Duncan. "He is going to civilize us, is he, daddy -dear? We'll have to wear frock-coats, long hats and long faces, and -carry umbrellas. What do you think of that, Conal?" - -"Why," said Conal disdainfully, "umbrellas are only for old wives and -Sassenachs. The plaid for me." - -"And me!" - -"Well, but listen," said the Laird laughing. - - -"_Your boys,_" says the colonel, "_must come to us dressed in their -hill-tartan kilts, and have dress tartans to wear at evening parties. -The English are fond of chaffing the Scot, but, mind you, they love him -all the same, and can quite appreciate all the deeds of derring-do he -accomplishes on the field of battle, as well as his -long-business-headedness on the Stock Exchange. Heigho! (sigh the -44th), had I been a Scot I'd have been a richer man to-day instead of -having to maintain a constant fight to keep the wolf from the door. But -you, dear cousin, must be fairly wealthy._" - - -It was Laird M'Vayne's turn to sigh now, for alas! he was far indeed -from rich, and, young as they were, both his boys knew it. And between -you and me and the binnacle, reader, the lads used to pray every night, -that Heaven might enable them when they came to man's estate, or even -before, to do something for the parents who had been so good to them. - - -"_Well,_" the letter ran on, "_I sha'n't say any more, only you will let -the laddies (that is Scotch, isn't it?) come, won't you, cousin? and if -we can only find out the time of the boat's arrival, Frank and I shall -be at the dock waiting for them._" - - -"Hurrah!" cried Duncan, - -"Hurrah!" cried Conal. - -"And you won't be sorry to leave me and the old home, will you?" said -M'Vayne. - -"Oh, indeed, indeed we will, daddy," cried Duncan, "and we'll think -about you all and pray for you too, every day and night. Won't we, -Conal?" - -"Of course we will." - -Then the younger lad went and threw his arms round his father's neck, -leaned his cheek against his breast, in truly Celtic fashion, and there -were tears in his eyes. - -"Besides," said Duncan, "the change will do us such a heap of good, and -by all we read London must be the grandest place in the whole wide -world." - -"Streets paved with gold, eh? Houses tiled with sheets of solid silver -that glitter daily in the noonday sun. No poverty, no vice, no crime in -London. Is that your notion of London, my son?" - -"Well," replied Duncan laughing, "it may not be quite so bright as all -that, daddy, but I am sure of one thing." - -"Yes?" - -"If the streets are not paved with gold, nor the houses tiled with -silver, there is money to be made in the city by any honest business -Scot who cares to work and wants to win." - -"Bravo, Duncan! - - "In the lexicon of youth which fate reserves - For a bright manhood, there is no such word as Fail." - - ---- - -For the next two or three weeks, although the boys with their plucky -little sister went every day either to the hill or woods to shoot, or to -the burn to fish, there was very little talked about except the coming -excursion to the great city of London. - -Mrs. M'Vayne was at present confined to her room, and, being nervous, -the thought of losing her boys even for a short four or five months made -her heart feel sad indeed, and it took them all their time to reassure -her. - -"No, no, lads," she would cry almost petulantly; "I cannot be happy -until I see you in the glen once more, safe and sound!" - -Two weeks passed--oh, ever so quickly--away, and the last week was to be -devoted wholly and solely to the packing of trunks, a very pleasurable -and hopeful employment indeed. - -Duncan was _facile princeps_ at this work, and he kept a note-book -always near, so that whenever he thought about anything he might need, -he wrote it down--just as if it had not been possible to get every -article he might require in great London, from a needle to an anchor. - -Only, as he told his brother Conal, "It is far better to be sure than -sorry." - -Well, the last day--the last sad day--came round at last and farewells -had to be said on both sides. - -Mrs. M'Vayne kept up as well as she could, and so did the boys. -_Noblesse oblige_, you know, for although their father was but a -Highland laird, and poor at that, he was connected by blood with the -chiefs of the best clans in Scotland. - -Poor honest Viking had watched the packing with the very greatest of -interest, and so sad did he appear that Duncan and Conal made up their -minds to take him with them. And when they told him so, there really -was not a much happier dog in all the British islands. For Viking was -wise beyond compare, and there was very little, indeed, that he did not -understand. - -But Florie's grief at the loss of her brothers was beyond control, and -she made no attempt to hide her tears. - -Yes, the laird himself journeyed with his boys as far as Leith, and saw -them safe on board. - -When the good ship steamed away at last, he waved them a silent adieu, -then turned and walked quickly away. - - - - -CHAPTER II.--HURRAH FOR "MERRIE ENGLAND"! - - -Neither Duncan nor Conal was a bad sailor, for, their father's estate -being near the western sea, many a long summer's day they spent in open -boats, and they sometimes went out with the herring-fishers and were -heard of no more for clays. - -But this was to be a voyage of more than ordinary rigours, for, as bad -luck would have it, a gale of wind arose, with tremendous seas, soon -after they passed Berwick. - -The waves made a clean breach over the unfortunate ship, and at -midnight, when the storm was at its worst, the boys were suddenly -awakened by the strange rolling motion of the steamer, and they knew at -once that some terrible accident had happened. - -The engines had stopped, for the shaft was broken; and high over the -roaring of the terrible wind they could hear the captain shouting: - -"All hands on deck!" - -"Hands make sail!" - -It was but little sail she could carry, indeed, and that only -fore-and-afters, jib and stay-sails. - -The boys had a cabin all to themselves, and the companionship of honest -Viking, the Newfoundland. The poor dog did not know what to make of his -situation. If he thought at all, and no doubt dogs do think, he must -have wondered why his masters should have forsaken their beautiful home, -their wanderings over the hills still clad in crimson heather, or -through the forests deep and dark, for a life like this; but to the -lower animals the ways of mankind are inscrutable, just as those of a -higher power are to us. We are gods to the pets we cherish, and they -are content to believe in and trust us, never doubting that all is for -the best. Alas! we ourselves hardly put the same trust in the good God -who made us, and cares for us, as our innocent dogs do in those who own -them. - -"Well, Conal," said Duncan, "this is, indeed, a wild night. I wonder if -we are going to Davie Jones's locker, as sailors call it?" - -"I don't think so. The captain is a long-headed fellow. I guess he -knows what he is up to." - -"I shall light the candles anyhow. I don't like to lie awake in the -dark. Do you?" - -"Not much. If I was to be drowned I think I would like it to come off -in good daylight." - -After a scramble, during which he was pitched three times on the deck, -once right on top of the dog, Duncan succeeded in lighting the candles. - -These were hung in gimbals, so that the motion of the ship did not -affect them. - -It was more cheerful now; so, having little desire to go to sleep, -knowing that the ship must really be in danger, they lay and talked to -each other. Talked of home, of course, but more about the great and -wondrous city of London, which, if God spared the ship, they soon should -see. - -Presently a bigger wave than any that had come before it struck the -ship, and seemed to heel her over right on her beam-ends, so that Duncan -almost tumbled out of his berth. - -A deep silence followed, broken only by the rush of water into the boys' -cabin. - -Viking sprang right into Conal's berth, and crouched, shaking and -quivering in terror, at his feet. - -There was half a foot of water on the cabin deck. - -The worst seemed to be over, however, for presently sail was got on her, -and though the wind continued to rave and howl through the rigging, she -was on a more even keel and much steadier. - -Presently the captain himself had a peep into the lads' state-room. - -He had a bronzed but cheerful face, and was clad in oil-skins from his -sou'-wester hat to his boots. - -"Not afraid, are you, boys? No? Well, that's right. We have broken -down, and it will be many days before we get into London; but we'll -manage all right, and I think the wind is just a little easier already." - -"So we won't go to Davie Jones's to-night, will we, captain?" - -"Not if I know it, lad. Now, my advice is this: go to sleep, -and--er--well, there can be no harm if you say your prayers before you -do drop off." - -The boys took his advice, and were soon fast in the arms of Morpheus. -So, too, was honest Viking. He was one of those dogs who know when they -are well off, so he preferred remaining in Conal's bunk to descending to -the wet deck again. To show his sympathy, he gave the boy one of his -huge paws to hold, and so hand-in-hand they fell asleep. - -The wind was still blowing when they sat down to breakfast with the -captain and first mate, for there was not another passenger on board -save themselves. The old saying, "The more the merrier", does not apply -to coasting steamers in early winter. The fewer the easier--that is -more truthful. - -The gale was a gale no longer, but a steady breeze. The ship was given a -good offing, for the wind blew from the north-east, and to be too close -to a lee shore is at all times dangerous. - -But how very snug and cosy the saloon looked, when they were all -gathered around the brightly-burning stove that night. - -The skipper could tell many a good story, and the first mate also could -spin a yarn or two, for they had both been far away at sea in distant -climes, and both hoped to get ocean-going ships again. - -So there they sat and chatted--ship-master and man, with their tumblers -of hot grog on the top of the stove--till six bells in the middle watch. - -Then the boys and Viking retired. - -"I say, Conal," said Duncan that evening, just before turning in, "I -think I should like to be a sailor." - -"Well," replied Conal, "I should like to visit far-away countries, where -hardly anybody had ever been before, and try to make some money just to -be able to help father in his difficulties." - -"Poor father, yes. Well, young fellows have made money before now." - -"Ay," said Conal, who was wise beyond his years; "but, brother, they had -a nest-egg to begin with. Now, we have nothing." - -"Nonsense, Conal; we have clear heads, we have a good education, and we -have a pair of willing hands each. That makes a good outfit, Conal, and -many a one has conquered fate with far less." - -The voyage to London was a long and tedious one, for they had to -struggle for days against head-winds, and tack and half tack isn't the -quickest way to a port. - -But long before they reached the mouth of the Thames, and were taken in -tow by a tug-boat, the boys had cemented quite a friendship with Captain -Talbot and his mate Morgan. They promised to correspond, and the honest -skipper told them that he had a great project on, and that if it came to -a head, he would be willing to take them both to sea with him as -apprentices, if their father would let them go. This was real good news -for our young heroes, and they parted from Talbot happy and hopeful. - -Morgan, the mate, put them up to the ropes as to getting to Colonel -Trelawney's residence, and a good thing it was that he did so, else -assuredly they would have lost themselves. A bargain was made with a -cabman, and he agreed for a certain sum to drive them all the way. - -It was a damp and miserable day, the streets were inches deep in slimy -mud, the houses all gray and dismal. - -No wonder that the hearts of these two boys, accustomed to the green -grandeur of forests and crimson-clad Highland hills, sank within them, -as they gazed from the windows of their cab. - -Was this the beautiful London they had heard tell of and expected to -see? Nothing but discomfort and misery met their eyes at first, and -when the conveyance stopped now and then, blocked by carts and wagons, -they found they could scarcely understand a word of the jargon that fell -on their ears from every side. - -"Moaning piper!" cried a ragged urchin, shoving a newspaper right under -Duncan's nose. - -Duncan bought this morning paper. - -"Did you notice what he said, Conal?" - -"Yes; he said 'Moaning piper'. There must be something about a battle -in it, and a Scotch piper must have been wounded. No wonder he moaned -if he was shot through the chest or legs--eh, Duncan?" - -"No indeed, that would make anybody moan." - -But much to the boys' disgust there was nothing about a battle in the -paper, nor about pipers, nor even about soldiers at all. So the -newspaper was thrown down, and they contented themselves by looking from -the windows at the crowds of people that were hurrying along the -pavement, everyone intent only on his own business, and taking not the -slightest notice of his neighbour. They had now got into a better part -of the town. There were fewer guttersnipes and badly-dressed men and -women here, less apparent poverty, in fact, with the exception of the -poor, white-faced, hungry-looking girls and women who were selling -flowers. During a block one of these came to the window near which -Duncan sat, and he made the lassie happy by buying two button-holes, and -giving her sixpence for them. - -The 'buses were objects of curiosity for our heroes. - -The drivers were ideal in their own way, and of a class not to be met -with anywhere out of London. - -The boys criticised them unmercifully. - -"Oh, Duncan, did ever you see such faces, or such slow-looking men!" - -"Faces just like hams, Conal--and, why, they seem to be wearing about -twenty coats! So solemn too--I wonder if ever those fellows smiled -except over a pint of beer!" - -"And look at those huge wooden umbrellas!" - -"Yes, that is for fear a drop of rain should fall upon John Guttle, and -he should catch cold." - -"Shouldn't I like to see one of these John Guttles trudging over a -moor!" - -"He wouldn't trudge far, Conal; he would tumble down and gasp like an -over-fed ox." - -"I say, Duncan, I haven't seen anybody with a plaid yet." - -"No, and you won't. Top-coats--nothing else--and tobacco-pipes. No -wonder most of those male creatures on the tops of the 'buses are -watery-nebbit or red-nosed." - -Now, however, private carriages began to mingle with the traffic, and -the boys had more to wonder at. But inside these they caught glimpses of -fashionable ladies, some young, charmingly dressed, and of a cast of -beauty truly English and refined. What astonished Duncan and his -brother most was the coachman and flunkeys on the dickey, so severely -and stupidly aristocratic did they look. - -"Oh, Duncan," cried Conal laughing, "did ever you see such frights! and -they've got on ladies' fur tippets!" - -"Yes, that is to keep their poor shivery bodies warm, Conal." - -"And they look just as if they owned all London, don't they?" - -"Yes, that is one of the peculiarities of the flunkey tribe. What's the -odds, Conal, so long as they are happy?" - -The cab seemed to have reached the suburbs at last. Here were many a -pleasant villa, and many a lordly mansion too, with splendid balconies, -which were in reality gardens in the sky. There were trees, too, though -now almost bare, and green lawns and bushes and flowers. - -But none of these latter appealed to our young heroes because they were -all so artificial. - -Hillo! the cab stops; and the driver, radiant in the expectation of a -tip, throws open the door. - -"'Ere we are at last, young gents. 'Appy to drink yer 'ealth. Thousand -thanks! Hain't seen a 'alf-crown before for a month. Nobuddy needn't -say to me as the Scots ain't liberal." - -One of the handsomest villas the boys had yet seen, and in the porch -thereof stood Colonel Trelawney himself to welcome his guests. - -"Right welcome to the Limes," he cried heartily. "Frank is out, but -he'll be home to luncheon. Why, what tall hardy chaps you are, to be -sure, and I'm right glad you came in your native dress. I wonder how my -boy would look in the kilt. It's a matter of legs, I believe." - -"Oh, sir," said Duncan, "he'll soon get legs when he comes to the -Highlands, and climbs the hills and walks the moors for a few months." - -"Well, come in, boys. James, here, will show you your room. We've put -you both in the same, as I know young fellows like to talk before -turning in." - -The room was plainly, yet comfortably, furnished, and the window gave a -pleasant view of gardens, shrubberies, and a cloudland of trees to which -the autumn foliage still was clinging. - -"'Ot watah, young gents." - -"Thank you, James." - -Duncan and Conal made haste to wash and dress. - -James had opened their boxes, and was acting as valet to them in every -way. But they were not used to this, and so they told James. God had -given them hands and arms, and so they liked to make use of them. - -Hark! footsteps on the stairs. Hurried ones, too; two steps, one -stride! - -Next moment the door was thrown open, and Frank himself stood before -them, with both hands extended to bid them welcome. - - - - -CHAPTER III.--THE BOYS' LIFE IN LONDON. - - -"Cousin Frank!" - -"That's me. And how are you, cousins Conal and Duncan? We're only -far-off cousins, but that doesn't matter, does it? I'm jolly glad to -see you, anyhow. You'll bring some life into this dull old hole; and -I'll find some fun for you, you bet." - -"Did you ask if we betted?" said Duncan, smiling, but serious. "We -wouldn't be allowed to." - -"No, no. 'You bet' is just an expression; for, mind you, everybody -speaks slang nowadays in town. Oh, I don't bet--as a rule, though I did -have a pony on the Oxford and Cambridge last race." - -"And did the pony win?" asked Conal, naively. - -"Eh? What? Ha, ha, ha! Why, it's a boat race, and a pony is a fiver. -I'd saved the cash for a year, and like a fool I blewed it at last." - -Well, if Frank Trelawney was not very much to look at as regards body, -he was frank and open, with a handsome English face, all too pale, -however, and he seemed to have more worldly wisdom in his noddle than -Duncan, Conal, and Viking all put together. - -After talking a little longer to our Highland heroes Frank knelt down -and threw his arms around the great dog's neck, and Viking condescended -to lick his cheek. - -"I'm so glad that old Vike takes to you, Frank," said Duncan. "It isn't -everybody he likes." - -"Of course," said Frank, "'old' is merely a term of endearment, as -father would say." - -"That's it. He is only a year and six months old, but already there is -nothing scarcely that he does not know, in country life, I mean, though -I suppose he will be rather strange in town for a time." - -"Sure to be. But here comes James. Luncheon served, James, eh?" - -"Luncheon all ready, Master Frank." - -They found the Colonel walking up and down the well-lighted hall smoking -a cigarette. He was really a most inveterate smoker. He smoked before -breakfast, after breakfast, all the forenoon, and all day long. Rolled -his own cigarettes, too, so that his fore and middle fingers were -indelibly stained yellow with the tobacco. - -"Horrid habit!" he always told boys, "but I've become a slave to it. -Don't you ever smoke." - -Though some years over sixty, Trelawney was as straight as a telephone -pole, handsome, and soldierly in face and bearing. The only thing that -detracted from his facial appearance was a slight degree of bagginess -betwixt the lower eyelids and the cheek bones. This was brought on, his -doctor had told him often and often, by weakness of the heart caused by -tobacco and wine. But Trelawney would not punish himself by leaving -either off. - -The boys took to Mrs. Trelawney from the very first. She must have been -fully twenty years younger than the Colonel, and had a sweet, even -beautiful, face, and was altogether winning. - -Well, that was a luncheon of what might be called elegant kickshaws, -artistically cooked and served, but eminently unsatisfactory from a -Scotch point of view. - -The dinner in the evening was much the same, and really when these -Highland lads got up from the table they almost longed for the honest, -"sonsy" fleshpots of Glenvoie. - -Walnuts and wine for dessert! But they did not drink wine, and would -have preferred a cocoa-nut or two to the walnuts. There would have been -some satisfaction in that. - -A private box for the theatre! - -"Oh," cried Duncan, "that will be nice!" - -"You have often been at the theatre, dear, haven't you?" - -This from Mrs. Trelawney, as she placed her very much be-ringed fingers -on Conal's shoulder. - -"No, auntie," replied Conal; "only just once, with Duncan there. It was -in Glasgow. They were playing 'Rob Roy', and I shall never forget it. -Never, never, never!" - -But to-night it was a play of quite a different class, a kind of musical -comedy. Plenty of action and go in it, plenty of the most ordinary and -musicless singing, which pleased the gallery immensely, and frequent -spells of idiotic dancing. There were no serious situations at all, -however, and no thread of narrative woven into the play. - -Moreover, both Scotch boys were placed at a disadvantage owing to their -inability to follow the English patois, which on the whole was -thoroughly Cockney, the letter "R" being dead and buried, and the "H" -being silent after a "W", so that the lads did not enjoy themselves -quite as much as they had expected to. - -Every now and then the colonel excused himself. He told our heroes he -was going to see a man. That really meant lounging into the buffet to -smoke a cigarette, and moisten a constitutionally dry throat. - -A few days after this, however, the colonel, who, by some means or other -known only to himself, was behind the scenes (virtually speaking) of all -the best theatres, managed to get a box for the Lyceum. - -That truly great tragedian, Irving, was playing in "The Bells", and the -young M'Vaynes were struck dumb with astonishment; they were thrilled -and awed with the terrible realism of the grand actor, and when the -curtain fell at last both boys thanked the colonel most heartily. - -"That is real acting, a real play!" cried Duncan enthusiastically. "I'm -sure neither Conal nor I want to sit and listen to Cockney buffoonery -after that." - -Dear Mrs. Trelawney, as both boys called her, had evidently made up her -mind to give the lads as pleasant a time as possible. Every fine day, -and there were now many, she took them all for a drive. - -"We sha'n't be back for luncheon, Tree," she always told her husband. -"You must eat in solitary state and grandeur for one day." - -"Indeed," she smilingly informed Duncan, "I don't care much to lunch at -home. I like to be free, and not have extreme gentility and servants -pottering about behind your chair, and listening to every word you say. -I hate the proprieties." - -Duncan and Conal both smiled. They felt just that way themselves. - -After a drive in the park, Mrs. Trelawney would go shopping, and those -two brown-faced, brown-kneed Highland boys created a good deal of -sensation, though they seemed quite unaware of the fact. - -Ah! but after the shopping came luncheon. And the colonel's wife knew -where to go to. A charming hotel, not a million of miles from the -Thames embankment. And that was a luncheon, too, or, as Frank called -it, a spread! - -It was a square meal at all events, and Mrs. Trelawney seemed delighted -at seeing the boys thoroughly enjoying it. - -"Now you lads must eat, you know, because you've got to grow many, many -inches yet. And this is liberty hall anyhow. Isn't it delightfully -free and easy?" - -It was. This the boys admitted. - -The more they were with Mrs. Trelawney the more they liked her. And the -young M'Vaynes might have said the same of Frank. He was a charming -companion. Moreover, he had many accomplishments that his 42nd cousins -could not boast of. He could sing with a sweet girl-voice, and he played -the violin charmingly, his mother accompanying him on the piano. - -She, too, could sing, and in the evenings she often electrified her -guests by her renderings of dramatic pieces. Everybody who visited at -the Trelawneys' house knew that the colonel had married a young and -beautiful actress, and that here she was--far more a woman of the world, -and a more perfect lady than anyone at her table. - -And the boys were a great attraction. They were so outspoken, yet so -innocent, that conversation with them was full of amusement. They -always donned their belts and dress tartans for dinner, and were a good -deal admired. Moreover, they soon got to be asked frequently out to -dinners, or to dances. These they very much enjoyed. - -Well, a whole month passed away, and Duncan and his brother were now -able to endure London and London life, though they never could love it. - -Many a long walk did Frank take them. The carriage would drive them as -far as the Strand, then the journey was continued on foot citywards. - -Everything here was new--I can't say fresh, for there is precious little -freshness about London streets--to the Scotch lads. They could have -wished, however, that the pavements had been less crowded, that the -people had been less lazy-looking, and that the vendors of penny wares -had not thrust their unsavoury hands so often right under their noses. - -Frank seemed determined to show his 42nd cousins every phase of London -life. He even took them into a corner drink-palace, and there ordered -lemonade, just that they might see a little of the dark side of city -life. - -They were horrified to behold those gin-sodden men and women, many -leaning almost helplessly against the counter; the patched and -semi-dropsical faces of the females, the maudlin idiotic looks of the -males, Duncan thought he never could forget. - -He shuddered, and felt relieved when out once more in the crowded -streets. - -One day Frank thought he would give his cousins a special treat, so he -took them to the Zoo. - -Both were much interested in beholding the larger wild beasts, the lions -of Africa, the splendid tigers of India, the sulky hippopotami, and -ill-natured-looking rhinoceroses. But it was a sad sight after all, for -these half-starved-looking beasts were deprived of the freedom of forest -and plains, and confined here in filthy dens, all for the pleasure of a -gaping crowd of ignorant Cockneys. - -But when they came upon the birds of prey, and their eyes caught sight -of a poor puny specimen of the Scottish eagle, chained to a post, and -almost destitute of feathers, Duncan's heart melted with shame and -sorrow, and he turned hurriedly away. - -As far as the Zoo was concerned, Frank's best intentions had failed to -give his guests pleasure. But they were too polite to say so. - - ---- - -Duncan and Conal had now been two months in London, and could understand -even what the street boys said. On the whole they had enjoyed the -wonderful sights of this wonderful city, for these really seemed -unending. - -Then came Christmas. - -Christmas and the pantomime. - -They enjoyed Drury Lane far more even than the parties or even the -dances they were invited to. The scenery and scenes were exquisitely -lovely. No dream of fairyland ever equalled these. - -The boys gave themselves wholly up to amusement throughout all the -festive season. But to their credit be it said, they did not gorge on -goose, turkey, or pudding as everybody else did. - -"No wonder," thought Duncan, "that the Englishman is called John Guttle -in many parts of Scotland." For he had never seen such eating or -drinking in his life before. - -Then after the festivities of the festive week came dulness and -dreariness extreme. The people had spent all their money, and -wretchedness abounded on every pavement of the sleet-swept streets of -the city. Yes, and the misery even overflowed into the west-end suburbs. - -It was about this time that Duncan made a discovery. - -Frank had told him, frankly enough, that his father was not over-well -off, but it was evident to him now that Colonel Trelawney was simply -struggling to keep up appearances, and that, in all probability, he was -deeply in debt. - -Mrs. Trelawney, or "dear Auntie", as the Scotch lads called her, was -ever the same. Nothing seemed to trouble or worry her. - -But the colonel at breakfast used to take up his letters, one by one, -and eye them with some degree of suspicion before opening them. - -The waste-paper basket was close to him, and was wonderfully handy. - -"The first application," he would say with a smile as he tore up a bill -and summarily disposed of the fragments. - -"Second application"--that too was torn up. - -Letter from a friend--put aside to be read at leisure. - -A long blue letter--suspicious--disposed of without reading. - -"Ha! Amy, love, here is Sweater & Co.'s fourth letter. Threatens us -with--ah, you know." - -"Well, dear," says Mrs. Trelawney with her sweetest smile, "just let -them sweat!" - -"Give 'em a bill, I suppose," the colonel says, as if speaking to -himself. - -And the letter is put aside. - -So one way or another Trelawney got through his pile at last, and -settled down to serious eating, that is, he made a hearty meal from a -Londoner's point of view. Then he lit a cigarette. - -Well the month of January was raw and disagreeable, and seldom was there -a day without a fog either white or yellow. - -Is it any wonder that, brought up in a clear transparent atmosphere -among breezes that blew over heathy hills, and were laden with the -balsamic odour of the pine-trees, Duncan and Conal began to languish and -long for home. - -With great candour they told "Auntie" they wanted to get home to enjoy -skating, tobogganing, and white-hare shooting; and she promised to speak -to the colonel. - -"We will be so sorry to leave you, auntie, for you've been so good to -us." - -"And I shall miss you, boys, sadly." - -"Yes, I hope so. It will give Conal and me pleasure to think that you -like us. And of course Frank comes with us." - -"I fear it is too cold for Frank." - -"Oh no, auntie dear. One never feels cold in Scotland, the air is so -bracing, you know." - -So that very day it was all arranged, and Laird M'Vayne had a letter to -that effect. - -The parting was somewhat sorrowful, but the boys did not say "Farewell!" -only "_Au revoir_", because both hoped to return, and by that time they -declared that Frank would be as hardy as--as--well, as hardy as -Highlanders usually are. - -The last things that the boys bought in London were skates. Of course -they could have got those in Edinburgh, but not so cheaply, and for this -reason: there did not seem to be the ghost of a chance of any skating -for the Londoners this season, and so they got the skates for an old -song. - -They went by sea to Edinburgh. The _Queen_ was at present all but a -cargo-boat, and besides the three lads and Vike, there was only one -other passenger, an old minister of the Church of Scotland. - -The same skipper and the same mate, and delighted they were to see the -boys again, and they gave Frank a right hearty welcome on their account. - -But Frank had that with him which secured him a welcome wherever he -went--his fiddle, and when after dinner he played them some sad and -plaintive old Scottish airs, all were delighted, and the minister got up -from his chair, and, grasping the boy's hand, thanked him most -effusively. - -"Dear lad," he said, "you have brought the moisture to my eyes, although -I had thought my fountain of tears had dried up many and many a long -year ago." - -Now here is something strange; although, when once fairly out of the -Thames' mouth and at sea, it was blowing a head wind, with waves houses -high, Frank was not even squeamish. I have seen many cases like this, -though I must confess they are somewhat rare. - -Nor was the minister ill; but then, like the Scotch boys, he was -sea-fast, having done quite a deal of coasting. - -"How goes the project you have in view?" asked Duncan that evening of -the skipper. - -"Well," was the reply, "it is not what the French call a _fait accompli_ -just yet, but it is bound to be so before very long." - -"Well, my 42nd cousin Frank here would like to go to sea also. Could -you do with the three of us?" - -"Yes. You must be prepared to rough it a bit, and we'll be rather -cramped for room, but we shall manage. Eh, mate?" - -"I'm sure we shall, and this young gentleman must take his fiddle." - -"And I'll take the bagpipes," said Duncan, laughing. - -"Hurrah!" cried the mate. "Won't we astonish the king of the Cannibal -Islands? Eh?" - -It was Frank's turn to cry "Hurrah!" - -"But," he added, "will there be real live cannibals, sir?" - -"Certainly. What good would dead ones be?" - -"And is there a chance of being caught and killed and eaten, and all the -like of that?" - -"Ay, though it isn't pleasant to look forward to. Only mind this: I may -tell you for your comfort that although, after being knocked on the head -with a nullah, your Highland cousin would be trussed at once and hung up -in front of a clear fire until done to a turn, you yourself would be -kept alive for weeks. Penned up, you know, like a chicken." - -"But why?" - -"Oh, they always do that with London boys, because they are generally -too lean for decent cooking, and need too much basting. You would be -penned up and fattened with rice and bananas." - -"Humph!" said Frank, and after a pause of thoughtfulness, "Well, I -suppose there is some consolation in being kept alive a bit; but bother -it all, I don't half like the idea of being a side dish." - -The weather was more favourable during this voyage, and though bitterly -cold, all the boys took plenty of exercise on the quarter-deck, and so -kept warm. So, too, did the old minister, who was really a jolly fellow, -and did not preach at them nor dilate on the follies of youth. -Moreover, this son of the Auld Kirk enjoyed a hearty glass of toddy -before turning in. - -Leith at last! - -And yonder, waiting anxiously on the quay, was Laird M'Vayne himself. - -His broad smile grew broader when his boys waved their hands to him, and -soon they were united once again. - - - - -CHAPTER IV.--WILD SPORTS ON MOORLAND AND ICE. - - -Pretty little Flora M'Vayne was half afraid of the London boy at first. -The violin won her heart, however, and before retiring for the night, -when shaking hands with Frank, she nodded seriously as she told him: - -"I'm not sure I sha'n't love you soon; Viking likes you, so you must be -good." - -Well, Frank was an impressionable boy, and he was very much struck by -the child's innocent ways and beauty. - -"I'm not sure," he said in reply, "that we won't be sweethearts before I -leave. How would you like that?" - -She shook her head. "No, no," she said, "you are very nice, but you are -only an English boy. Good-night!" - -"Good-night!" - -I do not think that any two boys were ever more glad to find themselves -back once more, safely under the parental roof-tree, than Duncan and -Conal. They had made many friends in London, it is true, and spent many -a happy evening therein, and these they could look back to with pleasure -and with a sigh; but the city and town itself, with all its strange -ways, the ignorance of its lower classes, its murdered twangy English, -its filth and its festering iniquities--they positively shuddered when -they thought of. - -God seemed nowhere in London. Here in this wild and beautiful land He -appeared to be everywhere. - -The pure and virgin snow that clad the moors and mountains was a carpet -on which angels might tread; the tiny budlets already appearing on the -trees were scattered there by His own hand; yea, and the very wind that -sighed and moaned through the forest was the breath of heaven. - -And when the sun had gone down behind the waves of the western ocean did -not - - "The moon take up the wondrous tale - And nightly to the listening earth - Repeat the story of her birth, - While all the stars that round her burn, - And all the planets in their turn - Confirm the story as they roll, - And spread the truth from pole to pole". - -Yes, in wild and silent lands, God seems very near. It was in a country -like this that the immortal poet Lord Byron wrote much of his best -poetry. And no bolder song did he ever pen than Loch-na-garr. Near -here many of his ancestors--the Gordons--were laid to rest after the -fatal field of Culloden. In one verse he says-- - - "Ill-starred, though brave, did no vision foreboding - Tell you that fate had forsaken your cause? - Ah! were ye then destined to die at Culloden, - Though victory crown'd not your fall with applause. - Still were ye happy in death's earthly slumbers, - You rest with your clan in the caves of Braemar, - The pibroch resounds to the piper's loud numbers - Your deeds to the echoes of wild Loch-na-garr." - -No wonder that, wandering amidst such soul-enthralling scenery, arrayed -in the tartan of his clan, or thinking of the happy days of his boyhood, -years and years afterwards he said as he sighed-- - - "England, thy beauties are tame and domestic - To one who has roam'd on the mountains afar! - Oh! for the crags that are wild and majestic, - The steep frowning glories of dark Loch-na-garr." - - -But Frank Trelawney was a guest at Glenvoie, and, imbued with that -spirit of hospitality for which Highlanders are so famous, the boys -M'Vayne would have bitten their tongue through and through rather than -say one disparaging word about England. - -Nor was there any need, for tame and domestic though its scenery is, the -whole history of the country, even before the Union, teems with deeds of -derring-do, done by her brave sons, on many and many a blood-drenched -field of battle. - -As for Frank himself, he seemed not only to settle down to his life in -the wilds in less than a week, but to become quite enthusiastic over -"Scotland's hills and Scotland's dells"; and he was not slow in -reminding his 42nd cousins that he too had a drop of real Highland blood -in his veins. - -"We'll soon make a man of you, dear boy," said the Laird one evening. -"Now, myself, and my lads, with Vike and a setter, are going after the -white hares to-morrow, and if you think yourself strong enough, we shall -take you." - -"Oh, I feel strong enough now for anything," replied Frank laughing. - -"Mind it is terribly hard work; but there is a little snow on the -ground, and we'll be able to track the hares easily." - -"I don't think that Frank should go, Ronald," put in Mrs. M'Vayne; "the -boy is far indeed from hardy, and it may exhaust him quite. You'll stay -at home with me, won't you, Frank?" - -"Yes, aunt, if you bid me, but--" He hesitated. - -"Oh!" cried Duncan, "that 'but' turns the scale, mother. Don't you ask -him to stay, mother. All Englishmen have pluck if they haven't all -strength. So Frank is coming." - -The morning was very bright and beautiful, with just a slight "scriffen" -of snow on the ground, and the sun rose over the eastern hills in a -blue-gray haze, like a ball of crimson fire, and intimated his intention -of shining all day long. - -Duncan and Conal were up betimes, and had got everything in readiness -long before Frank came down. - -A sturdy keeper would carry the bags and the luncheon they should -partake of on the hill. - -But the young Englishman was full of life and go. After a hearty -breakfast they started; Flora standing in the porch waving her hand to -them, but with tears of sorrow in her eyes because she too was not -allowed to go. - -Viking was daft with joy, feathering round and round in wide circles, -and now and then turning Dash, the Gordon setter, over on his back in -the snow. - -They passed the forest, now leafless and bare, and taking to the right, -the ground soon began to rise. - -The sheep under the charge of a plaided shepherd and his dog, were busy -scratching away the snow to feed on grass and succulent mosses--a cold -kind of breakfast, to say the least of it. - -The ground rose and rose. - -The dogs were kept well to heel, for indeed their services were but -little needed. - -Ha! here are hare-tracks! - -"Take the front, Frank," said the laird; "you are the guest, and must -have the first blood." - -Frank's heart beat high with excitement, and he carried the gun low with -a finger on the trigger. - -"Hurrah! there she tips!" - -Bang! and a white hare that had essayed crossing from one broom-bush to -another, was tumbled; then off darted Viking and brought her in. - -"Capital shot!" said Duncan. "Now we'll spread, and it will be every -one for himself, and Viking and Dash for us all." - -They lay out in skirmishing order, and marched on and up. - -But soon they had to force their way through heather that came up even -to the laird's and the tall keeper's waists, and all but buried little -Frank. - -He held his gun aloft, however, and struggled bravely on. - -In about a quarter of an hour they had emerged, and the boys were -shaking the snow from their kilts. - -On and up. Why, it was always on and up. - -They marched all that forenoon, sometimes around rocky spurs and paps of -the mountains, sometimes along bare and barren glens, sometimes along -the edges of fearful precipices, where a single slip or false step would -have meant a terrible accident. - -By the time they had reached the cliffy shelter of a very high hill, -they had bagged eight white hares in all. - -And now it was noon, and though the frost was fairly hard, the exercise -had warmed their life-blood, and they felt no cold. - -Hunger, though? Ah! yes, but that could speedily be appeased. - -Plaids were spread on the ground, and down they all sat, the dogs not -far off, and I'm sure that the keeper, sturdy chiel though he was, felt -glad to be lightened of his load. - -What a jolly meal that was to be sure! With her own lady fingers the -laird's wife had made that splendid pie. Pie for five and almost enough -for fifty. But then, of course, there were the honest dogs to be -considered, and they easily disposed of all that was left. - -Bread--that is, real oatcakes--cheese, and butter followed. - -The boys washed all down with a flagon of milk, but in the interests of -truth, I must add that the laird and his keeper had a modest glass or -two of Highland whisky. - -And now, after yarning for about half an hour, sport was resumed. - -Farther up the hillsides they still went, and so on and on for two whole -hours. - -It had been a grand day, but as the sun was now declining towards the -blue blue ocean, the laird called a halt. - -"I think, boys," he said, "we've done enough, and as we are nearly ten -miles from home we had better be retracing our steps. Donald has as -many hares as he can carry. Haven't you, Donald?" - -"Och! well, it's nothing," was the reply. "And it's all down-hill now -you'll mind, sir." - -"Yes. Well, lead the way, Donald." - -Donald did. - -For one of the party, and that was Frank, the journey was a terrible -one. On the upward march there was all the excitement of the sport to -keep him up. But now he had no such stimulant to stir his English blood. - -When still three miles from Glenvoie mansion-house, Duncan observed that -he was very pale and limped most painfully. In fact the poor boy's -ankles were swollen, and his toes felt like whitlows; but although so -tired that he could hardly carry his gun, that indomitable English -courage of his kept him from complaining. - -He confessed, however, feeling just a little tired, so the laird poured -a small quantity of whisky into a measure, mixed it with snow, and made -him swallow it. - -After this he felt better. - -When they arrived at the top of the very lower-most and lost hill, the -house being but half a mile distant, they sat down for a short time to -rest and gaze across the sea. - -The sun's lower limb had just touched the wester-most wave, and red and -fiery gleamed his beams 'twixt horizon and shore. It was a beautiful -sight. - -Many flocks of rooks were winging their way northwards to the shelter of -the great forest, and now and then a string of wild ducks were seen in -full flight towards the tall reeds that bordered an ice-bound lake. - -Slowly sank the sun, the waves seemed to wash up across its blood-red -surface, and gradually, so gradually, engulfed the whole. - - "And the sun's last rosy rays did fade - Into twilight soft and dim." - - ---- - -Frank Trelawney was indeed glad when he found himself once more in his -own room. The man brought water, and with Highland courtesy insisted on -bathing his feet. - -He next hurried away for a cup of delicious coffee, after swallowing -which Frank felt like a giant refreshed, and soon went down into the -drawing-room. - -He was still pale, however, for the terrible fatigue had temporarily -affected the heart. - -Little Flora was not slow to note this. - -"Oh, cousin," she said, "how white and tired-looking you are! You -shouldn't have gone. You're only a poor little English boy, you know." - -Frank liked the child's sympathy, but he certainly did not feel -flattered by the last sentence. - -"That's all," he mustered courage to say. "I'm only a poor Cockney lad, -and I think, Flora, I've had enough white-hare shooting to last me for a -very long time. When next your father and brothers go after game of this -sort, I'll stay at home and make love to you." - -Frank, however, was as well as could be next day, and after a cold bath -went hungrily down to breakfast. - -The day was as still and bright as ever, and it was to be spent upon the -loch. - -Curling--which might be called a kind of gigantic game of billiards on -the ice--was to be engaged in. A party was coming from a neighbouring -parish, and a strong club was to meet them. - -At this most splendid "roaring" game there is no class distinction; lord -and laird, parson and peasant, all play side by side, all are equal, and -all feed together, ay, and partake of Highland usquebaugh together also. - -Well, the laird's party were victorious, and all were invited up to -Glenvoie house, to partake of an excellent dinner, laid out in the barn. - -But the barn was beautifully clean, and along its wall, among -evergreens, was placed many a bright cluster of candles. - -The silver and crystal sparkled on the snow-white table-cloth, and that -huge joint of hot corn-beef and carrots--the curlers' dinner _par -excellence_--was partaken of with great gusto. - -Bread and cheese and whisky followed this, then the minister returned -thanks, and this was followed by more whisky, with song after song. - - "Roof and rafters a' did dirl." - - -It was not till near to the "wee short 'oor ayont the twal" that the -party broke up, and all departed for their distant homes, on horseback -or in traps. - -Did I say "all departed"? What an awkward thing it is to be possessed -of a conscience! I have one which, whenever I deviate in the slightest -degree from the straight lines of truth, brings me up with a round turn. - -Well, _all_ did not depart, for the corn-beef--let us say--had flown to -the legs and to the heads of half a dozen jolly fellows at least, and -they determined that they wouldn't go home till morning. - -So they had some more toddy, sang "Auld Lang Syne", and then retreating -to the rear of the barn, curled up amongst the straw and were soon fast -asleep. - -So ended the great curling match of Glenvoie. - - - - -CHAPTER V.--A HIGHLAND BLIZZARD--THE LOST SHEEP AND SHEPHERD. - - -It must not be supposed for a single moment that although the boys -M'Vayne liked fun and adventure in their own wild land, just as you or I -or any other boys do, reader, their education was neglected. Quite the -reverse, in fact. For at the time our tale commences, both had just -returned from the High School of Edinburgh, where they had studied with -honour, and carried off many prizes. - -One of Duncan's pet studies had been and still was--navigation. Not -only of a theoretical kind, but thoroughly practical. - -He had long since made up his mind to become a sailor, and he had left -no stone unturned to learn the noble art of seamanship. - -For this purpose he had prevailed upon his father to let him take -several cruises in a barque plying between Leith and Hull. So earnest -was Duncan, and so willing was both skipper and mate of this craft to -teach him, that in a very short time he was not only up to every rope -and stay, but could take both the latitude and longitude as well as -could be desired. - -He did all he could to put his brother up to the ropes also. - -They were very fond of each other, these two lads, and it was the -earnest desire of both that they should not be parted. - -Well, all the stories they read were of the "ocean wild and wide", and -all the poetry they loved had the sound of the sea in it. - -Such poetry and such tales Duncan would often read to his brother and -winsome wee Florie sitting high on a hilltop, perhaps, on some fine -summer's day with the great Atlantic spreading away and away from the -shore beneath them to the distant horizon. - -Dibdin's splendid and racy songs, redolent as they are of the brine and -the breeze, were great favourites. - -But I do think there is a thread of romance in the life of every sailor. -Nay, more, I believe that it is this very romance that first induces -young fellows to tempt the billows, although they are but little likely -to find a life on the ocean wave quite all that their fancy painted. -Talking personally, I am of opinion that it was _Tom Cringle's Log_ that -first gave me an idea of going to sea. Well, I do not regret it. - -Byron's _Corsair_ was a great favourite with the boys. Indeed, I rather -think that they both would have liked to become corsairs or dashing -pirates. And little Flora would gladly have gone with them. - -"Heigho!" she sighed one day when Duncan had closed the book. "Heigho! -I wish I had been a boy. I think it was very foolish of the Good Man to -make me a girl, when he knew well enough I wanted to be a boy." - -The poor child did not know how irreverent was such talk. - -Honest Vike used to lie by Duncan's side while he was reading, with one -huge heavy paw placed over the boy's knee. - -But it must have been monotonous for him; and often his head fell on the -extended foot, and he went off to sleep outright. - -No sooner was the reading ended, however, than Vike awoke, as full of -life as a spring-born kitten. Then his game began. He used to loosen a -huge boulder and send it rolling down the hill. As it gained force, it -split up into twenty pieces or more, and bombarded everything it came -across. Vike just stood and barked. But once, when a flying piece of -the boulder killed a hare, the noble Newfoundland dashed down the hill -at tremendous speed, and seized his quarry. - -He came slowly up with it, and laid it solemnly down at Duncan's feet. - -This was all very well; but one day, when the boys and Flora sat down -about half-way up a hill, Viking, tired of the reading, found his way to -the hilltop, and, as usual, loosened a boulder, and started it. - -Thump, thump, rattle, rattle, rush! Fully a dozen great stones came -down on our heroes in a cloud of dust, and with the force of an -avalanche. The danger was certainly great, but it was all over before -they could fully realize it. - -Duncan hastily drew his whistle, and at its call the innocent dog -instantly ceased working at another boulder he was busily engaged -loosening, and came galloping down the hill. - -Poor fellow! I dare say he deserved a scolding, but so full of life and -happiness was he, that Duncan had not the heart to speak harshly to him. -Only care was taken after this that Vike never got higher up the hill -than the reading party. - -Frank had been nearly three weeks at Glenvoie, before he became -initiated into the mysteries of a real Highland snow-storm. Many of my -readers have doubtless been out in such a blizzard, but the majority -have not, and can have but little idea of the fierceness and danger of -it. - -The morning of the 10th of February, 18--, was mild and beautiful. Both -Duncan and his brother had been early astir, and had taken their bath -long before sunrise. - -They went downstairs on tiptoe, as they had no desire to awake their -guest. - -"English boys need a lot of sleep," said Conal. "They're not like you or -me, Duncan." - -"N-no," said his brother; "but I could have done with another hour -myself to-day. But we are Scotsmen, and must show an example. Noblesse -oblige. Well," he added, "we'll have time to run up the hill anyhow, and -see the sun rise." - -So off they went, Vike making all the rocks and braes resound with his -barking. - -It was, indeed, a glorious and beautiful morning, and from their -elevated situation they could see all the wild and romantic country on -every side of them, for daylight was already broadening in the east. To -the west the gray Atlantic ocean, the horizon buried in mist, away to -the south woods and forests. Forests to the north also, while behind -them hills on hills successive rose. - -But the eastern sky was already aglow with clouds of crimson fire and -gold. What artist could paint, what poet describe, such glory? - -Then low towards a wood shines forth a brighter, more fiery gleam than -all, and even at this distance the boys can see the branches, aye, and -even the twigs, of the trees silhouetted against it. - -And that is the sun itself struggling up behind the radiant clouds. - -They stayed but little longer, for by this time breakfast would be -ready, and Frank himself getting up. - -After this meal was discussed, as a light breeze, sufficient to ripple -the stream, had sprung up, the young folks determined to go fishing. - -They took luncheon with them, and spent the whole forenoon on the banks -of the bonnie wimpling burn. - -But so well engaged were they that they did not at first observe that -the sky was becoming rapidly overcast, and that the wind had begun to -wail and moan in the trees of the adjoining forest. It had turned -terribly cold too. - -Duncan became fully alive to his danger now, however, especially when -the tiny millet-seed snow began to fall. - -"Our nearest way is through the wood," said the boy. Duncan was always -pioneer in every danger and in every pleasure. - -"And there is no time to lose," he added. "Florie, I wish you hadn't -come. I suppose Conal and I will have to carry you." - -"I won't be carried," replied the stout-hearted little Scots maiden. "I -daresay you think I'm a child." - -Fishing-tackle was by this time made up, and off they started. - -It was terribly dark and gloomy under the great black-foliaged -pine-trees, but Duncan knew every foot of the way. - -They got through the forest, and out on to the wide moorland, just as -the snow began to fall in earnest. - -This moor was for the most part covered with heather, with broom and -with whins, but dotted over with Scottish pine-trees. These last had -been planted, or rather sown, by the rooks, for the black corbies turn -many a heathery upland in Scotland into waving woods or forests. They -bear the cones away to pick the seeds therefrom on the quiet moors. -Some of these seeds are dropped, and in a short time trees spring up. - -Duncan now took from his pocket a small compass, and studied it for a -moment. - -"We sha'n't be able to see the length of a fishing-rod before us soon," -he said. "Now, I propose steering due south till we strike the old turf -dike[1] that leads across the mountains. By following this downwards we -will be guided straight to the pine-wood rookery behind our house." - - -[] Dike (_Scottice_), a low fence of stone or turf. - - -They commenced to struggle on now in earnest--I might almost say for -dear life's sake--for wilder and wilder blew the blizzard, increasing in -force every minute, and thicker fell the snow. But I was wrong in -saying it fell, for it was carried horizontally along on the wings of -the wind. Not a flake would lie on the hills or bare slopes, but every -dingle and dell and gully, and every rock-side facing westward, was -filled and blocked. - -Duncan held Flora firmly by the hand, for if she got out of sight in -this choking drift, even for a few seconds, her fate would, in all -probability, be that of sweet Lucy Gray--she might ne'er be seen alive -again. - -Frank and Conal were arm-in-arm, their heads well down as they struggled -on and on. - -"Let us keep well together, boys," cried Duncan, as he looked at his -little compass once again. "Cheerily does it, as sailors say." - -Now and then they stopped for breath when they came to a clump of pines. - -Here the noise of the wind overhead was terrific. At its lightest it was -precisely like the roar of a great waterfall. But ever and anon it -would come on in furious squalls, that had in them all the force of a -hurricane, which swept the tree-tops straight out to one side and bent -their giant stems as if they had been but fishing-rods. At every gust -such as this the flakes were broken into ice-dust, with a suffocating -snow fog that, had they not buried their faces in their plaids, would -have choked the party one and all. - -Many of these pines were carried away by the board, snapped near to the -ground, and hurled earthwards with the force of the blast. - -Long before they reached the fence of turf, called in Scotland, as I -have said, a dike, Flora was completely exhausted, and had to submit to -be carried on Duncan's sturdy back. - -Frank was but little better off, but he would not give in. - -At last they reached the dike. - -"Heaven be praised!" cried Duncan. "And now we shall rest just a short -time and then start on and down. Cheer up, lads, we will manage now." - -Flora descended from her brother's back, and he sat down on the turf, -and took her on his knee. - -But where was Vike? - -Surely he had not deserted them! - -No, for a dog of this breed is faithful unto death. - -But now a strange kind of somnolence began to take possession of the -boys. - -Duncan himself could not resist its power, far less his companions. - -"Let us be going, lads," he cried more than once, but he did not move. - -He seemed to be unable to lift a limb, and at last he heard the howling -of the wind only like sunlit waves breaking on a far-off sandy beach. - -He nodded--his chin fell on his breast--he was dreaming. - -Ah! but it is from a sleep like this that men, overtaken in a -snow-storm, never, never arise. They simply - - "Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking, - Morn of toil, nor night of waking". - - -In a few minutes, however, Duncan starts. The sound of a dog's voice -falls on his ear. Ah! there is no bark in all broad Scotland so -sonorous and so sincere as that of honest Vike. - -Wowff! Wowff! Wowff!! - -There is joy in it, too, for he has found the boys--ah! more than that, -he has brought relief, and here are the sturdy kilted keeper and two -farm hands, ready to help them safely home. The keeper has a flask, and -all must taste--even Florie, who is hardly yet awake. - -How pleasant looked the fire in the fine old dining-hall when, after -dressing, the boys came below. - -And Glenvoie himself was laughing now, and as he shook Frank's hand, he -could not help saying: - -"Well, my lad, and how do you like a Highland snow-storm?" - -"Ah!" said Frank, laughing in turn, "a little of it goes a long way. I -don't want any more Highland snow-storm, thank you--not for Frank!" - -The gale seemed to be increasing rather than abating, and it kept on all -that night, and for two nights and two days more. - -Then it fell calm. - -"I trust in Heaven," said M'Vayne, "that Sandie, our shepherd, has -reached the shelter of some hut, but I fear the worst. The sheep may be -buried, but they will survive; but without food poor Sandie cannot have -withstood the brunt of that awful blizzard. - -"Boys," he continued, "I shall start at once on a search, and the keeper -will come with me." - -"And we too." - -"Wowff! wowff!" barked Vike, as much as to say, "You'd be poorly off -without my assistance." - -It was a lovely forenoon now, with a clear sky, but not as much wind as -would suffice to lift one feathery flake. - -They meant to find the shepherd, but it was his hard-frozen corpse they -expected to dig out of a snow-drift. - - - - -CHAPTER VI.--"THE BREATH OF GOD WAS OVER ALL THE LAND." - - -There were two huts on the moorland, one in the open, another close -against a ridge of rocks, and in one or other poor Sandie would surely -have found shelter. - -So to the first they bent their footsteps. It stood with its back to -the east, and on the west it was entirely covered with great banks of -snow, some of them shaped like waves on the sea-shore, that are just on -the eve of breaking. - -It took the keeper and two men nearly an hour to break through the -barrier and find the doorway. - -They could see nothing when they opened it, for all were partially -snow-blind. - -But they groped around, and called the shepherd by name; then convinced -that he was not there, dead or alive, they came sadly away, and joined -the group outside. - -There was still the other hut to be examined, and this was a good mile -higher up the hill. - -Thither, therefore, the party now wended their way, but so completely -covered up did they find it, that another long hour of hard work was -spent in reaching the doorway. - -Like the last which they had explored, it was cold, dark, and deserted. - -No one had any hope now of finding Sandie alive, but after a hurried -luncheon they spread themselves out across the hill and moor somewhat -after the fashion of skirmishers, and the ground was thoroughly -searched. - -But all in vain. - -No frozen corpse was found. - -They were about to return now sorrowfully homewards, when high up the -hill and at the foot of a semi-lunar patch of rocks--an upheaval that -had taken place probably millions of years ago--Vike was noticed, and -his movements attracted the attention of all. - -He was yap-yapping as if in great grief, tearing up the snow at the foot -of a mighty drift and casting it behind him and over him. - -A pure white dog was the Newfoundland at present, so laden was his coat -with the powdery drift. - -"Come on, men, come on," cried Glenvoie, "there yet is hope! The good -dog scents something in spite or the snow. It may only be sheep, and -yet poor dead frozen Sandie may be amongst them." - -It took them but a few minutes to reach the cliff and the huge snowdrift -that covered its western side. It was then that Duncan remembered -something about these rocks. - -"Why, father," he said, "now that I think of it, this is Prince -Charlie's cave." - -"You are right, lad, and my hopes are certainly in the ascendant." - -"Conal and I have often been inside, and there is room enough inside to -shelter a flock of sheep, or a regiment of soldiers." - -"Now then, lads," cried the laird, "work away with a will. I'll take -care you don't lose by it." - -He handed them his flask as he spoke, and thus refreshed by the wine of -their native land, they did work, and with a will too. - -But hard work it was, from the fact that the snow was loose and powdery. - -But at long, long last they reached the mouth of the cave. - -And now a curious spectacle was witnessed, for to the number of at least -a hundred, and headed by a huge curly-horned ram, with a chorus of -baa-a-ing, out rushed the imprisoned sheep, kicking and leaping with joy -to see once more the light of day. - -Behind them came the shepherd's bawsont-faced collie Korran. But after -licking Vike's ear he rushed back once more into the cave, and the -rescuers quickly lighting a fire with some withered grass, found the -body of the shepherd with Korran standing over it. Was he dead? - -That had yet to be seen. They carried him out, and placing him on -plaids, began to rub his face with snow and chafe his cold, hard hands. - -In less than ten minutes Sandie opened his wondering eyes. - -He could swallow now, and a restorative was administered. - -I need scarcely say that this restorative was Highland whisky. - -After about half an hour Sandie was able not only to eat and talk but to -walk. - -His story was a very brief one. He had, with the assistance of Korran, -driven the sheep into the cave, and never dreaming that he would be -snowed up, and remained with them for a time. Alas! it was a long time -for the poor fellow and his faithful dog! - -Two days and two nights without food and only snow to keep body and soul -together. And the cold--oh, so intense! - -"How did you feel?" asked Frank. - -The shepherd hadn't "a much English", as he phrased it, but he answered -as best he could. - -"Och, and och! then, my laddie, she was glad the koorich (sheep) was -safe, and she didna thinkit a much aboot hersel. But she prayed and she -prayed, and then she joost fell asleep, and the Lord of Hosts tookit a -care of her." - -Well, this honest shepherd was certainly imbued with the sincere and -beautiful faith of the early Covenanters, but, after all, who shall dare -to say that there is no efficacy in real prayer. Not in the prayers -that are said, but in the prayers that are prayed. - - ---- - -Well, spring returned at last. Soft blew the winds from off the western -sea; all the hills were clad in green; the woods burst into bud and -leaf; in their darkest thickets the wild doves' croodle was heard, -droning a kind of bass to the mad, merry lilt of the chaffie, the daft -song of the mavis, or low sweet fluting of the mellow-voiced blackbird. - -But abroad on the moors the orange-scented thorny whins, resplendent, -hugged the ground, and here the rose-linnets built and sang, while high -above, fluttering against some fleecy cloudlet, laverocks (larks) -innumerable could be heard and dimly seen. - -Oh it was a beautiful time, and the breath of God seemed over all the -land. - -Frank Trelawney had adopted, not only all the methods of life of his -Scots 42nd cousins, but even their diet. - -Almost from the date of his arrival he had taken a shower-bath or -sponge-bath before breakfast, and this breakfast was for the most part -good oatmeal porridge, with the sweetest of butter and freshest of milk. - -Now that spring had really come, he went every morning with Duncan and -Conal to a big brown pool in the woodland stream. So deep was it that -they could take headers without the slightest danger of knocking a hole -in the gravel bottom of the "pot". Having towelled down and dressed -rapidly, they ran all the way home. - -This new and healthful plan of living soon told for good on the -constitution of the London lad. His muscles grew harder and stronger, -roses came on his cheeks, and he was as happy and gay as Viking himself, -and that is saying a deal. - -Many a long ramble did he and little Flora now take together through the -woods and wilds, for he did not care to go boating or sea-fishing with -the others every day. - -Vike always accompanied the two. This certainly was not because he -disliked the sea. On the contrary, he loved it. Whenever the boat came -within a quarter of a mile of the beach he always sprang overboard and -swam the rest of the way. - -Arrived on shore he shook gallons of water out of his coat. If you had -been standing between the dog and the sun, you would have seen him -enveloped in bright little rainbows, which were very pretty; but if -anywhere alongside of him, then you would have required to go straight -home and change your clothing, for Viking would have drenched you to the -skin if not quite through it. - -But I suppose that this grand and wise Newfoundland thought the London -boy and little Flo had more need of his protection. - -Ah! many and many a day and night after this, when far away at sea or -wandering in wild lands, did Frank think of these delightful rambles -with his little companion. Think of them, ay, and dream of them too. - -Often they were protracted till-- - - ... "The moonbeams were bright - O'er river and forest, o'er mountain and lea". - - -Some poet of olden times--I forget his name--tells us that "pity is akin -to love". Well, Flora began by pitying this "poor little London boy", -as she always called him, even to his face, but quite sympathizingly, -and she ended, ere yet the summer was in its prime, by liking him very -much indeed. To say that she loved him would, of course, be a phrase -misapplied, for Flora was only a child. - - ---- - -With June, and all its floral and sylvan joys, came shoals of herring -from the far north, and busy indeed were the boatmen catching them. - -Glenvoie lay some distance back from a great sweep of a bay, at each end -of which was a bold and rocky headland. - -Few of the herring boats really belonged to this bay, but they all used -often to run in here, and after arranging their nets, they set sail for -their mighty draughts of fishes. - -Duncan and Conal were always welcome, because they assisted right -willingly and merrily at the work. - -The boats were very large, and all open in the centre--the well, this -space was called--and with a cuddy, or small living and cooking room, -both fore and aft. - -It used to be rough work, this herring fishing, and not over cleanly, -but the boys always put on the oldest clothes they had, with waterproof -leggings, oil-skin hats, and sou'westers. - -They would be out sometimes for two days and nights. - -The beauty of the scenery, looking towards the land at the sunset hour, -it would be impossible for pen or pencil to do justice to. The smooth -sea, with its patches of crimson, opal, or orange, the white sands of -the bay, the dark, frowning headlands, the dark greenery of the shaggy -woods and forests, and the rugged hills towering high against the -eastern horizon; the whole made a picture that a Turner only could have -conveyed to canvas. - -The dolphin is--from a poet's point of view--a very interesting animal, -with an air of romance about him. Dolphins are said to be of a very -joyous temperament. Well, perhaps; but they are, nevertheless, about the -worst enemies those hardy, northern, herring-fishery men have to -encounter. - -They come in shoals after the herrings, and go "slick" through the nets, -carrying great pieces away on their ungainly bodies. And the boatmen -can do nothing to protect their silvery harvest. - -Once, while our young heroes were on board one of the largest and best -of the boats, it came on to blow off the land--not simply a gale of -wind, but something near akin to a hurricane. They were driven out to -sea about sundown, and Duncan and Conal could never forget the -sufferings of that fearful night. - -After trying in vain to beat to windward, they put up the helm--narrowly -escaping broaching-to--and ran before it. - -But all through the darkness, and until the gray and uncertain light of -day broke slowly over the storm-tossed ocean, the seas were continually -breaking over the sturdy boat, and everyone was drenched to the skin. -It might have been said, with truth, that she was swamped, so full of -water was the well. - -The great waves were now visible enough, each with its yellow sides and -its foaming mane. It seemed, indeed, that the ocean was stirred up to -its very bottom, and when down in the trough of the seas, with those -"combers" threatening far above, with truth might it have been said that -the waves were mountains high. - -All the nets were lost, but no lives. - -About noon the wind veered round to the west, and all sail was set, and -the boat steered for land; but so far into the Atlantic had they been -driven that it was sunrise next morning before they succeeded in -reaching the bay. - -And there sad news awaited them. - -There would be mourning widows and weeping children, for two bonnie -boats had perished with all their brave crews. - -Well, there is danger in every calling, but far more, I think, in that -of the northern fisherman than in any other. - -But how doubly dear to him is life on shore, when he reaches his little -white-washed cottage, after a successful run, and meets his smiling wife -and happy children, who run to greet their daddy home from sea. - - ---- - -Summer was already on the wane, and July nights were getting longer. -Frank must soon seek once more his London home. - -But he was healthier, stronger, happier now, by far and away, than when -he first arrived at Glenvoie. - -Ah! but the parting with everyone, but especially with bonnie young -Flora, would be sad and sad indeed. - -One morning, about a week before Frank was to leave for the south, -Duncan came into his room. - -"You and I and Conal are going up the hill to-day," he said, "all by -ourselves, and I have something to propose which I feel sure you will be -glad to approve of." - -"All right!" said Frank. - -So after breakfast the three boys slipped away to the hills, without -telling anyone what they were after. - -A council was to be held. - - - - -CHAPTER VII.--THE PARTING COMES AT LAST. - - -If Duncan M'Vayne were a mere imaginary hero, I should not take credit -for any virtue that in him lay, but I don't mind telling you, reader, -that very few of the heroes of my stories are altogether creations of my -fairly fertile brain. Like most sailor-men who have seen a vast deal of -the world, I have so much truth to tell that it would be downright -foolish to fall back upon fiction for some time yet. - -And so I am not ashamed to say that Duncan was one of those _rara -aves_--boys who think. I do not care to study the characters of boys -who are not just a little bit out of the common run. Ordinary boys are -as common as sand-martins in an old gravel-pit, and they are not worth -writing about. - -Well brought up as he had been, so far away in the lonesome wilds of the -Scottish Highlands, and having few companions save his brother and -parents, it is but little wonder that he dearly loved his father and -mother. To tell the whole truth, the affection felt by Scottish boys -towards their parents is very real and sincere indeed. It is a love -that most assuredly passes the knowledge of southerners, and in saying -so I am most sincere. - -Well, neither he, Duncan, nor Conal either could help knowing that of -late years circumstances connected with the estate of Glenvoie had -become rather straitened, and although obliged to keep up a good show, -as I may term it, his father was far indeed from being wealthy at the -present time. The estate was not a large one certainly, but it would -have been big enough to live well upon, had the shootings let as well as -they did long ago. - -Is it any wonder that talking together about their future, as they -frequently did before going to sleep, Duncan and Conal used often to ask -each other the question, "How best can we be of some use to Daddy?" And -it was indeed a difficult one to answer. - -Both lads had already all the "schooling" they needed to enable them to -make a sturdy fight with or against the world, but the idea of going as -clerks or shopmen to a city like Glasgow or even Edinburgh was utterly -repulsive to their feelings. - -They were sons of a proud Highland chief, although a poor one. Alas! -how often poverty and pride are to be seen, arm in arm, in bonnie -Scotland. But anyhow, they were M'Vaynes. Besides, the wild country in -which they had spent most of their lives until now, had imbued them with -romance. - -Is that to be wondered at? Did not romance dwell everywhere around -them? Did they not breathe it in the very air that blew from off the -mountains, and over the heathery moorlands? Did it not live in the dark -waving pine forests, and in the very cliffs that overhung the leaden -lakes, cliffs whereon the eagle had his eyry? Was it not heard in the -roar of the cataract, and seen in the foaming rapids of streams that -chafed its every boulder obstructing their passage to yonder ocean wild -and wide? Yes, and Duncan was proud of that romance, and proud too, -with a pride that is unknown in England of the grand story of his -never-conquered country. - -And so we cannot be astonished to find the three lads sitting together, -in solemn conclave, on a bright summer's forenoon, far away on a green -brae that overlooked Glenvoie. - -Indeed, they had come here seriously to discuss their future. - -Viking was lying close to Duncan with his great loving lump of a head on -the boy's lap. - -"You see," Duncan was saying, "it is precious hard for lads like us, who -haven't any money to get a kind of a start in the world. If we could -only get a beginning, I feel certain we should need no more. But our -father is poor, Frank!" - -"Heigho!" sighed Frank, "and so, alas! is mine." - -"I know," continued Duncan, "that he would scrape the needful together -somehow if we asked him. He could not sell any portion of the estate, -because it is entailed, but I know that father would try hard to raise -enough money to send Conal and me to sea as apprentices." - -"And you really think you'll go to sea?" said Frank. - -"As certain as sunrise, Frank. Mind I don't expect to find things quite -so rosy as books paint them, but to sea I go for all that, and so will -Conal." - -"And so will I," cried Frank determinedly. "For my father is poorer far -than yours. But I won't go before the mast, as I think you mean to." - -"No?" - -"No! because I have an uncle who has already promised to give me a -little lift in life, and I haven't got so much Highland pride as you, so -I'll ask him to apprentice me. - -"I wonder," he added, "if dear old Captain Talbot would have me?" - -"Oh," cried Duncan, "I had entirely forgotten. I have a letter from -Talbot. He has given up the coasting trade, and is now in the -Mediterranean, sailing betwixt London and Italy, a merchant ship, and -I'm sure he will be glad to take you. He'll be back at the port of -London in September. Why, Frank, old man, you're in luck. - -"And as for Conal and I, we shall go before the mast." - -"I'm sorry for you, boys." - -"But you needn't be. Not the slightest wee bit. Many an officer in the -merchant service, ay, and in the Royal Navy as well, has entered through -the hawsehole." - -"That means risen from the ranks, doesn't it?" - -"Something very like it." - -"Well," said Conal, "is it all arranged?" - -"I think so," replied Duncan. "And the sooner we set about putting our -resolves into force the better, I think." - -Then he sighed as he bent down and gave poor Vike's honest head a good -hug, and I'm not sure there wasn't a tear in his eye as he said: - -"Poor Vike! your master is going away where he can't take you. But -you'll be good, won't you, till we come back again, and look well after -your little mistress, Flora. I know you will, doggie." - -If ever grief was depicted in a dog's looks, and we know it often is, -you might have seen it in Viking's now. I do not mean to say that he -knew all his master said. He was too young for that, but he could tell -from the mere intonation of Duncan's voice that grief was in store for -all. - - ---- - -Chief M'Vayne was much averse at first to his sons becoming mere boys -before the mast, but Duncan and Conal were determined, and so he came -round at last and gave his consent. - -I am going to say just as little as I can about the parting. Partings -are painful to write about. - -Not only the boys but M'Vayne himself were heroic. It does not do for -clansmen to show weakness, but the mother's tears fell thick and fast, -and poor Flora was to be pitied. - -It was the first cloud of sorrow that had fallen upon her young life, -and she felt desolate in the extreme. She believed she would never -survive it. She would have no pleasure or joy now in wandering over the -hills and through the forests dark and wild. - -"I will pray for you both." These were about the last words she said. - -"And for me too, Florie," said Frank sadly. - -"Oh, yes, and for you." - -Then he kissed her. - -For the first time--wondering to himself, if it would be the last. - -He had gotten a pretty little ring for her, with blue stones and an -anchor on it. And of this she was very proud. - -"Mind," he said, "you're a sailor's sweetheart now." - -Then they mounted the trap that was to drive them to the nearest -station, and away they went, waving hands and handkerchiefs, of course, -until a bend in the road and a few pine-trees shut the dear old home -from their view. - - BOOK II. - - THE CRUISE OF THE _FLORA M'VAYNE._ - - - - -CHAPTER I.--THE TERRORS OF THE OCEAN. - - -Long months have passed away since that sad parting at Glenvoie; a -parting that seemed to raise our young heroes at once from the careless -happiness of boyhood to the serious earnestness of man's estate. - -They had stayed in town until Captain Talbot arrived. He was just the -same brave and jolly sailor that Duncan had first known. - -Would he take Frank as his apprentice? - -Why, he would be glad to have the whole three. They were so bold and -bright, there was not the least fear of their not getting on. - -Wouldn't they come? His present ship was not so large as he would like -it to be, but he would make shift somehow. - -But Duncan, while he thanked him, was firm. - -"Well," said Talbot, "I'll tell you what I'll do for you, for somehow I -have acquired a liking for you all Frank here, then, shall come with me, -not as an apprentice belonging to the owners, but as a friend who wishes -to get well up in seamanship and eventually pass even for -master-mariner. You see, Frank, you will be rated as apprentice to me, -and not to the company, else they would hold you to the same ship for -years. And my reason is this: in about a year or a little over, I -shall, please God, have a ship of my own. It is to be a great project, -but I am promised assistance, and many of the savants in London say the -project is well worthy of the greatest success. I shall voyage first to -the Antarctic regions, and come home with a paying voyage of oil and -skins of the sea-elephants, and this shall smooth my way to exploring -further south than any ship has yet reached. - -"So you see, Duncan, as you and your brother will not be bound to any -tie as regards apprenticeship, you can both sail with me to the South -Pole, and who knows but you may yet become the Nansens of the -Antarctic." - -"Too good to be true," said Duncan laughing; "but I'm just determined to -do my best, and no one can do more." - -"Bravo, lad!" cried the colonel, laying his hand on Duncan's shoulder. -"And you remember what the poet says: - - "''T is not in mortals to command success, - But we'll do more...; we'll deserve it'" - - -"Brave words, Colonel Trelawney," cried Talbot. "Why, sir, scraps of -heroic verse have helped me along all through life. I'm a ship-master -now, with a bit in bank. But my first voyage was to the Arctic and I -had hardly clothes enough to keep out the terrible weather. My mother -was a poor widow in Dundee, and I--being determined to go to sea--became -a stowaway. I hid in a coal-bunker, and it came on to blow, so that I -was very nearly killed with the shifting coals that cannonaded against -my ribs. - -"Luckily the storm did not last long, but when they hauled me out at -last I was as black as a chimney-sweep and covered with blood. - -"I was too ill to be lifted and landed at Lerwick. The doctor said I was -dying. The first mate, who was never sober, said, 'Serve the young -beggar right!' But, boys, I knew better. Dundee boys don't die worth -shucks, and so I was on deck in ten days' time. There were two dogs on -board, and my duty was to feed and look after them, and also to assist -the cook. - -"I roughed it, I can tell you, lads; but, Lord bless you, it did me a -power of good. We were out for six months, and by that time I was as -strong as a young mule. How old was I? Oh, not more than sixteen. But -I felt a man. And I could reef and steer now, and splice a rope, and do -all sorts of things. For the bo's'n had taken me in hand, and right -kind he was. - -"Ah! but that rascally mate! A long black, red-cheeked chap he was, and -not a bit like a sailor, but he kept up his spite against me, and, when -half-seas over--which he always was when not completely drunk--he would -let fly at me with a belaying-pin, a marling-spike, or anything else he -could lay his hands on. - -"'Why don't you land him one," said the bo's'n one day, 'right from the -shoulder?' - -"'That would be mutiny, wouldn't it?' said I. - -"'Nonsense, lad, the skipper likes you, and he wouldn't log you for it.' - -"I determined to take the bo's'n's advice next time the drunken mate hit -me. - -"Well, I hadn't long to wait. You see I had come to really love the -dogs under my charge. So one day the mate kicked one of them rather -roughly out of his way. - -"'Don't you dare kick that dog,' I cried; 'they are both in my charge.' - -"How well do I remember that forenoon. We were on the return voyage, -running before a light breeze, with every scrap of canvas set, low and -aloft, and the sun shining bonnie and warm. - -"But the mate grew purple with rage when I checked him. He could hardly -speak. He could only stutter. - -"'You, you beggar's brat,' he shouted, 'I'll give you a lesson.' - -"He rushed to pull out a belaying-pin. - -"I tossed off my jacket and threw it on the top of the capstan. - -"I twisted the belaying-pin out of his hands before you could have said -'knife'. - -"'Fight fair, you drunken scamp!' I cried. - -"Pistols and rifles lay ready loaded in boxes at the top of the cabin -companion, and he made a stride or two as if to take one out. - -"'Mutiny!' he muttered, 'rank mutiny!' - -"I sprang between him and the box, and dealt him a square left-hander -that made him reel. I followed this up with a rib-starter, then with -one on the nose. - -"Down he went, and he actually prayed for mercy. - -"That bulbous nose of his was well tapped, and there was no fear of him -taking apoplexy for a while anyhow. - -"But when I let him up he seemed to lose control of his senses, for the -demon drink was now in the ascendant. He faced me no longer, however, -but rushed for poor, faithful Collie, and before I could prevent it, had -seized and pitched him overboard. - -"The men, untold, rushed to haul the foreyard aback and to lower a boat. - -"But he checked them. - -"'What! lower a boat for a dog?' he cried. - -"'Lower a boat for a man then,' I shouted, 'and just as I was I leapt -upon the bulwark and dived off it. Next minute I was alongside Collie. -Ay, lads, and alongside something else. A huge shark sailed past us, -and passed us so near I could almost have touched him. He must have -been fully fifteen feet long.[1] I knew that nothing but splashing and -shouting could keep him at bay, and I did both as well as I knew how -to.'" - - -[1] The _Scymnus borealis_, or Greenland shark, is often eighteen to -twenty feet in length. - - -"But the boat came quickly to our rescue, and we were soon safe on -board. The skipper liked me, and did not log my mutinous conduct. In -fact he became my friend, and I was apprenticed to his very ship. So I -had many and many a voyage to the Sea of Ice after this. - -"There is a glamour about this weird and wonderful frozen ocean, boys, -that none can resist who have ever been under its bewitching spell. It -is on me now, and this it is which has determined me to seek soon for -adventures in the Antarctic, which very few have ever sought to explore. - -"Now, Duncan and Conal, I'll tell you what I shall do with you. There -is a big Australian ship to sail from Southampton in about a month. The -captain is a personal friend of mine, and will do anything for you. I -shall give you a letter. - -"Mind this, he is strict service, and if you do your duty, as I'm sure -you will, you'll soon have a friend on the quarter-deck." - -Captain Talbot--or Master-mariner Talbot as he liked best to be -called--had been as good as his word, and now our young heroes were far -away at sea. - -The _Ocean's Pride_ was a full-rigged Aberdeen clipper-built vessel, and -could show a pair of clean heels to almost any other ship in the trade. -The skipper and his two mates were all thorough sailors, and gentlemen -at heart. The skipper, whose name was Wilson, soon began to take an -interest in Duncan and Conal, and knowing that they were studying in -their idle moments, invited them to come daily to his own cabin, and -there for a whole hour he used to teach them all he could. - -Duncan could soon be trusted to take sights, and even "lunars", and gave -every evidence of possessing the steadiness and grit that goes so far to -make a thorough British sailor. - -They touched at the Cape in due time, and Conal acted as clerk or -"tally-boy" while cargo was being landed and fresh stock taken on board. - -The boys found time to have a look at the town. They went with one of -the mates who had been often here before. - -Well, the hills all around, clad in their summer coats of dazzling -heaths and geraniums, were quite a sight to see. But the town itself -they voted dismally slow, and so I myself have found it, there being so -many heavy-headed Dutchmen therein. - -They were not a bit sorry, therefore, when they found themselves once -more on the heaving billows. - -And the billows around the Cape of Good Hope do heave too with a -vengeance. - -Such mountain waves Duncan could not have believed existed anywhere. -Tall and raking though she was, the _Ocean's Pride_ was all but buried -when down in the trough of the waves. - -There was but a six-knot breeze when they started to stretch away and -away across that seemingly illimitable ocean betwixt the Cape and -Australia. Oh such a lonesome sea it is, reader! Six thousand miles of -water, water, water, and often never a sign of life in the sky above or -in the sea below. - -There was, as I have said, but a light wind to begin with, and it was -dead astern, so that stunsails were set, and the great ship looked like -some wonderful bird of the main, as she sailed, with her wings -out-spread, eastward and eastward ho! - -But before noon the sky in the west began to darken, and great -rock-shaped or castellated clouds rolled up from the horizon. -Snow-white were they on top, where the sun's rays struck them, but dark -and black below. - -"Snug ship!" was the order now. - -In came the stunsails, the men working right merrily, and singing as -they worked. In came royals and top-gallant sails, and close-reefed -were the topsails. The captain was no coward, but right well he knew -that the storm coming quickly up astern would be no child's play. - -Nor was it. - -A vivid flash of lightning and great-gun thunder first indicated the -approach of the gale. - -Then away in the west a long line of foam was seen approaching. In an -inconceivably short space of time it struck the ship with fearful -violence, and though she sprung forward like a frightened deer and -dipped her prow into a huge wave, she seemed engulfed in raging seas. -The skipper had battened down, but so much water had been taken on board -that the good clipper could not for a time shake herself clear. Perhaps -the shivered bulwarks helped to save the ship. - -In a few minutes she was rushing before the wind at a good twelve knots -an hour. - -"What a blessing it is," said Captain Wilson, "that we got snug in -time!" - -"Yes, sir," said the mate, "and it's an ill wind that blows nobody good. -Why, this gale is all in our favour, and will help us along." - -Our heroes had far from a pleasant time, however, for the next few days. -Then wind and sea went down, and peace reigned once more on the decks, -and in the rigging of the good ship _Ocean's Pride_. - -The splendid cities they visited when the vessel at last arrived in -Australia quite dazzled our boys. And as the English language was -spoken everywhere they felt quite at home. - -Captain Wilson seemed to take a pride in having Duncan and Conal with -him, and he introduced them as friends wherever he went. - -Both lads were handsome, and in the city of Melbourne a rumour got -abroad that they were of noble birth, and were serving before the mast -for the mere romance of the thing. Well, even the Earl of Aberdeen was -once found in the guise of an ordinary seaman; but there was something -more than romance in our heroes' situation. However, the report, which -they always contradicted, did them no harm, and they were invited to -more houses than one, being asked, moreover, to come in their sailor's -clothes. - -The boys obeyed. In fact they had none other, but they had a kind of -best suit, and very well the broad blue collar and black -sailor's-knotted handkerchief became their handsome young faces. - -I don't think I am far wrong in saying that some of the Australian -ladies fell in love with them. - -But that is a mere detail. - -Now, having reached Australia, Duncan had about half a mind, more or -less, to try his luck at the gold diggings. - -He broached the subject to Captain Wilson. - -"Well," replied the skipper, "mind, though I should be grieved to part -with you, I would rather put another spoke in your wheel than hinder -you, if I thought there was the ghost of a chance of your making your -fortune. But I don't think there is." - -"Then we shall be advised by you," said Duncan. - -So after a very pleasant time spent in Australia the _Ocean's Pride_ -spread her wings once more to the breeze and sailed for distant Japan. - -Thence homewards round stormy Cape Horn. It took them six weeks to -weather the Cape, so close was the ice. - -But worse was to befall them, alas! than this. - -They were now bearing up for home. Right cheerily too, for they had -caught the trades, and finally fell into the doldrums in crossing the -equator. - -Here they tumbled about for no less than three weeks, not a breath of -wind blowing all this time to help them along. - -But it came at last, and they were free. - - - - -CHAPTER II.--A FEARFUL EXPERIENCE. - - -Once more the _Ocean's Pride_ was spanking along before a delightful -breeze with the dark blue sea sparkling in the sunlight around her, and -Mother Carey's chickens, as sailors call the stormy petrels, flitting -past and re-past her stern. - -Seamen say these birds are always the forerunners of storm and tempest. -This is not so, but in this case the prophecy turned out to be a correct -one. A fearful hurricane or tornado struck the ship, and raged for days -and days. - -There was no such thing as battling against it. So it ended in their -being driven far away to the west into unknown or little frequented -seas. I am wrong in saying it ended. For the end was of a far more -terrible nature than anything I ever heard of before, or ever -experienced. - -On the fourth day the tempest seemed almost played out, and the sky was -brightening somewhat in the east. - -The skipper was rubbing his hands and saying to his mate: - -"I think we shall be able to shake a reef out before long." - -"So do I," was the cheery answer. - -Both the young fellows M'Vayne were below at present, and the vessel was -battened down. - -"Oh, look, look!" cried the mate, seizing the skipper by the arm and -pointing fearfully towards the east. - -"Good Lord preserve us!" said Captain Wilson in terror. - -And well he might be so, for yonder, quite blotting out the clear strip -of sky, a huge wave or bore had arisen. It was of semi-lunar shape, and -must have been fifty feet high at the very least. The top all along was -one mass of foam. - -Nearer and nearer it came! - -The sailor men crouched in fear, or hastened to make themselves fast by -ropes' ends to rigging or shroud. - -And now the fine vessel is struck--is wallowing in the midst of that -hurricane-tossed turmoil of waters--is on her beam-ends, without any -apparent hope of recovery. - -But recover she did after a time, and the ocean wave swept on. - -What a wreck! The half-drowned men, or those who were left alive, -gasped for breath as they stared wildly around. Two masts gone by the -boards, only the pitiful foremast left standing; every boat staved and -washed away, bulwarks gaping like sheep hurdles, and the poop crushed -in. - -And the officers where were they? Gone! - -Yes--and my story is told from the life and the death--not only bold -Captain Wilson himself but both his mates had been swept overboard and -drowned. - -Five men were missing; nor had all escaped down below. The cook was -severely injured, and but for the presence of mind and speed of two -ordinary seamen, the ship would have caught fire, for the blazing coals -had been dashed out of the range and ignited ropes and twine that lay -not far off. - -And poor Duncan! He had been dashed to leeward and so stunned that his -brother and a sailor who had picked him up, believed him to be dead. - -For three days he lay unconscious, but in two more days he was to all -appearance himself again. - -Although suffering from a bad scalp wound, he was able to go on deck. - -And sad indeed was the sight he now beheld. With the binnacle washed -away, without an officer to guide or direct the vessel; and the men, in -almost hourly expectation of death should the wind spring up again once -more, had allowed the ship to drift with the current. They were -helpless, ay, and hopeless. - -And I am sorry to add that many of them had found their way to the -spirit room, and were lying on deck drunk and asleep. - -Duncan now proved himself the right man--or boy, for he was but little -over seventeen--in the right place. - -He called the hands aft. - -"Men," he said, "we cannot continue in this state; some effort must be -made to save our lives and the valuable cargo." - -"Ah! young sir," said the bo's'n sadly, "all our officers are dead. -There is no one to guide or navigate the ship. We must drift on till we -strike reef or rock and so go to pieces. - -"Never fear, sir, we'll die like true-born Britons." - -"But," cried Duncan, "there need be no dying about it. I myself can -navigate the ship, if sextant and chronometer still are safe." - -They crowded round this brave though youthful navigator and shook him by -the hand, while tears of joy streamed down many a sea-browned -weather-beaten cheek. - -"Can you, sir? Oh, can you? Then take charge and we will obey." - -Luckily the rudder and wheel were uninjured, and as soon as he had taken -sights and found out where he was, he had a jib and new foresails set, -the helm was put up, and slowly the _Ocean's Pride_ began to sail for -the nearest land. - -This was one of the Azores. Very far away indeed, but still Duncan -hoped to reach it ere long and in safety. - -The young fellow's orders followed each other quickly enough, and were -obeyed with great alacrity. - -The spirit-room was locked, and an armed sentry placed over it. He was -to bludgeon any man who should dare to approach it with intent. - -Several of the worst cases of drunkards he put in irons. - -Then all hands were told off to temporarily repair the ship. - -The poop was mended and made water-tight, and the bulwarks roughly seen -to. This occupied a whole day, and as soon as daylight succeeded -darkness the busy crew were at work once more. - -There were several spare spars on board, and the men now set about -rigging a couple of jury-masts, which, though only carrying fore-and-aft -sails, would greatly add to the good ship's speed. - -But more than this had to be done, for she had shipped quite a deal of -water, and the donkey-engine had to be repaired and rigged to get clear -of it. - -While work was going on cheerily enough a poor drink-demented wretch, -who had escaped from below, rushed wildly up, and sprang with a shriek, -that none who heard it ever forgot, right into the sea. - -There was not a boat to lower, and small use would it have been anyhow, -for those who looked fearfully over the bulwarks saw but a red circle on -the waves, and rising bubbles. It was the poor man's blood and breath, -for he had been torn down by a shark. - -The other cases recovered, and begged of Duncan not to log them. - -The young acting-commander promised he would not, and they returned to -duty. - -It was a long and a tedious voyage to the Azores, but every one was for -the most part happy now, although still sad when they thought of the -awful catastrophe which had caused such loss of life. - -At the town where the _Ocean's Pride_ at last lay at anchor, additional -repairs were made, and in due time Duncan sailed with a fair wind for -England's shore. - -It was the month of July when the ship was once more lying alongside the -quay, and hearing of her terrible adventures the people crowded down in -hundreds, and would have crowded on board, too, had not Duncan given -strict orders that no one should cross the gangway, except on business. - -This did not prevent reporters from getting over the side, however, and -although Duncan was very reticent, the whole town was soon ringing with -his praise. - -But the owners were still more delighted. The cargo was valued at fully -five-and-twenty thousand pounds, and the young navigator had saved it -all. - -A meeting was held at which it was unanimously agreed to present Duncan -with the very handsome sum of one thousand, and his brother, who had -been but little less active than himself, with five hundred. - -Duncan was indeed a happy young fellow now. But his good luck did not -end here, for on the fourth day of the arrival of the _Ocean's Pride_, -who should step on board but jolly Captain Talbot himself, and, neatly -dressed in the uniform of a ship's apprentice, Frank walked alongside of -him--on his port beam in fact. - -That was a real happy meeting, as a Yankee would say. - -Surely Frank never looked better nor more manly. He had lost all the -looks of the "tender-foot", and was well coloured and hardy. - -And Talbot himself was as usual bronzed and jolly. The honest grip that -he gave Duncan's hand showed, too, that he was hearty and strong as -ever. It was not a few fingers that this bold sailor presented to a -friend, but the whole hand. - -"And how are you, my brick of a boy? But I needn't ask when I look into -those bright eyes of yours. Ay, and I've heard of your clever doings -too. Do you see the papers?" - -"I haven't much time just at present," replied Duncan, "nor has Conal -here either." - -"Ah, Conal, right glad to see you! But do you know that your brother is -a hero? Why, all the newspapers from Land's End to John o' Groats are -singing his praises!" - -"It won't make a bit of difference to Duncan, sir," said Conal, somewhat -proudly. - -"But really, Captain Talbot"--this from Duncan himself--"I don't know -what I should have done without Conal. But come into the saloon, sir, -such as it is, for we were terribly knocked about." - -"Yes, and it surprises me that you have got things so ship-shape again -as you have. You've heard from your daddy?" - -"Ay, and Florie too, and I'm going to run down for a spell as soon as I -can get paid off." - -"And I'll go with you, and Frank here as well. Won't you, lad?" - -"Like a hundredweight of gunpowder, sir, with a spark put to it." - -"And now, sir, sit down; I have half an hour to spare. Steward, bring -the wine and biscuits. And how goes the project, Captain Talbot?" - -"Getting on splendidly. I've formed a company, and nearly all the -shares are sold, but really 'twixt you and me and the binnacle, boys, -I've kept the most myself." - -"Well," cried Conal laughing, "I and my brother are men of vast wealth -now--ahem!--we shall have all that is left." - -"No, you mustn't part with all your doubloons. Just half. The other -shall be put in a bank as a kind of nest-egg, don't you see?" - -"Very well," said Duncan, "we always did take your advice, and so we -will now." - -"That's right! Old Ben Talbot never gave a boy bad counsel yet." - -"And the ship, sir?" - -"Well, the ship's a barque, and a beauty she is. About eight hundred -tons, and although not quite a clipper, she'll make up in strength what -she'll lack in speed. - -"A whaler she was," he continued, "but we have given her a rare -cleaning. She's as sweet now as a nut. Double-skinned is she, and the -bows all between the bends are solid teak, shod in front with iron. But -you shall see her as soon as we haul out of dock." - -"I'm taking two mates; both have passed and own certificates. You, -Duncan, shall be acting third mate, and Conal I'll rate as auxiliary. -You haven't neglected your studies, have you?" - -"No, sir, and both myself and Conal mean to go in for our first exam, as -soon as we get to London." - -"Bravo! But I won't hinder you longer. Frank shall stay on with you a -bit, and I expect you all to come and dine with me to-night at my hotel. -Can you?" - -"All but me," said Conal. This wasn't quite grammatical, but it was -truth. "One of us must be ship-keeper." - -"That's right. Never shirk your duty for anyone or anything. Do you -remember the eulogy on Tom Bowling--when stark and stiff?" - -And the pure and manly voice in which Talbot sang a verse of Dibdin's -celebrated song, proved that, though this true sailor was over fifty, he -was as hale and strong and hearty as many young fellows of twenty. Ay, -and ten times more so, for at the present time thousands of lads ruin -their health at schools--_and not from study either_. - - "His form was of the manliest beauty; - His heart was kind and soft; - Faithful below he did his duty, - And now he's gone aloft." - - -Talbot was going, and Duncan was seeing him across the gangway. - -"Oh, by the by," he said, still retaining his old friend's hand, "I'm a -perfect fool." - -"No, no, Duncan; there are other folks' opinions to be taken on that -subject." - -"But I was actually going to let you away without even asking the name -of your ship." - -"Say our ship, my lad." - -"Well, our ship." - -"And you'd never guess her name, but your dear wee tot of a sister -christened her, and the barque's name is the _Flora M'Vayne_." - -"Well, I am pleased." - -"To-night, then; six o'clock to a tick." - -And away went the jolly skipper. - - - - -CHAPTER III.--BOUND FOR SOUTHERN SEAS OF ICE. - - -Frank and Duncan spent a very happy evening indeed with their friend -Talbot. - -Without the aid of wine either, which no one with youth on his side -should require to make him gay. But I do not mind telling you that the -old skipper himself had a drop of the "rosy" as he called it. And the -"rosy" meant rum, aromatic, and of great age. - -Well, there was quite a deal to talk about; they told each other their -adventures, and they spoke also of their future prospects, and the -cruise of the _Flora M'Vayne_. - -"She will be furnished and fitted complete," the captain said. "We -shall make sure enough of the sea elephants, but I'm going to tap a -whale or two also, if I don't find elephants enough. And, bother me, -Conal," he added, "I don't see any reason why you shouldn't write a book -about our cruise." - -It was long past ten before the merry little meeting broke up. This -isn't late for land-lubbers, but with sailors it is different. "Early -to bed when on shore" is their motto. - - ---- - -It was early in August--only the first week, in fact--when the boys and -their captain found themselves back once more at Glenvoie. The colonel -had expressed a wish to run down with them, but he had to defer it, -owing to the surly way in which his liver asserted itself. - -They found everything very much in the same state as when they left it, -only Florie was now fourteen, and far more demure. - -It is Burns who says: - - "In Heaven itself I'll ask nae mair, - Than just a Highland welcome". - - -And a true Highland welcome they had. There were no tears shed except -some of joy, which trickled over the somewhat pale cheeks of Mrs. -M'Vayne herself when she noted how manly her boys had grown. - -Frank hadn't grown an inch. Nor did he want to. You do not require very -tall or leggy men as sailors. But the young fellow's heart was in the -right place, and he was even more full of genuine fun and humour than -ever. - -But if we talk about a Highland welcome, what shall I term that which -poor Vike accorded to Duncan and Conal, and in a lesser degree to Frank. -Lucky it was that the meeting took place out-of-doors. - -Had it been inside, this splendid Newfoundland would undoubtedly have -knocked down tables, and demolished crockery in his mad glee. - -As it was, he contented himself with knocking first Duncan and then -Conal down, and licking their faces and hair as they lay, helpless, on -their backs. - -Then, laughing down both sides, as it seemed, with white teeth flashing -and hair afloat behind him, he set out for a circular spin by way of -getting rid of his superfluous feelings. For the time being indeed he -had really resolved himself into a kind of hairy hurricane or tornado. -But he gradually became calmer, and when he entered the house at last, -where dinner was already laid, he threw himself down by Duncan's side -with a sort of sixty-pounder sigh, as much as to say: - -"I'm the happiest dog in Scotland, for I thought I'd never, never see my -master again. And now that I have got him I mean to stick to him." - -And he kept to that determination too, for nowhere would he sleep that -night except in the boys' room. - - ---- - -All the dear old rambles over moorland and mountain and through the dark -depths of the forest, were resumed next day, and kept up for over a -week. I do not mean to describe these happy days, for soon indeed must -we sail far, far away to wilder scenes, and our adventures will be more -exciting than any that ever our heroes had in the romantic Highlands. - -Florie was still Frank's innocent little sweetheart. So he told her, at -all events, as he made her a present of a lovely locket with his own -portrait in it and a copy also of hers. - -Not that Frank was proud of his phiz. Oh, no; for in fact no one would -have called him a real beauty, nor say his features were altogether -regular. - -But he had eyes that sparkled with the radiance of health, and his face -changed in expression with almost every sentence he uttered. - -He would have made an excellent actor. He had been told so more than -once, and his answer was: "Well, I shall turn an actor when all the seas -run dry". - -And now having bidden farewell to Glenvoie, our heroes had to lie at -Dundee for a whole week finishing the fitting-out of the good ship -_Flora M'Vayne_. It was really a tiresome time, for the constant -arrivals of visitors to see the ship and the crew that were about to -embark on so long and so perilous a voyage was incessant all day long. - -Nobody, therefore, was sorry to hear the last cheer that arose from an -assembled multitude, although it was a right kindly one, and though -prayers and blessings followed the barque. - -That same evening they were far away from the eastern coast, for this -was a lee shore, and they were wise to have a good offing before making -direct for the south. - -The barque might have been called somewhat clumsy, but nevertheless she -carried a splendid spread of canvas, and sailed remarkably close to the -wind. - -Captain Talbot had told Duncan that he had made the _Flora M'Vayne_ as -sweet as a nut, and certainly he had done so. No one to walk her decks -could ever have guessed she had been a greasy, grimy blubber-hunter not -so long ago. - -Why, everything on deck looked as bright and as clean as a brand-new -sovereign. The quarter-deck was as white as wheaten straw, the binnacle -was an ornament, that would have looked excellently well in the best of -drawing-rooms. The brass and hard-wood work were as bright as silver, -every rope's end was coiled on deck, as if the barque had been an -old-fashioned man-o'-war, and the men were all suitably dressed and -tidy. The bo's'n was a most particular man, and, although some men -chewed tobacco, to have expectorated anywhere on deck, would have been -an offence for which a rope's-ending would be well merited. - -The galley was of the newest type; so, too, was the donkey engine, and -this would be used at sea when very far from land for the purpose of -condensing water. - -All told, the mustered crew were eight-and-thirty. The men forward had -been picked by Talbot himself, and every one of them had been to the -Arctic regions more than once. - -They were therefore good ice-men, and neither frost nor cold was likely -to have any terrors for them. Nor the great green waves of far southern -lands, that somehow always sing in the frosty air as they sweep past a -vessel's sides. - -But there was something else on board which I should draw especial -attention to, and this was nothing less than a huge balloon. It was not -filled, of course, but the means to inflate it were all on board, and -having reached the great Antarctic ice-wall or barrier, the captain -meant to make an aerial voyage of discovery, farther to the south than -any traveller had ever been before. - -There is nothing I love better than acts of daring and wild adventure, -and Talbot was certainly to be commended on this score. - -His balloon was certainly not anything like the size of Andree's, yet it -was capable of rising and floating for an indefinite period with three -men, and provisions for as many months. - -A special house had been built for this great uninflated balloon between -the fore and main masts, and on each side, bottom upwards, lay the -whalers, or boats with bows at each end, and steered by an oar only. -These were to be used in the fishery. - -The ship's ballast was water-filled tanks, and tanks laden with coals. -But Talbot hoped to return to Scottish or English shores with ballast of -quite a different sort, and better paying--oil, to wit. - -The _Flora M'Vayne_ was to touch nowhere on her voyage out until she -reached the Cape. That at least was the good skipper's intention, but -circumstances alter cases, as will presently be seen. - -They had fine weather all the way till far past the dreaded Bay of -Biscay. On this occasion two boys in a dinghy might have crossed it. -But it is not to be supposed that they could go on for a very long time -without encountering what Jack calls dirty weather. And so when, in -about the latitude of Lisbon, and to the east of the Azores, it came on -to blow, no one was a bit surprised. - -"We'll have a gale, mate," said the captain; "but though abeam, or -rather on the bow, we have plenty of sea-room; and on the whole I -sha'n't be sorry, for I really want to see how the _Flora_ behaves." - -The wind, even as he spoke, began to roar more wildly through the -rigging, but in gusts or squalls, that at times rose for a few minutes -to almost hurricane pitch. - -Before the storm had come on many beautiful gulls had been screaming -around the barque and diving for morsels of food that Frank was throwing -to them, but now they disappeared. Back they flew to the rocks that -frown over the waters of their sea-girt homes. Little dark chips of -stormy petrels, however, continued to dash from wave-top to wave-top, -and for once in a way, they brought tempest. - -But the ship was now eased, for the lurid sun was setting, and a dark -and moonless night must follow. The men were hardly down from aloft when -the storm seemed to increase, but it blew more steadily, so she was kept -away a point or two, and now went dancing over the heavy seas as if she -imagined she was the best clipper ever built. - -A little heavy-headed she proved, however, so that she shipped a good -deal of water over the bows, otherwise the thumping, thudding, buffeting -waves seemed to make not the slightest impression on her. - -The chief cabin or dining-saloon was down below, there being no poop, -but a flush-deck all along. Both Frank and Duncan were off duty, and, -seated in this small but comfortable saloon, the former could not help -remarking on the strange feeling and sound of each heavy wave that -struck the ship abeam. She appeared to be hit by a huge, soft -boxing-glove, about a thousand times as large as any we ever use. - -Immediately after there was the whishing sound of water on the deck, but -although the vessel was heeled over somewhat by every awful blow, she -took no other notice. - -"Batter away, old Neptune," the barque seemed to say; "it amuses you, -and it doesn't hurt me in the slightest." - -About two bells in the first watch, Talbot came below, and supper was -ordered. - -His face was radiant, but shining with wet. The steward, however, -assisted him out of his oil-skins and sou'wester, then, having wiped his -face with his pocket-handkerchief, he sat down. - -"Well," said Duncan, "Frank and I are waiting to hear the verdict." - -"Why, it is this," said the skipper. "The barque is a duck, and well -deserves the name of _Flora M'Vayne_. I don't believe a hurricane could -hurt her, and she'll chuck the small icebergs on one side of her as I -should chuck a cricket-ball. And ain't I hungry just. Sit in, boys. -It's all night in with you lads, isn't it?" - -"Not quite," said Duncan. "I kept the last dog-watch, and don't go on -again till four." - -Viking got up and seated himself by his well-beloved master's side. - -He licked Duncan's hand, as much as to say, "When you go on deck so -shall I." - -But his master seemed to divine his thoughts. - -"No, my good dog," he said, "you must stay below to-night, else the seas -would sweep you off, and what should I do then?" - -After supper Frank got out his fiddle and played for fully half an hour, -then he and Duncan, who both occupied the same state-room, retired. - -As a sailor always sleeps most soundly when the wind blows high, and he -is really "rock'd in the cradle of the deep", it is almost unnecessary -to say that these lads dropped soundly off almost as soon as their heads -touched the pillows. - -Nor did they awake until eight bells at the end of the darksome middle -watch, when Conal came down to call them. - -"Oil-skins, Conal?" - -"Ay, Duncan, and you'll need them too. Better lock Vike in your cabin." - -"That is what I mean to do." - -Poor Viking did not half like it though. There is no dog in the world -makes a better sailor's companion when far away at sea than a -Newfoundland, and I speak from experience. But such dogs do not -appreciate danger sufficiently high, nor have they good enough sea-legs -to face a storm and walk the deck of a heaving ship. Therefore they -often get washed into the lee scuppers. - -On the present occasion Vike made up his mind to be as naughty a dog as -he could. - -"I shall wake the skipper," he told Duncan, speaking through the -key-hole as it were. "Wowff!" he barked. "Wowff! wowff! What do you -think of that?" - -Well, the sound could certainly be heard high over the roaring of the -wind and the dash of angry waves. - -The captain heard it in his dreams; but it takes more than the barking -of a dog to awake a sailor born. So Talbot just hitched himself round, -and went off to sleep on the other tack. - -By breakfast time both wind and sea had gone down, and there was every -expectation of fine weather once again. - -"No damage done is there, mate?" said Talbot to Morgan. - -"No, sir, nothing worth speaking about. Some of the coal tanks got a -drop o' water in them, that's all." - -"Well, that will make them last the longer. But, mind you, Morgan, I'm -rather pleased than otherwise that we've had that blow." - -"So am I." - -"It just shows what the barque can do." - -"That's it. If she is as good against the ice as she is against a -sea-way, then, by my song, sir, she'll take us safely to the Antarctic, -and just as safely back home again. Pass the sugar, sir." - - - - -CHAPTER IV.--ON THE WINGS OF THE WIND. - - -"Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching." So runs a line of the old -Yankee war-song. - -Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys (Duncan and Frank) were treading the deck -that forenoon, talking, as sailors do, about anything or everything that -suggested itself. And two subjects that always came to the front on such -occasions were home life and their life on the ocean wave. - -"So you thoroughly like the sea?" said Duncan. - -"Well, Duncan, I never thoroughly liked anything, you know, but I think -I love a sea-life better than most sorts of existence, with the -exception, of course, of wandering over the hills of old Glenvoie; -bird-nesting in the forests, or fishing in its beautiful streams. Only -the sea has its drawbacks." - -"Yes." - -"Yes, for I do think it a nuisance to have to get up at all hours of the -night to keep watch--blowing or calm. I always feel I should be willing -to give five years of my life for another two hours' sleep, when the -fellow shakes me by the shoulder and says, 'Eight bells, sir, if you -please'. Just as if it would not be eight bells whether I pleased or -not. Then, neither the tommy nor tack is quite up to shore standard, -and one could do well enough without cockroaches about a foot and a half -long--more or less--between his sheets, weevils in his biscuits, and -spiders roasted and ground up with his coffee. The tea is always -sea-sick too, and hens' milk[1] isn't the best, especially if the eggs -be old and decrepit. But I won't grumble, Duncan." - -[1] An egg or two beaten up with water. Used at sea when no milk is to -be had. - -"No, I wouldn't, if I were you. Sailors never do." - -"And now you're laughing at me." - -"That's nothing, Frank; one may live a long time after being laughed -at." - -"Well, come along below, and I'll play you something that will make the -tear-drops trickle down that old-fashioned Scotch nose of yours." - -"Wouldn't you rather hear the wild and martial strains of the bagpipes, -my little Cockney cousin?" - -"Oh, yes," answered Frank punnily, but standing well beyond the reach of -Duncan's swinger of an arm. "I dearly love the bagpipes when--" - -He hesitated. - -"When what?" cried Duncan. - -"When they're o'er the hills and far awa'." - -Then Frank made a bolt for the companion-ladder. - -It was high time, too. - -Well, when Frank Trelawney had that fiddle of his under his bit of a -Cockney chin, all his troubles, if, indeed, he had any that could be -called real, were forgotten, including weevils, hard tack, cockroaches, -and all. For the time being, indeed, there was no one else in the world -save he himself and the violin. And what worlds of romance and love and -beauty were thus conjured up before him! - -But even at the risk of differing from Frank, I think a sailor's -pleasures, if he is one who calls at many and different ports, far -outbalance any grievances he may have to growl about--short of -shipwreck. What though the biscuit be hard, and one's bed like the -biscuit! The wholesome healthy appetite one possesses, both for biscuit -and sleep, makes up for all that; and one ought to be happy if he isn't. - -But one chief enjoyment in a sailor's existence lies in visiting so many -different lands, and seeing life in every form and shape. He cannot -help being an anthropologist, and studying mankind. Not, mind you, that -he lays himself out for that sort of thing; for sailors, especially -young fellows, take the world as it comes, the rough with the smooth, or -rather alternately, only always forgetting the rough while they revel in -the smooth. But there must always be an element of comedy in Jack's -delights, and when he goes on shore, take my word for it, "Jack's alive, -and full of fun". - -I am happy to say that drinking is much in the decrease both in the -royal navy and merchant service. Why, even since I myself can -remember--and I'm not a very aged individual--our blue-jackets were like -babies, and if not in charge of an officer when on shore, would forget -themselves, and come on board limp enough, with black eyes and broken -heads, and garments drenched in gore. - -Jack in those days really paid for his pint in more ways than one, for -if he escaped the dangers of the shore, riot and wretchedness, the -thieves and the female harpies who lay in wait to cheat and rob him, the -day after coming off was for him a day of sadness and mourning. - -If able to stand, he had to go on duty. Perhaps he had no more brains -than a frozen turnip; perhaps his head felt so big that he borrowed a -shoe-horn to put on his hat, nevertheless he was drilled on deck just -all the same, and it took him four days probably to recover his appetite -and equilibrium. - - ---- - -There was every appearance now that the _Flora M'Vayne_ would have a -pleasant voyage. - -Talbot was kind to his fellows, and a rattling good crew they made. So, -although they passed Madeira and the Canary Islands to the west, they -looked in at Santiago, one of the largest in the group of Cape de Verde -Islands. - -Three days were spent here, and they managed to secure some really good -water. It was only the distilled they used at sea, and this, to say the -least of it, is always somewhat vapourish. - -The men had leave, and behaved fairly well, returning sober and with -many curios, which they hoped to take home to their sweethearts and -wives, and also laden with fruit of many kinds, all of which is good for -the health of the sailor. - -Plenty of fruit was also secured for the saloon, so they put to sea -again in capital heart and spirits. - -One little incident is perhaps worth noting. A huge bunch of bananas -was hung up to ripen against the saloon bulkhead. That was right -enough; but when a venomous little snake--slender in form and about the -colour of hedge-sparrow's egg--popped out his head and neck, and -whispered angrily at Conal, then Conal called his comrades, and a court -of inquiry was held. It was believed to be the best plan to take the -bunch of bananas on deck by means of a blacksmith's tongs, and shake it -over the sea. - -But that beautiful green demon of the jungle thought perhaps that he did -not merit the honour of a sailor's grave, so he popped out and skipped -gaily into Duncan's cabin. - -"Here's a pretty go," said Conal; "and I should be sorry to sleep in -that state-room until the reptile is found." - -So a search was instituted instanter, and a dangerous one it was. But -wherever it had taken refuge that snake could not be found. - -The young fellows took rugs on deck that night, and slept on the planks. - -Theirs was the forenoon watch, and when turning out to keep it, lo! that -little green demon glided quietly out from Conal's very bosom, and went -leaping and rolling along the deck, aft, finally tumbling down the -skylight and on to the table where the captain was lingering over his -breakfast. - -For more than a week that snake--known to be one of the most poisonous -there is--was the terror of the ship. He was in entire command fore and -aft, and the skipper was nowhere. The awful, though lovely thing, -appeared in so many places, moreover, that it was believed to be -ubiquitous. Sometimes it would glide out of a sea-boot or a sou'wester -hat. It was twice found in the sleeve of an oilskin-jacket, once it -curled up for the night with Viking, and once in the pocket of the man -at the wheel. - -This sailor had dived his hand into the outside pocket of his coat to -find his "baccy", when, instead of this, he felt the cold -wriggling-wriggling thing; he gave a whoop like a Somali Indian with six -inches of square-0 gin in his stomach! The scream started the snake -from his lair, and he went girdling along the deck and disappeared below -as usual. - -But he was smashed at last and heaved far into the sea. - -Strange to say, Mr. Snakey, as he was called, appeared again all alive -and beautiful next morning. - -"He's the d--l for sartin," said a blue-jacket. "Dead one day and -squirming around the next. Yes, Bill--what else can he be but the d--l, -and maybe just the same bloomin' old snake as tempted Mother Heve in the -Garding of Heden!" - -But this snake was killed next, and there was no more trouble after -this. - -Captain Talbot, however, issued an order that before bananas were again -brought on board the bunches were to be well examined. Or, in doctor's -parlance, when taken, they must be well shaken. - - ---- - -Ascension was their next place of call. It is generally called a rock -in mid-ocean. It is somewhat more than that, being over seven miles in -length and fully six broad. It is hilly, its chief peak being about -three thousand feet in height. - -Well, the _Flora M'Vayne_ was enabled to get coals here anyhow, and they -found the place what I might call semi-garrisoned. Moreover a gun-boat -lay here. The officers of the _Flora_ visited her, and were hospitably -received, and invited to dinner, everyone both afloat and on shore being -anxious to receive news from England, while the papers the _Flora_ had -brought were a sort of godsend. - -The beautiful island of St. Helena did not lie in their direct route, -but Tristan d'Acunha--more than a thousand miles directly south--did, -and here they determined to cast anchor for a spell, and give the -islanders a treat. - -(I have given the ordinary name to this lonesome isle of the ocean, but -correctly, I believe it should be Tristan Da Cunha--pronounced Coon'ya. -It is really a group of three, the chief being about twenty-one miles in -circumference, and having in its centre a very lofty mountain peak more -nearly 8000 feet than 7000 in height.) - -They found about one hundred souls living on this isle. The settlement, -or glen in which they have their habitat, is fairly fertile, and the -ubiquitous Scot is so much in evidence here that the village is called -New Edinburgh. - -It is in reality a republic, and the oldest man is chief or governor. -The cattle and sheep number about two thousand, and belong, of course, -all in common. Well, they are happy enough, and crime is unknown, the -chief reason of this being perhaps that drink is also unknown. - -There were some really very pretty girls here, but when they were -assembled an evening or two after the _Flora's_ arrival in a barn to -listen to the strains of Frank's fiddle, recitations, and songs, those -girls looked laughably quaint in their strange old-fashioned dresses. - -The concert was a great success, and really the skirl of Duncan's -Highland bagpipe as he strode back and fore on the rude stage, quite -brought down the house, to use theatrical parlance. It almost brought -down the barn too, so thrilling and loud was it. Never mind, Duncan -received no less than three hearty encores, and surely that was enough -to please anyone. - -"What a lonely life to lead!" said Conal next day at breakfast. - -"Yes," said Morgan, "and I shouldn't care to get spliced and settle down -here all my life, pretty and all as the girls are." - -"Well, you would live long and be healthy anyhow if you did," said -Captain Talbot. - -The mate laughed as he helped himself to another huge slice of -barracouta. - -"Never mind that, sir. I wouldn't marry and live in Tristan if they -gave me three wives." - -"But aren't these girls shy?" said Frank. "Why, I asked one innocently -enough to give me a kiss, and she blushed like a blood orange." - -"Did she give you the kiss?" asked Morgan mischievously. - -"No, that she didn't, but--I took it." - -The _Flora M'Vayne_ lay here for a whole week, fishing and curing each -catch. - -This was a rare holiday for the islanders, who were the gayest of the -gay all the time. - -One morning a sailor of the crew sought an interview with Captain Talbot -on the quarter-deck. - -"Well, my man?" - -"Well, sir, it's like this. I've fallen in love here with the -slickest-lookin' bit of a lass I ever clapped eyes upon 'twix' here, -sir, and San Domingo; and if you please, capting, I wants to stay here -and marry her right away, and live happy hever arterwards." - -The captain laughed. - -"My good fellow," he said, "I am truly sorry to disappoint you; but you -signed articles for all the cruise, you know, and I fear I can't let you -go. I'd be one hand short, you see." - -"That you would not, sir, for there is Billy Ibsen, as good a seaman, I -believe, as ever 'auled taut a lee main brace, and he'll be 'appy to -exchange." - -"Well then, Smith, if that's the case, and the substitute is suitable, I -mustn't throw any obstacles in your way." - -And so all ended well. Ibsen proved fit, and Smith went on shore. When -the _Flora_ sailed away he was the last man visible, standing on an -eminence waving a red bandanna, with the girl of his choice standing -modestly by his side. - -Little did this island lassie think when the ship hove in sight that it -was bringing her a lover and a husband. - -But although rare at Tristan Da Cunha, the young ladies of that solitary -rock, in the midst of the Atlantic broad and wild, do sometimes count -upon the possibility of such an event, and may be heard singing: - - "He's coming from the north that will marry me, - He's coming from the north, and oh happy I will be, - With a broad-sword by his side and a buckle on his knee, - And I know it, oh, I know it, that he'll marry me". - - -But the Tristan Da Cunha people are moral and good, and although they -have no parson on board they have services on Sunday. As to -marriage--well, the governor does the splicing, and it is considered -quite as binding as if the ceremony had been performed by the Archbishop -of Canterbury. - -Southward now they sailed away in a delightful breeze, and when the sun -was slowly sinking towards the western sea, the weird wee island of -Tristan appeared but as a hazy cloud far away on the northern horizon. - -So strange a place our young heroes had never visited before, and for -many days it seemed but an island of dreamland. - -But that island, readers, is still there amidst its waste of waters, and -it is within the kaleidoscope of events, that some of you may yet visit -its iron-bound and surf-beaten shores. - -Who knows? - - - - -CHAPTER V.--JOHNNIE SHINGLES AND OLD MR. PEN. - - -South, straight south. South as the bird flies. And with a fair and -spanking breeze too. As for birds--once past the rocky and volcanic -island of Diego Alvarez, few indeed bore them company. I believe -anybody might have this rocky place who had a mind to. They found it to -be the home of myriads--clouds, in fact--of gulls of every sort, -including the well-known Cape pigeon, the puffin, the penguin, and -albatross, to say nothing of the cormorant, and that strange, strange -creature on its wondrous wings, that lives in the sky most of its time, -and even goes to sleep as it soars high above the clouds--the -frigate-bird. - -They went near enough to the island to witness one of the strangest -sights in nature--the bird-laden rocks. There was little chance of -landing on the island itself, owing to the terrible surf that beats for -ever and aye around the cliffs; but Ibsen, who turned out to be a real -handy fellow, had been here before, and pointed out to the captain some -rocks in the lee of which a boat could land, and--this being spring in -these regions--soon find enough eggs to keep the crew in food for a -month. His knowledge was taken advantage of, and a boat under his -guidance called away. - -In it went Duncan and Frank. - -What a scene! It beats imagination. Tier after tier on the rocky -cliffs sat those birds watching their nests and eggs. - -They found a little cove in the tiny islet, and at the head of this the -boat was beached on the dark sand. The ground was everywhere so crowded -with nests that it was with difficulty they could walk amongst them -without doing damage. - -How beautiful they were too! Of every shade of blue and green, with the -strangest of jet-black markings, were most of them. - -But the king penguins did not cohabit with any of the gull families. -They thought themselves far too aristocratic for this, and here, as on -other lonely isles of the great southern ocean, they dwelt in a colony -all by themselves, which must have numbered about one thousand all told. -This colony had footpaths leading down to the shallowest parts of the -shore, whence these droll birds could easily take to the water. - -They are really droll, whether walking, standing, running, or swimming. -They stand quite erect on their sturdy legs, so that a line dropped from -their beaks would almost fall between their broad webbed feet. Wings -they have none, a pair of broad flappers doing duty for these, which -seems to aid considerably their progress in running. But these flappers -are really paddles or oars in the water, and I know of few birds that -can swim so fast or turn so quickly in the sea. - -On the arrival of the boat's crew there was a general panic among this -community. As regards the male birds, tall as they were, they did not -show a very great amount of courage. - -_Sauve qui peut_ was their motto, and let the females take care of -themselves. Like the pigs in New Testament times, when the cast-out -devils got leave to go into them, they ran headlong down a steep place -into the sea. Their motions as they waddled and scurried along, -oftentimes tumbling over a stone or a tussock heap, were grotesque in -the extreme, and everyone roared with laughter. - -With the exception of little Johnnie Shingles. I'm sure I cannot tell -you how he came to be called Johnnie Shingles, for pet names grow on -board ship just as they do on shore. Johnnie was picked up somewhere -abroad, and was looked upon as part and parcel of the good barque _Flora -M'Vayne_. He was a nigger of purest, blackest breed, probably four feet -four inches high, and in age something between nine and nineteen. Nobody -knew and nobody cared. Johnnie Shingles was just Johnnie Shingles, no -more and no less. Well, he couldn't have been much less. He was very -funny, however, and consequently a favourite with everybody on board, -from Mate Morgan to the monkey. His duty on board was really to be at -the beck and call of all hands, and to clean and feed the pets, -including Viking, the red-tailed gray parrot, and Jim the ape. - -Well, you see, Johnnie was never allowed to land from the boat like any -of the crew, but as soon as he came within reasonable distance of the -shore he was simply thrown overboard, and left to struggle in through -the surf as best he could. - -But Johnnie didn't mind the surf much, and he didn't mind the sharks. -Nor do I think the sharks minded Johnnie. In fact, my knowledge of -sharks generally causes me to come to the conclusion, that they are -somewhat particular in their tastes, and much prefer a white man to a -black. - -Well, at this islet, Johnnie Shingles was as usual pitched ceremoniously -into the water, when about seventy yards from the landing-place. But as -ill-luck would have it he met the whole shoal of male penguins putting -out to sea. These birds are extremely bold and audacious in the water. - -"Hillo!" one of the foremost shouted or seemed to shout, "here goes -another o' them. Let us all pitch into him!" - -And suiting the action to the word they seized poor Johnnie by the seat -of his white ducks and dived with him under the water. Johnnie got up, -but only to be seized by another, while half a dozen at least dabbed and -pecked at him, till, had he been a white boy, he would have been black -and blue. - -I believe that if, in answer to his shrieks the boat had not put back, -and laid those penguins dead with their oars right and left, poor -Johnnie Shingles would have lost the number of his mess. Even after the -angry king penguins had been routed nothing could for a time be seen of -the little nigger boy. But presently up popped a penguin, and close -behind it up popped Johnnie. - -He came up smiling, as prize-fighters say, but he had got that penguin -by the hind-leg all the same, and kick as it would Johnnie held fast -till he and it were landed all alive in the boat. - -Now, I do not know whether that king penguin had a wife and a family of -eggs or not, but if he had he very soon forgot them and settled down to -ship life as if he had been to the manner born. In fact, he became a -general favourite on board owing to his grave and peculiar gait. - -Old Pen, as he was called, became specially attached to Johnnie -Shingles, and stuck to him as Johnnie had clung to him before they were -hauled into the boat. - -As to the penguin's eggs: they lay but two, a big and a bigger. They -are good to eat--scrambled. But I am unable to say whether the king -bird or cock comes out of the big shell, and the hen out of the smaller, -or _vice versa_. - -This particular king had very intelligent eyes, with which he would -stare at one fixedly for a minute at a time with his head on one side. -Indeed, he was always, to all appearance, seeking for information -everywhere, and there was not much on deck that he did not examine. - -The coiled ropes were a source of great amusement to him, and after -unravelling one end he would seize it, and walk straight off with it as -men do with a hawser. When the men were washing down decks, before the -weather got very cold he was never tired examining their naked toes. He -used to straddle quietly up and separate them with his beak as a -starling would. - -If the men jumped and cried "Oh-h!" Old Pen held back his head and -chuckled quietly to himself. - -"I only wanted to know if you were web-footed," he appeared to say. - -Well, if old Pen was grotesque and amusing when dressed only in his own -feathers, he was infinitely more droll when the men dressed him up as a -funny old girl with a black bonnet, a short dark skirt, a shawl, a pair -of frilled white trousers, and a gingham umbrella. - -Old Pen didn't care. If everyone else laughed he only nodded his head -and seemed all the prouder. - -I don't know whether Johnnie or he was the taller, only the grinning wee -nigger used to give the singular old lady an arm, and together they used -to walk up and down the deck in the most comical way imaginable. - -But this was not all, for Johnnie taught her to waltz. - -On board the _Flora_ was a man who could play the clarionet, while -another could bring very sweet music indeed from the guitar. This -really was all the band, with, of course, Frank's fiddle. But very far -indeed was it from bad, and dressed in their Sunday's best, the sailors -used to be invited aft, and during that long, long voyage to the -southern fields and floes of ice, many an evening concert beguiled the -time. - -But if the sailor musicians went aft, Frank often went forward, and it -was on these occasions that old Mrs. Pen, as she was often called, was -trotted out by the curly-polled nigger-boy. It is a misappropriation of -a term to say "trotted out", for certainly there was very little trot -about the quaint old dame. But waltzing just suited her flat feet. -Yes, and there is no doubt that she liked it too. She might be down -below half-asleep before the galley fire, when the fiddle and guitar -began getting into tune with the clarionet; but she now pricked up her -ears at once and presently prepared to negotiate the broad companion -steps or stairs that led to the upper deck. This was always a very -serious matter for the great king penguin. Sometimes he tried to stride -from one step to another, a foot at a time. But this plan was -invariably a failure, so he found it more convenient on the whole to -hop, and his lower limbs were wondrously strong. - -Arrived on deck, Johnnie Shingles was there to meet him, and dress him -as Susie. Then the _he_ became a _she_. - -But the men would be at it by this time, dancing the daftest and wildest -of hornpipes. No chance of their catching cold when so engaged, nor -after, for as soon as they had finished a spell that - - "Put life and mettle in their heels", - -they threw on their heavy jumpers and walked around defiant, enjoying -the daft capers of their shipmates. - -Then Susie and Shingles would appear on the scene arm in arm, the boy -with his round face, his laughing eyes, and his two rows of alabaster -teeth, looking a picture of radiant fun and good humour. - -"Now, Massa Frank," he might cry, "gib me and my ole mudder a nice -d'eamy valtz." - -"A dreamy waltz, eh? Well, you must have it." - -"I must foh shuah, sah. My mudder hab got a soft co'n, and rheumatiz, -and all sorts ob tings." - -There was no laughing about Susie. She took everything in grim earnest, -but, with her chin resting on black Johnnie's shoulder, she evidently -enjoyed both the movement and the melody, sometimes even closing her -eyes. - -Her partner, like herself, was barefooted even in the coldest of -weather; but when once he tramped on Susie's toes, the old lady rewarded -him with a dig on the cheek that made Johnnie howl, and taught him -caution for all time to come. - -Well, what with laughing and dancing, an evening thus spent sped away -very quickly, and was worth a whole bushel of doctor's stuff. There was -no surgeon on board, I may mention parenthetically. The law does not -require such an officer to be carried when the crew, all told, is under -forty men. - -It is really somewhat marvellous that a bird like this big king penguin, -should have taken so soon and so kindly to the company and customs of -human beings; but then the poor bird was exceedingly well-treated, and -whenever fish was served out, Pen was always in the front rank. Ah, -well, it is only one more proof of the truth that _amor vincit -omnia_--love conquers all things. - -Pen was not always dressed as Mother Gamp. No, for he had a really good -outfit, to which the neater-fisted seamen were always adding. So -sometimes he would appear on the quarter-deck as a man-o'-war sailor, at -others as a smart and elegantly-attired artilleryman, with his cap stuck -provokingly on one side, and a little cane under his left arm. - -He was at times dressed as Paul Pry. And on these occasions, as he -stretched his head and neck curiously out in front of him, he really -seemed to say: "I hope I don't intrude". - -Pen was a grand actor. Mr. Toole himself would have been nowhere in it -with Pen. - -Viking at first must have thought the bird something "no canny". He -would start up with a wild "wowff" if Pen came anywhere near him, and -quietly retire. - -The monkey or ape, on the other hand, tried to get up a friendship with -Pen. He would approach him with a peace-offering, crying "Ha! hah! -hah!" which, being interpreted, signifieth, "Take that, old Pen, and eat -it. It will taste in your mouth like butter and honey." As the -peace-offering invariably consisted of a gigantic cockroach about three -inches long, I think it may be doubted whether it tasted as well as the -monkey would have had Pen believe. However, the presentation was kindly -meant. - -This huge monkey's mouth was always crammed with cockroaches. One side -at all events, and that one side stuck out as if he were suffering from -a huge gum-boil. - -The men were somewhat sorry, I think, that they could not teach old Pen -to chew 'baccy, but old Pen drew the line at this. I must, out of -respect for the truth, state, however, that the bird could not be called -a total abstainer, for he dearly loved a piece of "plum-duff" steeped in -rum, and on this questionable delicacy I think he used at times to get -about half seas over. Then he would commence wagging his head and neck -very much from side to side, and indulge in a little song to himself. - -Old Pen was not much of a singer, however, and never could have composed -an opera. In fact his song was partly grunt, partly squeak, and partly -squawk. But it pleased Pen, and that was enough. - -After singing for a short time he would pinch a favourite seaman's leg. -"Kack!" he would say, opening his mouth. This meant "Chuck us another -sop, matie". - -After receiving it he would be off, and take his usual stand near the -galley fire, and begin to wink and wink, and nod and nod, till finally -the lower eyelids would ascend over the beautiful irises, and Pen be -wafted away into dreamland. He wasn't aboard ship any longer. He was -back once more on his own little rocky sea-girt isle, with the gulls and -the cormorants screaming high in the air around. Near him stood Mrs. -Pen, his wife, and near her, and in front, his two youngsters--fluffy, -downy, droll brats, gaping their red mouths to be fed. - -On the whole, I think Pen was a curious bird, and eminently suited for a -sailor's pet. - - - - -CHAPTER VI.--"BACK WATER ALL! FOR LIFE, BOYS, FOR LIFE!" - - -It was summer--strange, weird, and silent summer in the Antarctic Ocean. - -November was wearing to a close. The days were long and sunny; so long, -indeed, that the sun did not trouble himself to go down at all. At -midnight he just made a feint of doing so, and lowered himself towards -the horizon, but thought better of it, and was speedily mounting higher -and higher again every minute. - -A great, cold-looking sun it was, however, a bright and almost rayless -disc of whitest light, that you could look at and even count the spots -thereon. - -The good barque _Flora M'Vayne_ was still ploughing her way through the -dark waters of that southern ocean, and the great glacial barrier was -still far away. They could have told this even by the paucity of bird -life around them. A long-winged frigate-bird went swiftly across the -hawse now and then, and soared away and away towards the few fleecy -clouds that hovered high in air like puffs of gunpowder smoke. - -That mighty eagle of the sea--the albatross--was also a constant -visitor. What a wondrous flight is his! At one moment beating up to -windward, tack and half-tack, yet with a speed almost as great as that -of a swallow, till one can scarcely see him, so far and far away is he; -then, wheeling next moment, down he flashes on the breeze, but more -quickly than any ordinary breeze e'er blew. Not straight before the -wind, however, but with a kind of sidelong rush which brings into full -view the vast outspread of his wondrous wings. - -They were still in the "roaring forties", as that part of the ocean -'twixt the latitude of the Cape and the fifties is called. But what a -wide expanse of ocean is all around them! I have stood spell-bound on -the fore or main-top, not admiring so much as adoring this mighty work -of a mightier Creator: a turmoil of water, water, water in every -direction one can look. And it is not so much the height of the waves -one wonders at--though that is indeed vast--but their tremendous -breadth, the sweep, as it were, between one curling comber and another. -High and of fearful force are the seas in, for example, the Bay of -Biscay during a gale, but they are mere channel chops to these. And -wide though the expanse of these latter, they race each other round the -world with an earnestness, and even fury, that causes one to stand -aghast. - -I wish I had space to describe some of the sunsets our heroes beheld -shortly after leaving the last land. No wonder that Duncan more than -once grasped Frank by the arm, and pointed northward and west at -eventide. - -"Look! Oh, look!" - -It was all he could say. Yet the salt tears almost blinded him as he -spoke. - -"Oh, to be an artist!" exclaimed Frank once. - -"An artist!" cried Duncan, almost scornfully. "What artist would dare to -paint the golden gray and crimson splendour that unites both sea and sky -into one living gorgeous whole? Oh, Frank, even Turner himself, were he -here, would throw down his brush, and confess that he was a mere -caricaturist." - -But in a few weeks' time the sunsets were nil, and all, all was day. - -Nor did it blow so high now. - -Sometimes, indeed, the sea was as calm as a mill-pond, except where -rippled in patches by huge shoals of the fry of certain kinds of fish -that inhabit these seas. - -And these were invariably followed by denizens of the deep that preyed -upon them--dancing, leaping, cooing dolphins, for example. - -Some of these latter were harpooned, and their dark red flesh made an -excellent change of diet from the somewhat salt provisions, eggs, or -penguin flesh. - -Once or twice, while the weather was calm and the surface of the sea -smooth and glassy, they came upon patches of yellow--banks they were, in -fact, over which they were drifting. - -Men were now kept constantly in the chains, and sometimes the danger was -so great that the anchors were let go to wait for even the lightest -breeze. - -This might have delayed the voyage somewhat, but nevertheless it was not -time wholly misspent, for where the bottom is near to the surface fish -are always found in abundance. So boats would be lowered, and real good -hand-line sport enjoyed. - -In this old Pen participated. But the first day he started fishing he -swam so fast and so far away, that those in the boat imagined they would -never see him more. - -Then little Johnnie began to weep. - -"Oh, poll deah Pen! Oh, my ole mudder Sue," he cried. "He done gone -away foh ebbermoh." - -But Johnnie's "weeps" were quite a useless expenditure of lachrymal -fluid. This was evident enough when Pen came racing back again with a -great silvery fish held proudly aloft. He delivered this, and went back -for another. And this again and again, till a breath of wind springing -up, it was deemed advisable to return to the _Flora_, who was "titting" -at her anchor as if eager to be on the wing again. - -That Pen loved the darkie was evident enough, for one day, when bent on -to his line and hauling away with all his might, a huge bonito pulled -the little lad right overboard, the strange bird went grunting and -squawking round him in terrible distress. - -Johnnie's position just then was not an enviable one, for although he -could swim like a herring, there was many a monster shark hovering near -that would have been pleased indeed to make a meal of the boy. - -These sharks were sometimes caught, and although their flesh had no -great flavour, parts of it served sometimes to eke out breakfast or -supper. - -There are dangers innumerable in those Antarctic seas, and one of the -most terrible is that of striking on a sand-bank or running foul of a -sunken rock. These not being on the chart, the navigator has to sail -along literally with his life in his hand, trusting all to blind chance. -A bank does give some evidence before the ship gets on if there is an -outlook in the foretop, and the cry of, "Below there! shoal water -ahead!" is all too common. Next comes the shout of, "Ready about! -Stand by tacks and sheets!" - -But the rock hides its awful head and gives no sign. The ship strikes, -then backward reels, and mayhap sinks before there is time to provision, -water, arm, man, and lower the boats. - -Ice at last. - -But the Antarctic sea was wonderfully open this season, and the ice -loose. - -It lay in streams of small pieces at first, athwart the world, as Jack -termed it; athwart the ship's course, at all events, so these they had -to sail through. The good _Flora_ was strong enough to negotiate them, -but the battering and thumping along the vessel's sides, as heard below, -was tremendous. - -These ice streams became more and more numerous, and the pieces, or -"berglets", got bigger and bigger, and, of course, more fraught with -danger to the ship's vitality. - -It grew appreciably colder too, but so slowly had they come into these -regions of perpetual snow, that the change in temperature had no -detrimental effect upon the health of either the officers or men. - -It certainly had none on old Pen. In fact, the colder it got the more -he seemed to like it. And now when waltzing with Johnnie, he used to -sing in his own droll and dismal way. - -Viking also believed in the cold, and the races and gambols he had up -and down the deck, when he could induce anyone to throw a belaying-pin -for him were wild in the extreme. - -Moreover, he had a football, which Duncan had presented him with, and he -got no end of fun out of this. He threw it in front of him, he hurled -it along in front of him, and swung it about, and one day, when he -fairly tossed it overboard, he made no bother about the matter, but -rushing astern, jumped right overboard after it, quite regardless of the -fact that the ship was going on at the rate of eight knots an hour. - -As quickly as possible she was hove to and a whaler lowered. - -Vike was found quite a quarter of a mile astern--but he had stuck to his -ball. - -He dearly loved it, and, strangely enough, he put it to bed every night -as children do their dolls, covering it carefully up with a corner of -the rug on which he slept. - - ---- - -Icebergs at last. A good thing it was for the _Flora_, that there was -but little wind, for to strike against one of these huge bergs--bigger -many of them were than St. Paul's Cathedral--would have meant certain -destruction. - -Yet although the wind was often but light, a current seemed to run -rapidly enough, and the huge unbroken waves towered high above them, and -more than once they narrowly escaped disaster from a huge berg being -hurled down upon the vessel as if by Titanic force, as she wallowed in -the trough of the sea. - -Even sailing past to leeward of such ice as this took the wind for a -time clean out of the sails. - -Strangely enough, they reached the Antarctic Circle on Christmas day. - -This was a sort of double event. Either would have been celebrated, but -now both events must be rolled into one. - -One would hardly imagine that King Christmas would venture into these -lonely regions, but the old fellow is good-hearted, and where'er on -earth a Briton goes there goes Christmas also. - -Well, with the exception of Johnnie Shingles and the monkey--who, by the -way, had been furnished with a brand-new scarlet flannel jacket to keep -him cosy--there was not a soul on board who had not before leaving home -been presented with a bunch of gay ribbons, by sweetheart or wife, to -help to deck a great garland that was made, and hoisted high aloft and -abaft on this auspicious morning. - -Of course there were no turkeys! - -Alas! there were no geese. - -As for cooking an albatross--well, that has been tried before, and a -more unsatisfactory dish I have never tasted. Fishy, oily, and as for -downright toughness the wife of Beith with her iron teeth could make but -a poor show in front of it. - -But some splendid corn-beef took the place of more civilized dishes both -fore and aft. - -Then there was the pudding. Ah! that indeed! - -And a splendid success this, or these, were. The cook went in that day -for beating all previous records. And it was universally admitted that -he did. - -The _Flora M'Vayne_ was an almost temperate ship, that is, the men had -to content themselves with one glass of rum each _per diem_, man-o'-war -fashion. But on this bright Christmas day there was but little limit or -stint. Only, to everyone's credit be it said, there was no excess. - -The evening, up till two bells (9 o'clock), was spent in games, in -yarning, in dancing, and fun. - -Both Vike and old Pen had dined right heartily, and were in rare form. - -One of the chief dances to-night was the Scots strathspey and reel, and -Duncan had got his bagpipes in order for the occasion, and as he played -the fun grew fast and furious. - -So excited did both Vike and Pen become at last that they must too chime -in, the dog with a high falsetto howl, the bird with double grunt and -squawk, so that Duncan's melody was somewhat interfered with. - -This, however, did not discourage the Scotch portion of the crew. They -only cracked their thumbs, danced the nimbler, and hooched the wilder, -till with the frantic merriment the very sails did shiver. - -It was indeed a joyous night. Vike and Pen, although they had a truly -excellent feed, did not give way to excess, but the monkey being only -one remove from a human being, ate so much pudding and so many nuts and -cockroaches, that he suffered next morning from a violent headache. He -was seen squatting on the capstan, clasping his brow with his left hand, -and looking the very picture of Simian misery. - -Frank took pity on him. - -"I know what will cure you," he said. "I know what a Christmas headache -is; I've been there myself." - -So he bound up the poor beastie's head with a handkerchief wrung out of -ice-cold water, and the monkey felt really better, and was grateful in -consequence. - -For some natural reason or another, they now came into a sea of open -water, and much to the delight and excitement of all hands, sighted a -school of Right whales. - -The main-yard was instantly hauled aback, and all preparations speedily -made to attack one at least of this great shoal. - -I do not suppose that these leviathans of southern polar seas had ever -had their gambols so rudely broken in upon before. - -Three boats were sent against them, each with one experienced harpooner. -The captain commanded one, Morgan another, and the third whaler was -given in charge of brave young Duncan. To tell the truth, he had really -no experience of such "fishing", but the spectioneer that sat beside him -had. - -Surely it was a pity to disturb the enjoyment of those great ungainly -monsters on so glorious a day. Thus thought Conal at all events, for -without doubt the whales had assembled for a real frolic. - -It was a sort of whales' ball. - -Sometimes nothing was seen but the white spray or foam they raised, at -other times their enormous bodies were seen shining silvery in the -summer sun, for in their glee they actively leapt over each other's -backs. - -But the noise they made is indescribable, as they lashed the water with -flippers and tails. - -In the captain's boat only was the harpoon gun, and he alone would fire -it. When a much younger man he had been whaling in the far-off Arctic, -and knew a Right whale from a finner or sperm. - -Yet his was not the newest-fashioned mode of whaling. He used no -explosive shells or bullets, which he looked upon as cruel in the -extreme. I should be sorry indeed to argue the point either pro or con, -for there is cruelty on both sides, but probably less with the shell, -which may cause almost instantaneous death. - -Was Captain Talbot going to attack that school of whales during their -extraordinary gambols? He knew better. Were a whales' ball to take -place in the midst of even a fleet of men-o'-war I should be sorry for -some of the ships. - -But see yonder, ploughing slowly along towards the herd, comes a huge -and solitary leviathan. - -Talbot hastily signals to the mate and to Duncan. The latter takes the -steering oar, and, bidding him be cautious, the spectioneer, his great -whale lance in his hand, goes cautiously forward to the bows, and the -boat is kept on a line parallel to the great beast's course. - -Nearer and nearer creeps the captain's boat. The excitement is intense. -Will the whale dive before he gets close enough, the men are wondering? - -Nearer and still more near. - -Everyone holds his breath. - -"Lie on your oars, men! Still and quiet!" - -The boat drifts a little way further, but the gun is trained. - -Bang! - -The echoes reverberate from every berg, or far or near. The line all -neatly coiled in the bows is whirling out, till the gunwale begins to -fire. But it as speedily stops. - -Grand shot! The monster is struck, and for a few seconds seems stunned, -and lies still on the top of the water. - -The school has dived and disappeared, to come up somewhere again miles -and miles away. - -And now the wounded whale recovers from the shot, and headlong dives, -the line rushing out once again as before. Under way once again is the -boat, but the leviathan now reappears as suddenly as he had sunk. Some -instinct--whether of scent or hearing I cannot tell--causes him to take -the same course as his fellows. - -Mercy on us, how he rips and tears through the black-green water! But -ever and anon he dives, and it is evident his exertions weary him a -little. - -And now the line is all run out, and the boat is taken in charge. The -gunwale is cooled with hastily-drawn buckets of water, and forward she -dashes, so quickly too that a wall of water stands up on each side of -the bows. - -The poor monster is in torment. The chief danger to the boat itself -would lie in the beast swerving aside and diving under a berg, which -would dash the brave whaler to pieces, and kill or drown every man on -board. But he holds his course till, weary at last, he dives once more, -and there remains for fully twenty minutes. - -When he again appears the water around is red with his blood, but he -moves along very slowly now, and the other boats with their lancemen get -abreast and bear up to head him. - -Duncan's is the first to get near enough, and now comes the tug of war. -The whale is sick and weak. - -The harpooner holds up a warning hand. - -"Be all ready to back astern, boys!" - -"Way enough!" - -The lance is driven in full many and many a foot, and with one decisive -twist a great and vital artery is severed. - -"Back water all! For life, boys, for life!" - -For life? Yes, but the men are as cool as if rowing in a regatta on the -Thames. - -"All speed astern!" - -None too soon. - -The blood spouts high as if from a fire-hose, but in awful jets, with -every throb of the giant's heart. There is life in him yet, and while -the red-drenched seamen pull well out of the way, he lashes the ocean's -surface with his tremendous tail, one blow from which would stave in a -torpedo-boat. - -The sound would be heard miles and miles away, were there anyone to -listen to it in these lonesome seas, and--so dies the leviathan. - -The ship gets alongside and bends on her hooks in good time, and while -the body is still hot and steaming, blubber and skin are hoisted up and -up towards the yard-arms, till with its weight the vessel lists and -lists, and it seems as if she would be on her beam-ends. - -Long before the crew is done taking on board all that is valuable, the -sharks have assembled, and are fighting and splashing as they gorge on -their awful feast. - -And when the decks are all clean once more, and the sails again filled, -supper is had fore and aft, and then, but not till then, does Skipper -Talbot order the steward to splice the main-brace. - - - - -CHAPTER VII.--"HERE'S TO THE LOVED ONES AT HOME." - - -Captain Talbot was a brave man, but the ice for the present looked far -too dangerous to venture in through. So he kept "dodging" along the -great barrier-edge or cruising eastwards, and away towards what is known -as Enderby Land. - -Sometimes he encountered a storm, brief but terrible, and dangerous in -the extreme. They saw around them great bergs coming into collision, -their green, towering, wall-like sides dashed together by the force of -wind and waves; heard the thunder of the encounter, and witnessed the -mist and foam as they fell to pieces in a chaos of boiling surf. - -At times dense fog would envelop the whole sea, and then sail had to be -taken in, for the icebergs went floating past and past like mysterious -ghosts. - -But clearer weather prevailed at last, and two more monster whales were -captured. - -Three great leviathans! Nearly a voyage in itself. No wonder that the -spirits of the men rose higher and higher, as they thought of those who -would press them to their hearts on their return home from this -adventuresome cruise. And--happiest thought of all!--they would have -plenty of money to spend on fathers or mothers, wives or children. For -my experience is that so long as they are unallured by the drink demon, -British sailors are not really improvident. - -But the good luck of the _Flora_ did not continue. Talbot had expected -to find sea-elephants in great evidence in these regions. - -They are so called, it will do you no harm to know, reader, first on -account of their immense size and unwieldiness, many of the males -attaining a length of twenty feet or over, and from the fact that they -have a kind of proboscis which, when alarmed or angry, they inflate till -it looks almost like the trunk of an elephant. They are dangerous then, -and, though as a rule peaceable, can give a good account of anyone -daring enough to attempt an attack upon them, armed with the spiked -seal-club alone. - -They usually, however, go further north during the spring or pupping -season, but now having returned, they ought to have been about -somewhere. But they had evidently chosen fresh ground, and Captain -Talbot was unable to find a trace of them. - -He was not easily cast down, however, and taking advantage of a splendid -westerly and north-westerly wind, he daringly set every inch of -canvas--remember it was the long Antarctic day--and flew eastwards on -its wings. - -But his object was not only to get a paying voyage, but to do some good -also to science and to geographical knowledge as well. - -It was the duty of Duncan himself, and of Frank as well, not only to -keep a log, but to enter therein, along with the ship's sailings, -adventures, &c., the temperature of air and water twice a day. - -The vessel again appeared to imagine herself a clipper-built yacht and -to fly along, and by good luck she not only had a fair wind, but a clear -sea, having only now and then to steer away from floating icebergs. - -But now and then a boat was lowered to pick up some unusual form of -seal, that might be observed floating along on a morsel of snow-clad -ice. So tame were these that they only gazed open-mouthed at the -advancing boat, and thus fell an easy prey to the gunner. - -Very few more Right whales were seen, and none captured. - -For a time the course held was about east with a bit of northerly in it, -then on reaching the sixties they bowled along in fine style, and in the -first week in February they were daringly--far too daringly as it turned -out--steering almost directly south through a comparatively open sea -towards the great southern ice-barrier in the seventies, which lies east -of a mighty volcanic hill well-named Erebus. - -It was autumn now--early autumn in these regions, but still a delightful -time. - -Do not imagine that this distant ocean was uninhabited. Far from it. -There were still millions on millions of birds about, that later on -would fly far away to nor'land lands and islands. Petrels of many -sorts, especially the snow-white species, Cape pigeons, the smaller -penguins on point ends of land, and gulls of such beauty and rarity that -it would have puzzled cleverer men than our heroes to classify them. - -Many of these were carefully shot and made skins of, to be set up when -they reached once more their dear native land, if God in his mercy -should spare them. - - ---- - -Mount Sabine itself is passed, and soon after, to the east of that -mountain, they lie for a day or two at Coulman Island. Strangely -enough, though floating icebergs are heaving about all around, this -rocky and storm-tossed isle is bare, and they can land. - -The captain, with Frank and Conal, go off on a lichen hunt inland. They -take their rifles with them, but no wild creature is here that can hurt -them. - -They find beautiful mosses, however, and strangely beautiful lichens. -Indeed, some parts of the rising ground are crimson or orange with these -latter, and the green of the mosses stand out in lovely and striking -contrast. - -They continued their journey far inland, and although the rocks and the -sea all about the shore was alive with birds, here it was solemn and -still enough. The scene was indeed impressive and beautiful, and with -the blue of the sky above and the bright blue of the ocean beyond, -dotted over with green and lofty snow-capped ice-blocks, the whole -seemed a little world fresh from the hands of the great Creator of all. - -Captain Talbot took specimens not only of the flora--if so I may call -the scanty vegetation of this island--but of its rocks as well, and the -height of its chief hills, with many soundings around it, to say nothing -of collecting marine algae. - -All the way southwards, as far as the great ice-barrier to the eastward -of the land wherein was Mount Terror, he was at the pains of surveying -and charting out for the benefit of future generations, for as laid down -in the charts that he possessed the coast was very indolently described -indeed. - - ---- - -He was a very ambitious mariner, this skipper of the _Flora M'Vayne_, -and at the same time a bold, daring, true-blue sailor. - -Now would be the time, therefore, to make his great aerial journey still -farther to the southward. But could such a thing be successfully -accomplished? That was the question that he and he alone had to answer -for himself. There was no one to consult. - -And he took a whole long day to consider it, keeping himself very much -alone in his state-room that he might come quietly to a correct -conclusion. - -Thus far to the south had he come with the intention of penetrating -still farther by balloon. But he had calculated on getting here much -sooner. - -He had no intention of doing anything foolishly rash. Had he reached 75 -deg. south latitude when the summer was still in its prime he might have -reckoned on perpetual sunshine and constant shifting of wind, but now -the breeze blew mostly from the south, and although by rising into the -higher regions he might get a fair wind if he descended one hundred -miles nearer to the Antarctic Pole, was there any certainty that he -should ever return? Indeed, it was the reverse. It seemed as though -there was not the ghost of a chance of his ever seeing his ship again. - -Life is sweet, and so at long last he gave up all thoughts of his aerial -voyage for the present season. - -He communicated this resolve to his mates and youngsters that day at -dinner. - -But the sun had already begun to set to the south'ard, though so brief -was the night that scarce a star was even visible. - -"We shall now," he told them, "bear up for the north and the west once -more, and if we reach the lone isles of Kerguelen in time, we may yet -fall among old sea-elephants enough to pay us handsomely. For though I -have never been there, I am told that they make that lone region a -habitat throughout the greater part of the year." - -"And then we shall be homeward-bound, sha'n't we, sir?" said Frank. - -"Yes," was the reply. "But I say, young fellow, you are not tired of a -sailor's life, are you?" - -"Oh no! I would like to see all--all the world first, and then return -and dream of my wild adventures, and fight my battles with the stormy -main o'er and o'er and o'er again." - -"Bravo! lad, though you are just a little effusive. Well, you are pretty -strong in wind and limb, Frank, aren't you?" - -"Fairly, sir. I haven't got real Highland legs like Duncan there, but -they've always served me well on a pinch." - -"Well, as soon as we get into the neighbourhood of Mount Terror again I -mean to make an ascent, and I shall want the assistance of all you young -fellows, and a hand or two besides. There are scientific instruments to -take along, besides plenty of food, drink, and sleeping-bags, for I -guess it will take us the greater part of three days to accomplish the -journey to the top and back. - -"What is the height, sir?" - -"It is said to be nearly eleven thousand feet high, and it is volcanic." - -"Don't you think," said Morgan the mate, "that the adventure is almost -foolhardy?" - -"It is risky enough, I daresay; but really, Morgan, my dear fellow, I -hate the idea of going back home without having accomplished something -out of the common." - -And so, after some further conversation of an after-dinner style, the -ascent was determined on. - -This was Saturday night, and as usual wives and sweethearts were -toasted, for Captain Talbot was a man who dearly loved to keep up old -customs. - -So after a hearty supper of sea-pie the men got up a dance, Frank and -the man who played the clarionet forming, as usual, the chief portion of -the band. - -Old Pen was in grand form to-night, and his antics, as he danced and -whirled around with little Johnnie Shingles, were laughable in the -extreme. It would be impossible to say that Pen tripped it-- - - "On the light fantastic toe". - -For his feet were about as broad and flat as a couple of kippered -herrings, but he made the best use of them he could, and no one could -have done more. - -After the dance the chief yarn-spinners assembled in a wide circle -around the galley fire. Frank and Conal made two of the party, with -noble Vike in the rear. - -It hardly would have needed the rum that the cabin steward dealt out to -make these good fellows happy to-night or to cause them to spin short -yarns and sing, so jolly were they to know the ship was homeward bound-- - - "Across the foaming billows, boys, - Across the roaring sea, - "We'll all forget our hardships, lads, - With England on the lee". - -But the crew of the brave _Flora M'Vayne_ took their cue from the -skipper, and never a Saturday night passed without many a song and many -a toast, and always an original yarn of some adventure afloat or ashore. -Sings Dibdin:-- - - "The moon on the ocean was dimmed by a ripple, - Affording a chequered delight; - The gay jolly tars passed the word for the tipple - And the _toast_--for 'twas Saturday night, - Some sweetheart or wife that he lov'd as his life, - Each drank, while he wished he could hail her, - But the standing toast that pleased the most was-- - Here's the wind that blows and the ship that goes, - And the lass that loves a sailor!" - -So thoroughly old-fashioned was Captain Talbot that on some Saturday -nights he did not think it a bit beneath him to join his men around the -fire, and they loved him all the better for it too. - -Well, no matter how crowded the men might be of a night like this, there -was always room left in the inner circle for Viking, old Pen, and Jim -the monkey. - -Jim, with his red jacket on, used to sit by Viking, looking very serious -and very old, and combing the dog's coat with his long slender black -fingers. - -This was a kind of shampoo that invariably sent Vike off to sleep. - -Then Jim would lie down alongside him, draw one great paw over his body, -and go off to sleep also. - -But old Pen would be very solemn indeed. He was troubled with cold -feet, and it was really laughable enough to see him standing there on -one leg while he held up and exposed his other great webbed pedal -apparatus to the welcome glow emitted by the fire. - -Sometimes yarns were at a discount, though songs never were, and no -matter how simple, they were always welcome, even if told without any -straining for effect and in ordinary conversational English, if they had -truth in them. - -On this particular Saturday night Captain Talbot came forward and took a -seat in a corner to smoke his long pipe, while the steward brewed him a -tumbler of punch with some cinnamon and butter in it, for the skipper -had a cold. - -"It's long since we've had a yarn from you, sir," remarked the -carpenter. - -The skipper took a drink, and then let his eyes follow the curling smoke -from his pipe for a few seconds before replying. - -"Well, Peters," he said, "I've had so many adventures in my time that I -hardly ever know which to tell first. Once upon a time I served in a -Royal Navy ship on the coast of Africa, and it is just the odour of the -'baccy, boys, that brings this little yarn to my mind." - -"Out with it, sir," cried one. - -"Yes, out with it, Captain. We'll listen as if it were a sermon, and we -were old wives." - -"First and foremost," said Talbot, "let me give you a toast--Here's to -the loved ones at home!" - -"The loved ones at home!" And every glass was raised, and really that -toast was like a prayer. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII.--CAPTAIN TALBOT SPINS A YARN. - - -"Why, boys, and you youngsters," said Captain Talbot, "when I look back -to those dear old times I feel old myself, and that's a fact. As I said -before, we were cruising about the East African coast, making it just as -hot for the slaver Arabs as we knew how to. We had a bit of a fight now -and then, too, both on shore and afloat. - -"Well, your man-o'-war's-man likes that, simple and all though he seems -to be. Simplicity, indeed, is one of the chief traits in the character -of the true British sailor. I'm not sure that it might not be said with -some degree of truth, that no one who wasn't a little simple to begin -with, would ever become a sailor at all. Nobody, not even a landsman, -grumbles and growls more at existence afloat than does Jack himself, -whether he be Jack in epaulets or Jack in a jumper, Jack walking the -weather-side of the quarter-deck or Jack mending a main-sail. But for -all that, when Jack has a spell on shore, especially if it be of a few -months' duration, he forgets all the asperities of the old sea life, and -remembers only its jollities and pleasantnesses, and the queer -adventures he had--of which, probably, he boasts in a mitigated kind of -way--and by and by he gets tired of the dull shore, and maybe sings with -Proctor: - - 'I never was on the dull, tame shore, - But I loved the great sea more and more'. - -And then he goes back again. Another proof of Jack's simplicity. - -"Well, but some of the very bravest men or officers I have met with -were, or are, as simple in their natures as little children--simple but -brave. - -"Gallant and good--how well the two adjectives sound together when -applied to a sailor. Did not our Nelson himself apply them in one of -his despatches to Captain Riou, mentioned by Thomas Campbell in his -grand old song 'The Battle of the Baltic': - - 'Brave hearts! to Britain's pride - Once so faithful and so true, - On the deck of fame that died - With the gallant, good Riou, - Soft sigh the winds of heaven o'er their grave! - While the billow mournful rolls, - And the mermaid's song condoles-- - Singing glory to the souls - Of the brave!' - - -"There never was a more simple-looking sailor than Assistant-Paymaster -Mair (let us call him Mair). He was round-faced, fat, and somewhat -pale, but always merry, and on good terms with himself and everybody -else. He had the least bit in the world of a squint in his starboard -eye. This ocular aberration was more apparent, when he sat down and -commenced playing an asthmatical old flute he possessed. I don't think -anybody liked this flute except Mair himself, and no wonder it was -asthmatical, for we were constantly playing tricks on it. We have -tarred it and feathered it ere now, and once we filled it with boiling -lard, and left it on Mair's desk to cool. But Mair didn't care; our -practical joking found him in employment, so he was happy. - -"Mair had never been in an engagement, though some members of our mess -had; and, when talking of their sensations when under fire, Mair used -frankly to confess himself 'the funkiest fellow out'. - -"It came to pass that the old _T----_ had to engage a fort, and -preparations were made for a hot morning. The captain was full of spirit -and go--one of those sort of men who, when both legs are shot away, -fight on their stumps. - -"Mair had his orders the night before, given verbally, in an easy, -off-hand kind of way. He was to stand by the captain on the bridge or -quarter-deck, and take notes during the engagement or battle. Poor -Mair! he didn't sleep much, and didn't eat much breakfast. We met just -outside the ward-room door, Mair and I. We were both going to duty, only -Mair was going up, while I was bound for the orlop deck. With the noise -of hammering, and stamping, and shouting, I couldn't catch what Mair -said, but it was something like--'Lucky dog, you'. - -"Though stationed below--safe, except from the danger of smothering in -horrid smoke--I soon had evidence enough we were getting badly hammered. -I wasn't sorry when "Cease firing" sounded, and I could crawl up and -breathe. - -"But how about simple Mair? Why, this only--he had done his duty nobly, -coolly, manfully; he had gained admiration from his fire-eating captain, -and got specially mentioned in a despatch. Mair looked red and excited -all the afternoon, but the flute never sounded half so cheerily before -as it did that same evening after dinner. - -"Talking about simplicity brings poor Nat Wildman of ours before my -mind's eye. - -"There wasn't a pluckier sailor in the service than Nat, nor a greater -favourite with his mess-mates, nor a simpler-souled or kindlier-hearted. -He was very tall and powerful--quite an athlete in fact. Once when a -company or two of marines and blue-jackets were sent to enact punishment -of some native tribes on the West African coast, for the murder of a -white merchant, and for having fired on Her Majesty's boats, they -encountered a strongly-palisaded village. Our fellows had no ladders -nor axes, and the dark-skins were firing through. The village must be -carried, and reduced to terms--and ashes; so the men hoisted each other -over. Nat worked hard at this pitch-and-toss warfare; indeed, he could -have thrown the whole ship's company over. But, lo! he found himself -the last man--left out in the cold--for there was no one to help him -across. When the row was over, Nat was found--simple fellow that he -was--sitting on the ground crying with vexation, or, as one of his -mess-mates phrased it, 'blubbering like a big baby'. - -"I often think, boys, that it must be very hard to have to die at sea, -especially if homeward bound; all the bustle and stir of ship's work -going on around you; the songs of the men, the joking and laughing, and -the din--for silence can seldom be long maintained. - -"Jack Wright of ours--captain of the main-top--might have been called a -tar of the real Tom Bowling type. He, too, like Nat Wildman, whom I -mentioned above, was a very great favourite with his mess-mates. He was -always kind and merry, but ever good, obedient, and brave. We were -coming home in the old _T----_. Dirty weather began shortly after we -left Madeira, and while assisting in taking in sail one forenoon, poor -Jack fell from aloft. His injuries were of so serious a nature that his -life was despaired of from the first. He lost much blood, and never -rallied. - -"This sailor had a young wife, who was to have met him at Plymouth. She -was in his thoughts in his last hours. I was assisting the doctor just -at that time of my life, a kind of loblolly-boy, and I heard the man -say, as he looked wistfully in the surgeon's face: 'It seems a kind o' -hard, doctor, but I've always done my duty--I've always obeyed orders -without asking questions. I'm ready when the Great Captain calls, -though--yes, it do seem a kind o' hard.' - -"He appeared to doze off, and I sat still for an hour. It was well on -in the middle watch, and the ship was under easy sail; there was now and -then a word of command, but no trampling overhead, for even the officers -liked and respected Jack. I sat still for an hour, then took his wrist -in my hand. There was no pulse there. He was gone. - -"I covered him up and went on deck, for something was rising and choking -me. It was a heavenly night--bright stars shining, and a round silvery -moon, with the waves all sparkling to leeward of us. - -"'It does seem hard,' I couldn't help muttering. - -"As the beautiful burial service was being read over poor Jack Wright, -and his body dropped into the sea, many a tear fell that those who shed -them needn't have taken much pains to hide. - -"At Plymouth we were in quarantine for some time, and no one was allowed -on board, but there were boats enough with friends and relations in them -hanging around. In one of them was a beautiful young woman and an -elderly dame, probably her mother. The whisper--it was nothing -else--soon passed round: 'Yonder is poor Jack's wife.' - -"Long before she came on board she was in tears; her sailor lad was not -even at a port to wave a handkerchief. 'He must be ill,' she would have -thought. - -"'The doctor wishes to speak to you in his cabin,' a midshipman said, -when she appeared on deck. - -She came tottering in, supported by the old dame. - -"'Jack's ill!' she cried. - -"The doctor did not reply. - -"'Jack is dead!' she moaned. 'My Jack!' - -"We did not answer. How could we? - -"Heigho! I've seen grief many times since, but I never witnessed -anything to equal that of poor Jack Wright's young wife. - -"But I'm saddening you, boys. Here, steward, if there is a dram more -punch left, just send it round. - -"And now, lads, I'll tell you one more true yarn, and I think I may just -call it: - - "AN ADVENTURE IN SEARCH OF A QUID, - - -"For, from the very time Dawson and I shoved off in the dinghy boat -until we set foot on Her Majesty's quarter-deck with the 'baccy, it was -all adventure together. Our ship was the saucy _Seamew_, only a -gun-boat, to be sure, but a most bewitching little thing all over; lay -like a duck in the water, and, on a wind, nothing could touch her. Our -cruising-ground was the east coast of Africa, well north, where the -fighting dhows floated in the water, and the savage Somalis on shore -speared each other when they hadn't any white men to practise on. We -never provoked a fight, but when we did show our teeth, and that wasn't -seldom, we peppered away in good earnest I assure you. Now, in such a -ship in such a climate we might have been as happy as the day was long, -but we had just one drawback to general jollity. Our skipper was the -devil. That's putting it plain and straight, but I've no other English -for it. He was one of your sea lawyers, and lawed it and lorded it over -his officers. No matter whether a thing was done rightly or wrongly, -you got growled at all the same. There wasn't an officer he hadn't been -at loggerheads with, and walked to windward of, too; and there wasn't a -man forward he had not punished during the cruise. We had a regular -flogging Friday, a most unlucky day for many a poor fellow on board the -_Seamew_. There was, therefore, no love lost between the ward-room and -the after-cabin, where the skipper lived in solitary grandeur; and the -men would have given him to the sharks, if chance had thrown him in -their way, and if the sharks were hungry. I remember once, at Johanna, a -happy thought struck the skipper and a few of the petty officers at one -and the same time: they thought they would treat themselves to a few -fowls by way of change from the junk. The latter, therefore, asked -permission of the former to make the purchase. 'Certainly not,' was the -curt reply, 'unless you bring them dead on board.' Now, dead they -wouldn't keep a day, so they were not bought; but the skipper's poultry -were brought on board the same evening, and two nicely-filled hen-coops -they were. Well, about the middle of the morning-watch, when the -skipper slumbered peacefully in his cot, two figures might have been -seen stealthily approaching those hen-coops. 'Softly does it,' said -one. - -'Right you are, Bill,' replied the other. Then something dark and -square rose slowly over the bulwarks, and dropped with a dull splash -into the sea; and this happened twice. And next morning when the -skipper arose, happy in the prospect of 'spatch cock for breakfast, -behold! there wasn't cock nor hen on board to spatch. But I should tire -you were I to tell a tithe of the dirty tricks the skipper of the -_Seamew_ played his men and officers, so I will content myself with -relating the one that bears reference to my story. Once, then, we were -in terrible straits for grog and tobacco; we hadn't a drop of the one or -a quid of the other on board--at least not in our mess--and hadn't had -for over a month. Now, nobody liked a glass of rum better than the -skipper, though he didn't smoke; so, as long as his own spirits held -out, he didn't care anything for the dearth in the ward-room. But one -day he rejoiced us all by informing us he would run down to Zanzibar and -take in stores. Well, anyhow, he took us in nicely, for no sooner had -we dropped anchor before the long white town, than he called away his -gig and landed on the sands. He was back again in two hours with the -important intelligence, which we had received, that a three-masted -slave-ship was then cruising in the neighbourhood of the little island -of Chak-Chak. There wasn't a moment to be lost--it was, 'All hands on -deck, up anchor and off.' There wasn't a moment to be lost; but, mark -you this, that beggarly skipper, who drank but did not smoke, came off -with his gig laden to the gunwale with dainties, spirits included, but -not a morsel of the 'baccy our souls were longing to sniff. We never saw -the three-masted slave-ship either. - -"Well, as you doubtless know, there is a town on the east coast, pretty -nigh on the equator, called Lamoo, a half, or, rather, wholly savage -kind of place, ruled over by an Arab sultan. It lies not close to the -sea, but about ten miles up a broad-bosomed river. Like all African -rivers, it is belted off from the sea by a sand-bar, on which the water -is shallow, and the green breakers tumble over it houses high. We had -been up this river only once before, but the little _Seamew_ got such a -terrible bumping on the bar that our skipper had resolved never to try -the same experiment again. But, one beautiful, clear-skied, moonlight -night, we found ourselves just outside this bar once more, and, rather -to our astonishment, the order was given to heave the ship to until -morning. Of course we were delighted, thinking that boats might be sent -up stream for fruit, and we might get a chance of the coveted quid; but -we were doomed to disappointment, for the whole of next day was spent in -taking soundings, and in the evening we were told that next morning we -should complete the survey, and then cruise away north once more. So -the ship was hove-to on the second evening. Dawson and I were at the -time on the sick-list, not that there was anything the matter with us, -but the skipper had been bullying us, and this was the method, with the -assistance of the friendly surgeon, which we took to avenge ourselves. -At this time the tobacco mania was at its worst. Our -assistant-paymaster had been heard to mutter that, if the devil tempted -him, he would be inclined to sell his soul for a bundle of whiffs, and -Dawson had openly asserted that he would give ten years of his life for -the sight of a snuff-box. But Dawson looked terribly like a -conspirator, when he came stealthily into the ward-room on the evening -of the first day's surveying. - -"'Hush! messmates, hush!' he whispered mysteriously, and we all crowded -round him. 'I have it,' he continued. 'My friend and I are on the -list. We cannot be missed.' - -"'Yes, yes; go on,' we cried in a breath. - -"'While _he_ dines, we will take a boat and steal up the river to Lamoo, -and bring down 'bacca and grogs.' - -"The skipper didn't know the meaning of that 'Hurrah!' that shook the -_Seamew_ from stem to stern. No wilder shout ever rang out as we boarded -a dhow 'mid smoke and blood. - -"By seven o'clock the skipper was just mixing his third tumbler. By -seven o'clock everything was in readiness: the oars were muffled and the -rudder so shipped that it wouldn't unship by the under-kick of a breaker -on the bar. Then, from well-greased blocks the boat was lowered, and -silently, but swiftly, glided shorewards to the dreaded bar. We took -with us but two trusty men, and two trusty sacks. Soon the white crests -of the breakers were in view, and we could hear their vicious, sullen -boom. Not easy work this crossing of bars, as you are aware. Presently -we were heading for the only dark gate in this ocean of breakers, I -steering, Dawson with one helping hand on each of the oars. Now we have -entered the gate. "Steady now, men!" A wave catches us up behind and -hurls our tiny boat first heavenward, then, with inconceivable speed, -onwards, through a swirl of surf, and, a few moments afterwards we are -in smooth water, wet but safe. - -"'Well done,' said Dawson; 'but if we had capsized, the sharks would -have been dining on us at this present moment." - -"'Beggin' yer pardons, gentlemen,' said one of the rowers, 'but I'd -rather be three days and three nights in the belly of a shark, like -Jonah was, than one whole blessed month athout tobaccer.' - -"'That were a whale, Jim,' said his mate. 'I don't care a dime,' said -the first speaker; 'I knows I likes my pipe, and I likes a quid. Now, -in a night like this, for instance, what a blessing it would be to light -up, and--and--why, it won't abear thinkin' on, hanged if it will.' - -"'Now lay on your oars, men,' I said. 'I want to see what is inside a -little bottle of medical comforts the doctor stowed away under here.' - -"It was a bottle of sick-mess sherry, which we all shared, and -pronounced the best ever we had tasted, and the doctor 'a brick'. - -"Onwards now we sped, as fast as oars could pull us, Dawson and I -occasionally relieving the men and taking a spell at the oars. It was -moonlight, I said, and until we were fairly in the river this was in -favour of us; now, however, it was all against us. None hate the -English more than does your fighting Arab of slave proclivities. At any -moment we might fall in with a slave dhow, and the crew thereof would -certainly not miss such a favourable opportunity of paying off old -scores. We had lots of arms on board, and so we meant, if attacked, to -peg away at the beggars to the bitter end. However, discretion is the -better part of valour, so we kept right in the centre of the stream, -where we could be least seen. This was slow work, but safe. - -"It must have been past ten o'clock, and we were well up the river, -when, on rounding a point, we came suddenly in sight of a large-armed -dhow, slowly going down stream. My first intention was to alter our -course. 'No, no,' said Dawson, who is no end of a clever fellow, 'that -will only create suspicion. Let me hail her;' and he did so in good -Arabic. If suspicion was excited on board the strange dhow, it was, I -feel sure, lulled again when Dawson began, in stentorian tones, to sing -a well-known Arab boating chant. The song, I feel sure, saved us, and -so we kept it up nearly all the way to Lamoo. - -"About a mile from the town we crept inshore and hid our boat in the -bush, leaving one man in her. Now there is but one or two European -merchants in the town, and one of these we knew, but the way to his -house we were ignorant of; but we knew where Comoro Jack lived in the -outskirts. He had been our guide before, so thither we went, and -happily found Jack at home: a tall young savage, arrayed only in a waist -belt, and an enormous (42nd Highlander's) busby on, and a tall spear in -one hand. - -"'Well, you blessed Englishmen, what you want wid Jack?' Such was our -greeting. We hastily told him, and the amount, and-- - -"'Comoro Jack will go like a shot,' said the savage. The sandy streets -were well-nigh deserted, and Comoro Jack, as he strode on beside us, -thought himself no end of a fine fellow. - -"'London is one ver' good place,' he informed us, 'as big as Lamoo, and -streets better pave, and girls better dress. You see it was like this: -the French they take Myotta; poor king ob de island he go to London to -see de British Queen of England, and I go too among de body-guard. But -when the poor king come to de palace, 'Will you fight for me de dam -French?' he say. 'Very sorry,' said the British Queen of England, 'but -I cannot fight de dam French." - -"'And who', we asked, 'gave you the bonnet and plumes?' - -"'De British Queen ob England,' said Comoro Jack. 'She soon spot me out -among de niggers, and she put it on my head. 'Here, poor chile,' she -say, 'you not catch cold wid that." - -"The house Comoro Jack led us to was that of a French merchant, and his -hospitality was unbounded; but we refused all refreshment until we had -first smoked a pipe. Oh, didn't that pipe make men of us. We spent a -very pleasant half-hour with the merchant; then we filled our sacks and -returned to our boat happier, surely, than Joseph's brethren could have -been coming up, corn-laden, from the land of the Pharaohs. We had one or -two little escapades going down stream, caught it wet and nasty on the -bar, but got safely and quietly on board the _Seamew_ one hour before -sunrise, and to witness the joy on our mess-mates' faces when we cracked -a bottle of rum and opened a box of Havanas, more than repaid us for all -we had come through. - -"Next morning, to his intense disgust, the skipper found us all smoking, -and looking funny and jolly. But he never knew where we found the -'baccy." - - - - -CHAPTER IX.--TONGUES OF LURID FIRE, BLUE, GREEN, AND DEEPEST CRIMSON. - - -Very little was talked of during the next few days except the coming -ascent of Mount Terror. In the saloon mess non-success was not even -dreamt of. It was only forward about the galley fire that doubts were -mooted. - -"Our skipper is just about as plucky as they make them nowadays," said -old Jack Forbes, taking his short pipe from his mouth, "but, bless ye, -boys, look what's before 'em." - -"True for you, Jack," said a mate of his, "they'll be all frozen to -death, and that'll be the way of it. Hope they won't ask me to go and -help to carry things." - -"Nor me," said another. - -Nearer and nearer to the western land drew the bonnie barque, and in the -beautiful sunshine she anchored at last in a bay close under the shadow -of the mountain they were to attempt to scale. - -Captain Talbot made all preparations at once. There was indeed but -little time to lose now, for ere long the frosts would set in, and if -not clear of the southern ice ere then, hard indeed might be their lot. - -When going upon a dangerous expedition it is the duty of every brave man -to do all in his power to guard against failure. Talbot, therefore, -left not a stone unturned to ensure success; whether he secured it or -not, he seemed determined to merit it. - -Alpen-stocks were made for the purpose, and so, too, were ice-axes, -though these latter were necessarily primitive. - -Very little ammunition and few arms were to be taken. In the lone -recesses of the hills and in that wild mountain, they had nothing to -fear from savage man or beast. The land in here was as desolate and -barren of everything but snow and ice as that worn-out world, the moon -itself. - -Ropes were also to be taken, they might come in handy in many ways. The -skipper was an old Alpine-club man, and well did he know his way about. - -Provisions for a whole week, and just a little rum in case of illness or -over-exertion, for in the bitter cold of upper regions like those they -were about to visit, exhaustion may often come on soon and sudden. - -The captain himself made choice of three brave sturdy fellows to -accompany the expedition and carry the necessaries as well as -instruments of observation. - -"And now, youngsters," said Talbot one evening, "which two of the three -of you are to be of the party." - -"I think," he added, "you better toss for it. I daresay you are all -burning to come." - -Duncan and Conal smiled and nodded, but Frank shook his head. - -"I expect," he said, "there will be precious little burning high up -yonder unless you happen to take a header into the crater. I'm not -going to get frozen, I can assure you. I want to stick to all my toes, -so toss away if you like, sir. Perhaps an Irishman or two might suit -you best." - -"Why, Frank?" said Duncan. - -"Why? Because they're all fond of a drop of the crater (crayture), -don't you see?" - -"How could you make so vile a pun, old Frank?" - -Vike seemed to know that an expedition of some kind was being got up. -He put one great paw on Duncan's knee and looked appealingly up into his -face. - -"You might want my assistance," he seemed to say. - -"No, doggie, no, not this journey," said Duncan, smoothing his bonnie -head. - -So Vike lay down before the fire, heaving a deep sigh as he did so. - -Although all dogs sigh more or less--their intimate association with -mankind being the usual cause--still sighing seems to be an especial -characteristic of the noble breed we term Newfoundland. - - ---- - -Everything was ready and packed, including, of course, a long plank and -a light but strong rope-ladder many fathoms in length. - -It was a very bright and beautiful morning when the little expedition -started; the crew manning the rigging and giving three times three of -those ringing British cheers that are heard wherever our ensign--red, -blue, or navy-white--flutters out on the breeze. - -It was but little past sunrise. The oriel windows of the glorious S.E. -were still painted in colours rare and radiant, but hardly a breath of -air blew across the untrodden fields of snow that now stretched out and -away to the westward--a good ten miles, until bounded at last by the -great rising hills. - -Silence now as deep as death. - -They were deserted even by the birds. - -But in a great snow-clad wilderness like this, with unseen, unheard-of -dangers, mayhap, ahead, what a comfort it is to know that He who made -the universe is ever near to all those who call upon Him even in -thought, if in spirit and in truth. - -The ship was out of sight now, hidden by bluffy ice-covered rocks; and -Talbot was acting as guide to the party, taking the direction which he -believed would lead him to the side of the mountain which appeared to be -most accessible. - -For more than a mile the "road" was rugged indeed. - -"There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip," says the old adage. -But here was many a slip 'tween the toes and the lip and many a stumble -also. Soon, however, they came to a wide and level plain of snow. - -"Cheerily does it now, lads," cried the skipper. "Who is going to give -us some music?" - -A stirring old song was soon rising high on the morning air, and -everyone joined in the chorus. - -But when the last notes had died away, Duncan produced his great -Highland bagpipes and began to get them into position across his broad -right shoulder. - -The skipper laughed. - -"I declare," he said, "there is no end to the enthusiasm and patriotic -feelings of you Scots. But tune up, lad." - -Duncan strutted on in front and soon started the Gordon Highlanders' -march. - -The bold and beautiful notes put life and spirit into every heart. - -Then he played all kinds of airs, not forgetting either the pibroch or -quick-step. But not the coronach. That wild wail is-- - - "A lilt o' dool (grief) and sorrow ", - -and all must now be brave and cheerful - - ---- - -Twelve miles as the crow flies they marched. And now they were at the -foot of the wondrous mountain, and a halt was called for breakfast. -Water was boiled with methylated spirits, and savoury coffee with bread -and meat galore soon made all hands forget their fatigue. - -Then the men and the skipper himself lit their pipes, and lay down to -rest for half an hour on the top if the sunlit snow. They would need -all their strength and courage now without a doubt. - -"Now, my brave fellows"--it was Talbot's voice that broke the intensity -of silence, and a cheery one it was--"now, my lads, our motto must be -that of the youth who passed in such a hurry through the Alpine village -while shades of night were falling fast--_Excelsior_!" - -"Onwards and upwards!" - -"That's it, Duncan. As to the bold youth with his bold banner, I think -he must have been somewhat foolish to start after sunset. Well, that -was his lookout. Anyhow, we have a twenty hours' long day before us, so -I must now give the word--March!" - -And on they went. - -On and on, and up and up. - -No thoughts of singing now, however. The ascent was steep, and scarce -had anyone breath enough to spend in talking. - -But the brave young mountaineer Duncan, alpenstock in hand, was first, -with Captain Talbot by his side, and a little farther down struggled -Conal encouraging the men, and now and then helping to carry their -loads. - -These, however, were not very heavy. But the lightest burden seems a -great weight when one is climbing a mountain. - -It was one o'clock before they had succeeded in reaching an altitude of -four thousand feet, and the worst was all before them. - -Everyone was tired enough by this time. Tired and hungry too. - -But while coffee was being warmed and provision tins opened, those not -actually engaged at the work lay down to rest, Conal and Duncan, with -the captain and the other carrier, among the rest. - -The sun had, of course, crossed the meridian, but though still brightly -shining, his rays were far indeed from warm or inspiring. - -Moreover, although there was no wind on the great snow-plains below, -here a breeze was blowing, and it needed not only food but the hottest -of coffee to enable them to stand the cold. - -They had now a much longer rest than before, and more than one man fell -so soundly asleep that his pipe dropped out of his mouth. - -"Now, lads," said the skipper at last, "let us put another thousand feet -in it. Never say die, boys. Excelsior, you know!" - -He did not speak loud. No need to; for the slightest whisper could have -been heard in the silence around them, even a hundred yards away. - -The silence, indeed, was solemn, awesome; a silence that could be felt; -a silence that seemed to creep round the heart and senses, and which no -one cared to break. Not even the light breeze made murmur, or even -whisper, as it swept over the plateau on which they now sat. - -But from their elevated situation the scene spread out before them was -wondrous in the extreme. To the north they could gaze away and away -over the far-off blue ocean, and to the east all was ice. - -It was towards the south, however, that Talbot's telescope was turned, -with so many longing, lingering looks, before he resumed the upward -journey. - -The Norsemen have a legend that around the North Polar regions-at the -Pole itself, indeed--there is a great open sea; that green luxuriant -islands dot its blue surface, and that thereon dwell a people who have -never committed sin, but are still in a pristine state of innocence, -just as God made them--"but a little lower than the angels". - -Was Talbot expecting to gaze upon just such another open sea as this, I -wonder? If so, he was disappointed. So he shut up the great telescope -with a sigh. Higher up he would see further, however. - -So the march was resumed. - -And now for many miles, although the hill-gradient was not so steep, -walking was infinitely more arduous, and every here and there they came -upon a crevasse in the ice, which had to be bridged over at its very -narrowest part by the plank. This was fearsome and truly dangerous -work, for that plank was but narrow, and, moreover, it was impossible to -keep it from being slippery here and there. - -Talbot was ever the first to walk across that terrible bridge; but he -was secured to those on the other side by the long rope; and so handy -did this bridge turn out that they gained an elevation that day of six -thousand feet above the level of the sea. - - ---- - -At this point they reached a perpendicular ice-cliff that rose sheer up -from a narrow plateau to a height of probably five hundred feet. - -It was found impossible to scale it, so they had to wend their way -around to the west side of this mountain, so well named Mount Terror. - -The day was now far spent, and so Talbot determined to order a halt, and -after supper to rest till another day should break. - -Except when cliffs intervened, they had hitherto been quite in sight of -the ship, and could even make out her signals. But now a shoulder of -the mount itself intervened, and for a time they should see the _Flora -M'Vayne_ no more. - -But now a new surprise awaited them. For just here, on this side of the -hill, they found a stream, or spring of water, trickling down the -mountain side, and forming in its way a clear and wonderfully-shaped icy -cascade. - -It was caused by the melting of the snow, certainly not by the sun's -heat, but by the eternal volcanic fires that were pent up in the -mountain itself. - -What could be more marvellous! - -Strangely beautiful, too, were these frozen cascades, for therein could -be seen every colour of the rainbow, all of radiant light. Beauties -certainly never designed to please man's eye. - -Alas! what poor selfish mortals we human beings are! Everything made -for our use, indeed! The very idea makes one who has travelled, and who -has seen Nature in all its shows and forms, smile. It is a doctrine -that only your poor stay-at-home mortals can possibly put faith in. - -Another surprise--a cave. - -They venture fearfully into it, feeling their way with their -alpen-stocks. - -They have not gone far ere a low, half-stifled roar, from far beneath -apparently, falls upon their ears. It is like the first angry growling -of a lion ere he springs upon his prey. - -They pause and listen. The sound is repeated, and they will venture no -farther for the present. - -But here, in this vast cavern, which, when lighted up by torches which -have been brought on purpose--for Talbot had expected to meet with -caves--its beauty is of so extraordinary a character that it cannot be -described. - -A great galaxy of shining pillars that are found to be some strange form -of stalactite, emitting on every side more than the light and colour and -glory of a billion of diamonds! - -By torch-light they ventured somewhat farther on, until an awful -crevasse interrupted their progress. So dark, so deep and awesome it -seemed, that all hands drew back, almost in a sweat of cold terror. But -it was apparently from the bottom of this fearful gully that the -muttering noises proceeded now and then, and holding each other as they -gazed far down the dark abyss, they could see tongues of lurid fire, -blue, green, and deepest crimson, playing about. Yet no suffocating -odour arose therefrom. Hence Captain Talbot concluded that some other -outlet and current of air carried these away. - -Retreating some distance towards the entrance, Duncan found a piece of -rock, and hurled it towards the crevasse. The result was wonderful. -The hurtling thunder was deafening, and the echoes came rumbling from -every portion of the cave, and continued for many minutes. But whence, -or why the sound of explosions, as if cannonading were going on in every -direction? Not even Captain Talbot himself, scientist though he was, -could give a sufficient answer to a question like this. - -But this cave must be their camping ground to-night. So once more the -big spirit-stove was lit, and they prepared to enjoy their well-earned -supper. - -Then they sat and smoked and yarned for quite a long time. - -Nor did Talbot forget to splice the main-brace, and surely no men were -ever more deserving of a dram, as Duncan and Conal called it, than the -three brave fellows who had struggled so far up the mountainside with -their heavy loads. - -"This is not Saturday night, men," said the skipper, raising his mug of -coffee with a suspicion of whisky therein, "but nevertheless I must -propose once more the dear old toast: 'Sweethearts and wives', and may -the Lord be near them." - -"Sweethearts and wives!" cried all the group. Then caps were raised, -and cups were speedily drained. - -"And the Lord be near us too, this night," said one of the men. "Ah! -little does our people at home know where we are, sir." - -"Well, the Lord is everywhere near to those who call on him," replied -the skipper. - -"I'm sayin', sorr," said Ted Noolan, a light-hearted Paddy whom no kind -of danger could ever daunt; "saints be praised the Lord is near, but -troth it's meself that's believin' the d--l--bad scran to him!--can't be -far away either, for lookin' down that awful gulch, 'Ted,' says I to -meself, 'if that ain't the back-door to the bad place, it's nowhere else -on earth.'" - -But his superstition did not prevent Paddy from curling up on his rugs -when the others did, and going soundly off to sleep. - -Nor did the far-off muttering thunders of the dread abyss keep anybody -from enjoying a real good night's rest. - - - - -CHAPTER X.--SO POOR CONAL MUST PERISH! - - -Duncan was first to the fore in the morning. He touched Captain Talbot -lightly on the shoulder, and he awoke at once. - -It took a whole series of shakings, however, to arouse Conal. He had -been dreaming of his far-off Highland home, and when he did at last sit -up and rub his eyes, it took him fully a minute to know where he was in -particular. - -Well, while the men prepared a simple breakfast of coffee, sardines, -butter, and soft tack, the skipper and the boys left the cave and went -in for as thorough ablution as was in their power at the snow-water -rill. They felt infinitely refreshed thereafter; a large box of -sardines, placed for discussion before each, disappeared almost -magically, for bracing indeed was the breeze that blew high up on this -dreary mountain. - -And now, the sun being well up, climbing was resumed. - -Only about two thousand feet more remained to be discussed, but this -formed the toughest climb of all. For not only was the breeze now high -and the gradient steep, but the cold was intense, while breathing was -far from easy. - -Indeed, although an ascent of ten to twelve thousand feet may not be -considered a tall record for accomplished club-men in the Alpine regions -of Europe, it would be a terrible undertaking for even those among the -perpetual snows of the Antarctic. - -It needed not only all the strength, but even all the courage that our -heroes were possessed of, to finally succeed. For in many parts a -single slip might have precipitated three of them at least into chasms -or over precipices that were too fearful even to think of. - -Indeed, several such slips did occur, but luckily the ropes held, and -the foremost men, planting their feet firmly against the mountain-side, -succeeded in preventing an accident. - -The danger was quite as great, when steps had to be hewn on the sides of -ice-rocks, and the labour in such cases five times as fatiguing, and -happy they felt, on every such occasion, when they found themselves on a -plateau. - -"Whatever a man dares he can do!" - -The grand old motto of, I believe, the clan Cameron; but many a man of a -different clan has felt the force and the truth of these brave words. -Both Duncan and his brother seemed to do so, when they stood at long -last with their comrades on the very summit of Mount Terror, and on the -brink of its terrible, though partially extinct, crater. - -Who would venture to peep over into the awful gulf, which, by the way, -Ted Noolan believed to be really an opening into the nether regions--the -regions of despair? - -Duncan was the first to volunteer. The others followed suit with one -exception. - -What a gulf! It must have been acres in extent, and fully one thousand -feet in depth. The precipices that formed its sides were at times even -black and sheer; in some places overhanging, and in others sloping so -that one might have tobogganed down into the regions of perpetual fire. -Not everywhere down yonder, however, were flames visible. It was more a -collection of boiling, bubbling cauldrons, emitting jets of sulphurous -smoke, the surface of the molten lava being continually crossed by -flickering tongues of flame, transcendently beautiful. - -Right in the centre was an irregular gaping mouth, and from this smoke -now and then arose, accompanied by hurtling horrible thunders that made -our strong-hearted heroes quiver. Not with fear, I shall not go so far -as that, but no one could tell at what moment an eruption might take -place. - -To Duncan's waist the rope had been made fast, else he never would have -ventured to lean over that awful crater. - -It was the captain's turn next. Then came Conal's and the men's. - -All but Ted. - -"Is it me myself?" he said, drawing back, when asked to do as the others -had done. "Fegs! no. It is faint I would entoirely, and faint and fall -over. Bedad! I've no raison to go to such a place as that before my -time." - -Captain Talbot now proceeded to take his observations. His aneroid told -him, to begin with, that the mountain was more nearly twelve than eleven -thousand feet above the sea-level. Piercingly cold though it was, he -took time to make a note of everything. But I should not have used the -word "cold". This is far from descriptive of the lowness of temperature -experienced, for the spirit thermometer stood at 40 deg. below zero. - -It was now four o'clock in the afternoon, and all hands were almost -exhausted from fatigue. But Talbot was not so foolish as to give them -stimulants. This would only have resulted in a sleepy or partially -comatose state of the brain, and an accident would assuredly have -followed. - -"Now, men, we have seen all there is to see, and I've taken my -observations, so it is time we were getting down again to our sheltering -cave, in which we shall pass one night more. But we can say that we -have been the first to ascend this mighty mountain, and human feet have -never before traversed the ground on which you now are standing. - -"See here," he continued, suiting the action to the word, "I place this -little flag--the British ensign--and though storms may rend it, this -mountain, and all the land and country around, shall evermore belong to -us." - -He handed the still-extended telescope to Duncan as he spoke and pointed -to the south. - -No open sea there! But the roughest, wildest kind of snow-clad country -anyone could well imagine. Yet, far far away, the jagged peaks of many -a mountain rose high on the horizon. - -And now "God save the Queen", was sung, and the very crater itself -seemed to echo back the wild cheers that rose high on the evening air. - -Solemn and serious all must be now however, for although the descent -would not occupy so much time, it was quite as fraught with peril as the -coming up had been, and even more so. - -The rope was constantly kept taut, however, on every extra dangerous -position, with the happy result that they reached the cave in good time, -all tired, but all safe. - -The cold was not nearly so intense here, however, and in the strange and -beautiful--nay, but fairy-like cave--it was almost _nil_. - -Never did brave and weary travellers enjoy a supper more. So sure were -they of reaching their ship next day, that they gave themselves some -extra indulgences, and tins of mock-turtle soup were warmed and eaten -with the greatest of relish. - - ---- - -They sat long together to-night talking of home in the "olde countrie", -and many a droll yarn was told and many a story of adventure by sea and -land. - -Bed at last, if one may call it a bed, with only the hard rock to lie -upon, and a rug wherein to wrap one's-self, curled up like a ferret to -retain all the warmth of the body. For sleeping-bags had been left -behind after all. - -What though subterranean thunders roared far beneath them many times and -oft during the night, they heard them not, so doubly soundly did they -sleep. - -There is always one thing to be said concerning adventures of a very -dangerous character, namely, that though kept up by excitement, we may -not be sorry to enter into them, and go through with them, too, like -Britons bold and true, still we are rather glad than otherwise when they -are over. - -Our heroes awoke next morning, therefore, betimes, and squatted down to -breakfast, hungry and happy enough. Would they not soon be back once -more on their brave barque, to tell their comrades of all their strange -experiences? - -It is doubtless a good thing for us that we are not prescient, else -thinking of troubles to come would cast a gloom over everyone's life -that nothing could banish. - -Little did these officers and men of the _Flora M'Vayne_, as they -resumed their downward journey, know of the trouble before them. - -They had reached the very last crevasse, and were in full view of the -ship, although at least five thousand feet above it, when an accident -occurred of a very startling nature indeed. - -The plank was just thrown across and Conal had stepped on to it, roped, -of course, to his fellows, when, to their horror, it slipped, and was -precipitated into the chasm. - -And with it fell Conal! - -The skipper and Duncan had held the rope taut, but it snapped as if it -had been made of straw. - -Luckily, although the wretched boy fell sheer down only a distance of -about fifty feet, the rest he slid on loose pieces of ice and snow. - -On referring to the log-book of Captain Talbot, which lies on my table -before me, the abyss or ice-crevasse is stated to have been about two -hundred feet in depth. And there was no outlet. - -Nor any apparent means of saving the poor fellow, for although his -companions would gladly have hurried to the ship for assistance they -could not cross that ice-ravine, nor could they retreat for want of a -plank. - -So, poor Conal must perish! - - ---- - -It was about two bells in the first watch, and Frank with faithful Vike -was walking to and fro on the quarter-deck. - -He had a telescope under his arm, and every now and then he directed it -to the far-off mountain, adown which he had observed his shipmates -streaming since ever they had arrived on the easternmost side of Mount -Terror. - -How well named! - -So good was the glass that he could count them as he came, and even make -out their forms. Duncan's was stalwart and easily seen, Conal's lither -far than Captain Talbot's, and the men were bearing their packages. - -He watched them as they approached the last dread crevasse. - -With some anxiety, he could not tell why, he saw the plank raised and -lowered across the abyss, and noticed that it was Conal's light form -that first began to cross. - -Suddenly he uttered a bitter cry of anguish and despair. - -"Mate, mate!" he shouted. "Oh, come, come! There has been a fearful -accident, and Conal is killed." - -As if hoping against hope, both he and the mate counted the number on -the small ice plateau over and over again. - -There had been six in all. - -Now there were but five! - -And these seemed now to be signalling for assistance. - -There was but one thing to be done, however hopeless it might seem, and -that was to get up and despatch a party to the rescue as soon as day -should once more break. - -Had they been ready they should have started at once. But Frank had a -good head on his shoulders for one so young, and in a matter of life and -death like this he was right in considering well what had best be done. - -Of course he consulted with the mate, and he immediately suggested a -rope of many, many fathoms in length. - -"Doubtless," he said, "poor Conal is dead, or if stunned he will -speedily freeze to death, but we would be all unwilling to sail away and -leave the poor bruised body in the terrible crevasse." - -"Have we rope enough on board to be of real service?" asked Frank in a -voice broken with emotion. - -"Bless you, yes, my boy, fifty fathoms of manilla, light, but strong -enough to bear an ox's weight." - -"Thank God!" cried Frank fervidly. - -There was little thought of rest now till long past sunset. - -A plank of extra breadth was got ready, and the rope was coiled so that -several hands could assist in bearing it along. - -Provisions were also packed, and so all was ready for the forlorn hope. - -The relief party now lay down to snatch a few hours of rest, but, soon -after the crimson and orange glory of the sky heralded the approach of -the sun, they were aroused from their slumbers. - -Breakfast was speedily discussed, and now they were ready. - -There was no hesitation about Frank Trelawney, the Cockney boy, now. He -was British all over, and brave because he was British. His dearest -friend, Conal, lay stark and stiff in that fearful ice-gap; he would be -one of the first to help the poor bruised body to bank, ay, and bedew it -with tears which it would be impossible to restrain. - - ---- - -It had been an anxious and sad night for those on the hill. They could -until sunset see the wretched Conal in that darksome crevasse, and they -did all they could do, for they made up a bundle of rugs with plenty of -provisions enclosed and hurled it down. - -Strangely enough, he could talk to those on the hillside, and they to -him, without elevating their voices. - -They bade him be of good cheer, for signals from the _Flora_ told them -that preparations for rescue were already being made. - -Frank's march across the great snow plains was a forced one, but an -hour's rest and a good meal was indispensable before the ascent could be -attempted. - -Perhaps no mountain was ever climbed more speedily by men in any -country. They had the trail of the captain and his party to guide them, -but nevertheless the work was arduous in the extreme. - -Should they be in time? - -Or was Conal dead? - -These were the questions that they asked each other over and over again. - -They hoped against hope, however, as brave men ever do. - - - - -CHAPTER XI.--THUS HAND IN HAND THE BROTHERS SLEEP. - - -They arrived at the plateau in the afternoon, and cautiously, yet -quickly was the plank placed over. - -Frank did not wait to attach the rope to his waist, so eager was he. -The yawning green gulf beneath him might have tried the nerve of -Blondin. He paused not to think, however, but went over almost with the -speed of a bird upon the wing, and more slowly the others followed. - -They brought with them the end of the coils of rope, and these were -speedily hauled across. - -For a few moments Frank and Duncan stood silently clasping each other's -hands; and the Cockney lad could tell by the look of anguish in his -Highland cousin's face that the worst had occurred. - -"Too late! too late!" Duncan managed to say at last, and he turned -quickly away to hide the blinding tears. - -"Poor Conal," explained the captain, "is lying down yonder--that black -object is he enveloped in rugs, but he has made no sign for hours, and -doubtless is frozen hard enough ere now." - -"Come," cried Frank, "be of good cheer, my dear Duncan, till we are -certain. Perhaps he does but sleep." - -"Yes, he sleeps," said Duncan mournfully, "and death is the only door -which leads from the sleep that cold and frost bring in their train." - -"Come, men," cried Frank, now taking command, for he was full of life -and energy, "uncoil the rope most carefully. I am light, Captain -Talbot, so I myself will make the descent. I shall at once send poor -Conal to bank, or as soon as I can get him bent on. Haul up when I -shout." - -When all the rope was got loose and made into one great coil, the end -was thrown over into the crevice to make sure it would reach. - -It did reach, with many fathoms to spare; so it was quickly hauled up -and recoiled again. - -A bight was now made at one end, and into this brave Frank quickly, and -with sailor-like precision, hitched himself. - -"Lower away now, men. Gently does it. Draw most carefully up as soon -as I shout. When poor Conal is drawn to bank, lower again for me." - -Next minute Frank had disappeared over the brink of the abyss, and was -quickly and safely landed beneath. - -He approached the bundle of rugs with a heart that never before felt so -brimful of anguish and doubt. - -And now he carefully draws aside the coverings. A pale face, white and -hard, half-open eyes, and a pained look about the lowered brows and -drawn lips. - -Is there hope? - -Frank will not permit himself even to ask the question. - -But speedily he forms a strong hammock with one of the rugs. Not a -sailor's knot ever made that this boy is not well acquainted with. And -now, after making sure that all is secure, he signals, and five minutes -after this the body is got to bank without a single hitch. - -Then while two men, with Captain Talbot and Duncan, commence operations -on the stiff and apparently frozen body, the others lower away again, -and presently after Frank's young and earnest face is seen above the -snow-rift. - -He is helped up, and proceeds at once to lend assistance. - -Conal had been a favourite with all the men, and now they work in -relays, the one relay relieving the other every five minutes, chafing -and rubbing hands, arms, legs, and chest with spirits. - -Duncan can do nothing. - -He seems stupefied with grief. - -After nearly half an hour of hard rubbing and kneading, to the skipper's -intense joy the flesh of the arms begins to get softer. Presently a -blue knot appears on one, and he knows there is a slight flicker of life -reviving in the apparently lifeless body. - -The lamp may flicker with a dying glare, and Talbot knows this well, so -he refrains from communicating his hopes to disconsolate Duncan. - -But he endeavours now to restore respiration, by slowly and repeatedly -pressing the arms against the chest, and alternately raising them above -the head. - -The rubbing goes on. - -Soon the eyelids quiver! - -There seems to be a struggle, for the poor boy's face turns red--nay, -almost blue. Then there is a deep convulsive sigh. - -Just such a sigh as this might be his last on earth, or it might be the -first sign of returning life. - -Talbot puts his hand on Conal's cold wrist. The pulse flickers so he -scarce can feel it; but it is there. - -Operations are redoubled. Sigh after sigh is emitted, and soon-- - -"Heaven be praised!" cries Captain Talbot, for of his own accord Conal -opens his eyes. - -He even murmurs something, and shuts them once more, as if in utter -weariness he fain would go to sleep. - -But that sleep might end in death. No, he must be revived. - -The circulation increases. - -The life so dear to all is saved, for now Conal can swallow a little -brandy. - -Duncan's head has fallen on his knee and open palms as he crouches -shivering on the snow, and the tears that have welled through his -fingers lie in frozen drops on his clothing. - -Gently, so gently, steals Talbot up behind him. Gently, so gently, he -lays one hand on his shoulder. - -"Duncan, can you bear the news?" - -"Yes, yes, for the bitterness of death is past." - -"But it is not death, dear lad, but--life." - -"Life! I cannot believe it! Have you saved him? - -"Then," he added, "my Father, who art in heaven, receive Thou the -praise! - -"And you, friend Talbot," he continued, pressing his captain's hand, -"the thanks." - - ---- - -Conal was got safely back over the crevasse, and in his extempore -hammock borne tenderly down the mountain-side until the plain below was -reached. - -But by this time he is able to raise his eyes and speak to his now -joyful brother. - -He even tries to smile. - -"A narrow squeak, wasn't it?" he says. - -His brother scarce can answer, so nervous does he feel after the -terrible shock to the system. - -The men, however, are thoroughly exhausted, and so under the shelter of -a rock a camp is formed once more, and supper cooked. - -Coffee and condensed milk seem greatly to restore the invalid, and once -more he feels drowsy. - -Soon the sun sets, and it being considered not unsafe now to permit -Conal to sleep, the best couch possible is made for him, and a tin flask -of hot water being laid near to his heart, his skin becomes warm, and he -is soon afterwards sleeping and breathing as gently and freely as a -child of tender years. - -There is a little darkness to-night; but a moon is shining some short -distance up in the sky and casting long dark shadows from the boulders -across that dazzling field of snow. - -Diamond stars are in the sky. - -Yes, and there seems to be a diamond in every snowflake. - -Duncan will not sleep, however, till he has seen his brother's face once -more and heard him breathe. "For what," he asks himself, "if his -recovery be but a dream from which I shall presently awake?" - -His own rugs are laid close to his brother's, and he gently removes a -corner of the latter, and lets the moon-rays fall on Conal's face. - -The boy opens his eyes. - -"Is it you, Duncan?" - -"It is me, my brother." - -"Then hold my hand and I shall sleep." - -Duncan did as he was told. - -"Duncan!" - -"Yes, Conal." - -"I feel as if I were a child again once more, but oh! how foolishly, how -stupidly nervous." - -"We are both so. Yet, blessed be Heaven, you will recover, Conal, and I -shall also." - -"When I was really a child, Duncan, my mother, our mother, used to croon -over my cradle verses from that sweet old hymn of Isaac Watts. Do you -remember it?" - -"Ay, Conal, lad, and the music too." - -"It is so sweet and plaintive. Sing it, Duncan. That is, just a verse -or two; for sleep, it seems to me, is already beginning to steal down on -the moonbeams to seal my aching eyes." - -Duncan had a beautiful voice; but he could modulate it, so that no one -could hear it many yards away. This does he now. - -Singing to Conal as mother used to sing it. Singing to Conal and to -Conal only. - - "Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber! - Holy angels guard thy bed! - Heavenly blessings without number - Gently falling on thy head." - - -Sleep does steal down on the moonbeams ere long, and seals the eyes of -both. - -Thus hand in hand the brothers sleep. - - - - -CHAPTER XII.--WINTER LIFE IN AN ANTARCTIC PACK. - - -Changes in temperature take place soon and sudden in those far-off -Antarctic regions, and on the very night succeeding the return of our -heroes from the dangers of that daring but terrible ascent of Mount -Terror, it came on to blow high and hard from the south. - -It was a snow-laden wind too, with the lowest temperature that had yet -been logged. - -So dense was the snow-mist that it was impossible to see the jibboom -when standing close by the bowsprit. The drift blew suffocatingly along -the upper deck of the _Flora_, and it was covered with an ice-glaze -that, owing to the motion of the vessel, made walking a business of the -greatest difficulty. - -The vessel was driven northwards till she found herself close to an -immense ice-floe, and to this they determined to make fast. - -Anchors were at once got out, therefore, and landed and secured. - -The motion was somewhat less after that. - -What was most to be dreaded was a squeeze, for if any of those huge -crystalline bergs were to rush them alongside, poor indeed would be -their hopes of being saved. Indeed the vessel, strong as she was, would -be crushed, as one may crush an egg-shell. - -All hands were now called to endeavour, if possible, to make her more -secure. - -By and by the wind lulled somewhat, and the atmosphere cleared. - -It would only be temporary, however, and well Captain Talbot knew it. - -But they had now a chance of noting their position, and a dangerous one -it was. The open water was getting narrower and narrower, so it was -determined to seek for the safest ice. This was some pancake that lay -to the north of them, so, just sufficient sail was got up to enable the -ship to reach it. - -This she did with safety so far, but the storm came on again with all -its force, and with such fury, that it was found impossible to dock her. - -To work in so choking and suffocating a cloud of ice-dust would have -taken the heart out of anyone, save a true-blue British sailor. -Moreover, as mittened cats cannot easily catch mice, so was it difficult -for the men to work with heavy gloves on, and the order was, not on any -account to take them off. - -One poor fellow who, in a moment of thoughtlessness, pulled off his -mittens, had both hands so badly-frost-bitten that he was incapable of -duty for many many months. - -They were now, however, in a comparatively safe position, for bay or -pancake ice is a protection for a ship, if she has the misfortune to be -frozen up in a pack like this. - -In fate, or rather in Providence, they must put their trust; but -whenever the weather cleared for a spell many an anxious eye was turned -towards two mountainous blocks of green ice that lay only about a -hundred yards to the south of the ship's position. They must have been -about ninety feet out of the water and eight times as much beneath. -Should the wind act with sufficient force on their green glittering -sides it would go hard with the _Flora M'Vayne_. - -This storm lasted not a day only, but over a week, and during all this -time the limit of their vision was bounded but by a few yards. - -Well for all was it that the _Flora_ was strong, for on three separate -occasions the good ship was nipped. This was undoubtedly owing to the -pressure of the big bergs on the pancake ice. - -But the pancake alongside was piled up by this pressure against the -_Flora's_ sides, like a pack of cards. The noise at such times was -indescribable. It was a medley of roaring, shrieking, and caterwauling, -with now and then a loud report, and now and then a dull and startling -thud. - -Moreover, the ice had got under the vessel's bows, and had heaved her up -so high forward, that walking as far as the fo'c's'le was like climbing -a slippery hill. - -Viking, I verily believe, went now and then as far as the bowsprit, just -that he might have the pleasure of sliding down again. But the great -penguin and the monkey, who seemed to have sworn eternal friendship, -preferred remaining below. Moreover, they seemed to think that a seat -in front of the saloon fire was far more comfortable than the galley; -and there they were, a most comical couple indeed, for as old Pen stood -there on his tail, warming first one foot and then another at the stove, -the kind-hearted ape sat close beside him with one arm placed lovingly -around the great bird's shoulder. - -One morning Conal and Frank went on deck as usual. - -The sunrise clouds were still radiantly beautiful in orange, mauve, and -crimson, but the wind was gone, and the storm fled to the back of the -north pole or elsewhere. - -They could see around them, therefore. - -"Why, Frank," cried Conal, scratching his head in astonishment, "where -on earth have they shifted Mount Terror to?" - -Sure enough, the great volcanic mountain on which the young fellow had -so nearly lost his life was a very long way astern indeed, and seemed -endeavouring to hide its diminished head in a cloud of gray-blue mist. - -"The explanation is simple enough, I think," replied Frank. -"They--whoever 'they' may mean--haven't shifted the mountain, but we've -been driven far to the nor'ard with the force of the gale." - -"Oh!" said Conal, laughing, "I know better than that. We've never -moved, Frank. There is the same ice about us still, and our big -neighbours, the icebergs, are yonder also." - -"Well," answered Frank, "we've been like the Irishman on the steamboat, -we've been standing stock-still, yet all the while we've been moving." - -"That's it," said Captain Talbot, who happened to come up at this -moment. "That's it, Conal; Frank's right, and all this vast plain of -snow-clad ice has been in motion northwards, and it has taken us with -it." - -"Wonders will never cease!" said Conal. - -"Not in this world, nor the next either. But breakfast will soon be -ready--earlier this morning, because we're going to work." - -"Oh, by the way, sir, are you going on a balloon voyage now?" - -"Alas!" said Talbot, almost sadly, "that, I fear, will have to be -abandoned for the present cruise. My intentions were excellent, but - - "'The best laid schemes o' mice an' men - Gang aft a-gley, - An' lea'e us nought but grief and pain, - For promised joy'. - -Another day and another voyage will be needed for the balloon -adventures. - -"Well," he added, more cheerily, "our cruise has not been in vain, you -know. I have taken many meteorological observations. We have scaled -the heights of mighty Mount Terror, and we have proved that Right whales -do abound in these seas; so that we have really re-opened a long-lost -industry." - -"We sailed in search of fortune," said Frank; "we have got some, haven't -we, sir?" - -"If we manage to get clear of this somewhat dangerous pack and to reach -Kerguelen Island, I think we'll lay in enough sea-elephant skins and -blubber to make up a rich and splendid cargo. - -"But," he added, looking towards the monster icebergs, "I do wish these -fellows were farther off." - -"I suppose we couldn't blow them up, could we?" said innocent Conal. - -Talbot laughed. - -"My dear boy," he answered, "if we could blow these blocks up, we might -try our skill on the rock of Gibraltar next." - -Although the autumn was already far advanced and dreary winter on ahead, -still Talbot did not despair of getting clear before it came on. - -This forenoon all hands were set at work to clear the ice from under the -bows. - -Hard work indeed, but it was finished eventually with the aid of good -gunpowder. Small cases of this were placed under the packs of pancake -by means of a long pole, and fired with waterproof fuses. The -smashed-up pieces were thrust in under the main pack, and so in time the -_Flora M'Vayne_ found herself on an even keel. - -The officers and crew could breathe more freely now, and sat down to -dinner with that hearty appetite which hard work, if interesting, never -fails to call up. - -A whole month passed away. - -There was no change, and seldom even a breath of wind, but the nights -were now very long indeed, and soon, very soon, it would be all night. - -Another month went slowly by. - -It was now far on in May, and June in these latitudes means the dead -depth of winter. - -"There isn't the ghost of a chance, Morgan," said Talbot one morning -while breakfasting by lamp-light; "there isn't the slightest chance of -our getting clear away from here, till spring winds break up the ice and -carry us north and away." - -Morgan did not answer directly. - -He was thinking. - -"How about provisions, sir?" he asked at last. - -"Well, we ought to have enough of every sort to last for a year, and by -that time, please Heaven, we shall be safe in Cape Town harbour. - -"But," he added, "I was going to talk to you on this very subject." - -"Well, sir." - -"Well, mate, I think it would be as well to take an inventory. Have a -thorough overhaul, you know, and see what condition everything is in." - -The motion was carried. - -But it took them three days--if we can call them days--to complete the -survey and restore everything, in a ship-shape condition, to its place -again. - -The stores were all not only abundant but excellent, with the exception -of some casks of greens that they put much store on. They would now -have to depend upon a daily supply of lime-juice to prevent hands -getting down with the scourge of these seas, namely, scurvy. - -On the very night the survey was ended came another half-gale of wind -from the south. There were the same terrible noises all around them, -and as far as they could make out, the sea of ice was a perfect chaos. - -No one could shout loud enough for his nearest companion to hear him, -and the crew lived in constant terror of the ship being crushed. - -When at long last the storm ceased, they discovered by the starlight, -and very much to their delight, that the terrible neighbours, those -monster bergs, had shifted their site during the gale. - -They had, in fact, driven past the vessel's bows--what a mercy they came -not near!--and were now fully seventy yards down to leeward. - -The wind had fallen quite, and all had become still again. - -"We have reason to be thankful to God for our marvellous escape," said -Talbot. - -"But may not the bergs drift back, or be blown down upon us?" said -Frank, who was of a very inquiring turn of mind. - -"Wherever they drift, Frank, we too shall drift, but the send of the -current or sea beneath us is, I believe, northward now; and if the wind -blows in winter as it must in spring, it will bear us towards the -north-west. So one danger is removed or minimized." - -"Hurrah!" cried Frank, who was nothing if not impulsive, "hurrah!" - -"No chance, I suppose, sir," he said, "of getting any letters from -home?" - -"Not for a day or two, Frank," said Talbot, smiling. - -"Well, but it is a good thing we have books to read, isn't it, Conal?" - -"And pens and ink?" - -"Yes, pens and ink, and my fiddle." - -"And my bagpipes," said Duncan emphatically. - -"Oh, Duncan, we hadn't forgotten that or these." - -"When I get them over my shoulder," said Duncan, "and put my drones in -order, I don't think there will be much chance of your forgetting them." - -Now wild winter had come in earnest, - - "To rule the varied year". - -It did not seem, however, that there was going to be a great deal of -variety about it. - -The wind was gone entirely for the time being, and the strange stars and -Southern Cross shone down on the snowy and radiant plain, with a -brilliancy that is quite unknown in more northern climes. - -Great care was taken to keep the correct time, and to take observations -three times a day. - -A big ice-hole was made a few yards to the port side of the ship, and -although the frost was now very severe indeed, they made a point of -keeping this clear. This hole was about six feet in width, and, later -on, it sufficed not only to draw water from for various purposes, but to -afford some sport, as we shall presently see. - -It had another and more scientific use. For the temperature of the -water could here be taken, not only on the surface but many measured -fathoms below it, and it told also the trend of the currents and their -strength as well. - -The self-same hours for breakfast, dinner, and supper were adhered to, -but the men now had an additional allowance of tea served out to them, -which, on the whole, they preferred to grog. - -Grog, they knew from experience, did not keep up the animal heat, though -it seemed to for a brief spell. Then shivering succeeded. - -As the spectioneer told Duncan, in a climate like this one doesn't quite -appreciate buckets of cold water running down his back. - -Tea time was a happy hour in the saloon. The duties of the day were -practically over, and light though these may have been, each had its -correct time, and nothing was neglected. - -But now the talk was chiefly about home; all thoughts of making fortunes -were banished as not in keeping with the calmness of the hour. - -Cowper's cosy lines come to my memory as I write, and they are in some -measure applicable to the tea-time hour and situation-- - - "Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast; - Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, - And while the bubbling and loudly hissing urn - Throws up a steamy column, and the cups - That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each, - Let us welcome peaceful evening in". - - -Johnnie Shingles it was who assisted the steward in serving out the tea, -and Johnnie looked out for his own share in the pantry when all the rest -were done. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII.--A CHAOS OF ROLLING AND DASHING ICE. - - -Being myself, reader, an "ice man" of some considerable experience, the -manner in which the officers and crew of the beleaguered craft _Flora -M'Vayne_ whiled away the time during their long winter imprisonment may -be said to be painted from the life. - -At first it was supposed that the want of light would be a drawback to -enjoyment, but the steward was one of those men who can turn their hands -to anything, and he proposed making purser's dips from the spare fat. - -He had to manufacture the wicks from cotton refuse, but, this -accomplished, the rest was simple enough. - -Petroleum was burned only in the saloon, and it was stored in a hold -right beneath this for greater safety. - -They had to be saving in the use thereof, however, and as they could -talk as well, if not better, by the flickering light of the fire, the -lamp was always turned out when no one cared to read. But around the -galley fire those purser's dips were a great comfort to the men when not -yarning. For then one man was told off to read while the others sat -around to smoke and listen. - -And thus passed many a quiet and peaceful evening away. - -The men, I am happy to say, did not seem to hanker after grog, and it -was finally agreed by all hands that it would be better to keep it for -what they were pleased to call the spring fishery, or as a stand-by in -case of illness. - -They had plenty of tea and coffee, however, and a daily allowance of -lime-juice. - -Then Saturday nights were kept up in quite the old-fashioned and -pleasant way, and the main-brace was invariably spliced. - -Song succeeded song on these happy occasions, and many a toast was drunk -to the health of the dear ones far away on Britain's shore. - -Nor was dancing neglected, the consequence being that fiddle, guitar, -and clarionet were in great request. As usual, little Johnnie Shingles -and that droll penguin, dressed as a merry old lady, or sometimes as a -modest wee maiden of sweet sixteen, convulsed the onlookers with their -droll antics as they sailed around in the mazy dance. - -But the monkey one evening did not see why he should not also have a -waltz with Madam Pen. - -"Yah--yah--yah!" he cried, as he approached her most coaxingly. - -This was much as to say: "It is our dance, I believe, miss." - -He attempted to take hold of Pen's flippers in the meanwhile, and was -rewarded with a dig between the eyes that sent him reeling back, and so -Jim made no more offers to trip it on the light fantastic toe with Madam -Pen, on this evening or any other. In fact, he used to content himself -with lying in front of the fire with one of Vike's huge paws round his -neck. - -When Pen pecked the monkey he made an ugly scar, but poor kind-hearted -Vike licked it every day several times with his soft warm tongue, and so -it soon healed up. - - ---- - -Frank was by no means a very ambitious boy; he had not very much of the -Scottish dash and go about him, and would at any time have preferred not -doing to-day what could be just as easily done to-morrow, but he was -clever for all that. - -He it was who first attempted fishing in the ice-hole. But the ship had -been imprisoned for well-nigh six weeks before he thought of it. The -fact is, that by this time many of the men began to ail, and a peculiar -kind of lassitude, dulness, and lowness of spirits were the first -symptoms they complained of. Spots then appeared on the skin, every -muscle ached when they moved. They suffered greatly from cold, and even -their countenances grew worn and dusky. - -The awful truth soon flashed upon Talbot's mind: these men were attacked -by scurvy. - -No less than three grew rapidly worse, and died one after the other--in -spite of all that could be done for them. It was sad to listen to their -last ravings and hear them speaking as if to friends at home; to a wife, -a sister, or mayhap a sweetheart. Ah! but this was only when they were -very near to the end. - -A hammock had soon to be requisitioned after this, and the poor fellows -were laid to rest many yards distant from the ship in a cold, icy grave. - -Prayers were said over each, and there they will sleep probably for ever -and for aye. For those buried thus never know decay till the ice around -them may melt millions of years hence. - -No medicine on board had any effect, and five in all were buried before -the plague was stayed. It had been brought on, without doubt, from the -want of fresh provisions, so Frank's idea of fishing adown the ice-hole -was really a happy thought. For a whole day, however, like the apostle -of old, he fished, but caught nothing. But on the day after he hooked a -ray, and then a bonito. - -From that very time fishing became a sport in which all the boys took -part--and the plague soon left the ship. - -Sorrowful indeed was Talbot at the loss of his men, still, grief is but -transient on board ship. In a case like the present it would not do for -it to be otherwise, for nothing is more depressing. - -Moreover, the captain came now to the conclusion that the men had not -enough exercise, so he proceeded at once to put into execution a plan -that would meet the requirements of the case. - -He instituted games on the ice. - -Games in the dark! Is that your remark, reader? - -But it was very far indeed from being dark. There was at the present -time a moon, though it was at no great height above the horizon. Well, -moonlight does not last long anyhow, but the bright beams from the -star-studded heavens were far better than the moon at its best, and -almost dimmed its splendour. - -The sky was wondrously clear, and the stars seemed very large. So close -aboard, too, did they appear to be that you might have thought it -possible to touch them with a fishing-rod. - -There are probably no games so invigorating as those called Scottish, or -more properly Highland. They tend to the expansion of the chest and to -the bracing and strengthening of every muscle in the body. - -So hammer-throwing, weight-putting, leaping, and tossing the caber soon -became the rule every forenoon. Then in the afternoon, and before tea, -Highland dancing was the rage. - -This is dancing in every sense of the word. Quadrilles are only fit for -old folks, and waltzing--well, it is nice enough in a brilliantly-lit -hall, with soft dreamy music and a brilliant partner, but, after all, it -is only just wiping your feet and whirling round. - -A broad sheet of wood was spread on the ice near the ship for Highland -dancing, quite a large platform in fact. - -And Duncan, like Auld Nick in Burns's masterpiece, _Tam o' Shanter_, - - "Screwed his pipes and gart them skirl - Till roof and rafters a' did dirl." - * * * * * - Nae cotillion brent new frae France, - But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels, - Put life and mettle in their heels." - - -But these were not the only amusements the crew went in for, on the -snow-clad ice, for while Conal and Frank were one day visiting those -great bergs, the inventive genius of the latter was once more shown. - -They found that a great portion of one side of the biggest berg was -quite on the slope, and covered with frozen snow. - -"Hurrah!" cried Frank, "I've got another." - -"Another what?" - -"Why, another idea. This iceberg is just suited for tobogganing." - -"Now," he added, "we sha'n't say a word to anybody till we try it -ourselves first." - -They, however, took the carpenter into their confidence, and he made -them tiny sledges to sit upon. The slide was on a pretty gradual slope -and altogether was about a hundred yards long from the top. Steps were -cut at one side to make the getting up easy, and Frank himself was the -first to make the descent. - -"It is simply glorious!" This was his report. - -"Flying," he added, "isn't in it." - -And Conal himself confirmed this statement as soon as he himself had -gone rushing down. - -After this the great toboggan slide was in daily request, and the sound -that came from the big berg was like the roaring of stones on a Scottish -curling pond. - -But high above the rushing noise, came the shouting and laughter of the -merry-makers. - -Poor Viking could not understand it, and I suppose he came to the -conclusion that his human friends had all lost hold of the tiny supply -of common-sense, which human beings can boast of. - -But what with these games and dances, and then fun on board, the health -of the crew continued excellent, though ever around the galley-fire at -night (I mean before bed-time or at the tea hour) the men talked of -home. - -I myself, like most seafarers,--well, call us sailors if that sounds -better,--dearly love - - "A life on the ocean wave - And a home on the rolling deep, - Where the scattered waters rave - And the winds their revels keep". - -Yet wherever in this world I have been there always seemed to be a -magnetic needle in my heart, and it always pointed to Home. - - "Where'er we roam, whatever lands we see - Our hearts untramelled fondly turn to thee - * * * * * - Such is the patriot's boast; where'er we roam, - Our first, best country, ever is at home." - - -On the whole, during their long imprisonment, the officers and crew of -the good barque _Flora M'Vayne_ kept up their hearts. - -At long last the sun came nearer and nearer the northern horizon. For -days before he rose there was a twilight of about two hours. Then a -galaxy of the loveliest clouds were lit up, but still no sun. - -Before noon on the day after, however, Frank and Conal, who seemed now -to be inseparable, climbed to the top of the tobogganing berg, and soon -after caught a glimpse of the glorious sun. - -Neither could speak for a time, and indeed tears were trickling down -Frank's face, which he took no trouble to hide. For, as we have seen -before, he was a very impressionable lad. - -"Oh, the sun! the sun!" That was all he said, but next minute both were -waving their hats to those on board and shouting: - -"The sun! the sun!" - -And such a cheer uprose from that long-imprisoned ship, as never before -probably was heard in these southern regions of perpetual snow and ice. - -High above all, the boys could hear the barking of noble Vike. - -Yes, but a moment after, and high above even that, across the -intervening ice came the wild skirl of Duncan's Highland bagpipe. - -Duncan was playing the March of the Cameron Men as he walked boldly up -and down in the waist of the ship, while Frank and Conal on the -ice-block could not help chiming in with just one verse of that brave -old song, which has thrilled so many a heart on bank or brae or -battlefield: - - "Ah! proudly they march, though each Cameron knows - He may tread on the heather no more, - Yet boldly he follows his chief to the field - Where his laurels were gathered before". - - -"Yes, Frank, but we shall tread the heather again, sha'n't we, friend?" - -"I hope so, and I mean to have a good try anyhow," was Frank's hearty -reply. - - ---- - -Their dangers, however, were not all over yet. Not by a deal. In a -still ice-pack like that in which they had lain so long, there is not -very much to be feared except the danger of a nip or jam. But when the -ice begins to open and the wind begins to blow, ah! then toil and -trouble commence in earnest. - -From observations, Captain Talbot now discovered that the immense field -of ice on which they had been lying, had been gradually forcing its way -on the current almost directly north, and that even Mount Sabine and the -Admiralty Mountains were now a long way astern to the west. - -And soon now the wind began to blow and howl; almost half a gale from -the south-east by east. The noise, as it roared through the rigging and -bare poles, was almost deafening, but this did not prevent these brave -mariners from hearing every now and then the loud explosions on the -ice-pack that heralded the breaking up of the whole, and that had been -but a day or two ago a vast plain strong enough to have reviewed all the -artillery in the world upon, would soon be but a chaos of rolling, -dashing ice. The storm continued for more than a week, and all that -time--every hour, in fact--the _Flora M'Vayne_ had been in peril and -danger. - -Gallant ship! How well she stood the squeezing, the cannonading, the -battering! A vessel less strong in every timber, or one built of teak -instead of Scottish oak would have collapsed and gone down in a few -minutes, carrying the crew with her, or leaving them almost naked, -hungry, and helpless on the pack, to die a death ten times more cruel -than drowning. - -She got perilously near to the shore at last, however. It must have been -somewhere close to Yule or Robertson Bay, for Cape Adare had been left a -long way astern. - -They were close enough to see that certain destruction awaited them if -unable to change their position. The pancake and bay ice was piled along -the rugged shore, hills high, one piece above another, by the terrible -force of wind and current. - -When soundings were taken, and it was found that there was but little -depth of water to spare, and that even this was gradually lessening, -then both Morgan and the skipper became alarmed. - -"We must set sail," said the latter, "and try to bring her up a few -points, or, depend upon it, our risky voyage will come to a sudden end." - -All hands were called. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV.--"HEAVE, AND SHE GOES! HURRAH!" - - -"All hands on deck! Tumble up, my lads! Tumble up!" - -The men needed no second bidding. They did tumble up, every man Jack of -them, as merrily as if marriage-bells had called them. - -"All hands unship rudder!" - -That was the next order. For there was great danger of this being -dashed to pieces by the cruel ice. - -The rudder was about the only vulnerable portion of the ship indeed. - -Two whole hours were spent at this work, for the men, unlike those who -sail to Arctic regions, had never been drilled to such work. - -The short day had almost worn to a close before the job was finished. - -But sail was now got on her, and by means of long poles, twenty men -overboard on the ice managed not only to clear the way for her by -shoving the pieces to one side, but also to steer the vessel, by keeping -her head in the right direction. - -Frank was sent to the foretop-gallant masthead to see if he could, by -aid of the telescope, descry water to the nor'ards. - -The sun was almost setting in the north-west, and there was plenty of -light, but no water was visible, only the great white ocean of snow-clad -ice, all in motion. - -The scene was indeed a strange and impressive one, and after shouting -down that there was no open water anywhere in sight, Frank stayed in the -cross-trees for quite a long time, hardly ever feeling the cold, so -interested was he in all he saw around him. - -One thing, however, was evident, namely, that the huge iceberg on which -they had spent so many merry hours tobogganing was fast aground down to -leeward of them. - -The ship passed it slowly. - -"Good-bye, old chap," Frank could not help saying. "Sorry we can't take -you to England with us, but can't see our way. By, by! See you later -on, perhaps." - -Then slowly he came below to the deck. - -He was happy that it was just tea-time. The ship was now considered out -of present danger, but watch after watch must remain on the ice to pole -and guide, perhaps for days to come. - -"I want," the skipper said, "to make a good offing, for I don't half -like the look of the land in there, and should prefer to show it a pair -of clean heels, and, please God, we shall before long." - -The tea was very comforting, and in spite of the noise above of high -winds and flapping sails, the saloon was very jolly and cosy indeed, and -Frank was in no hurry to go on deck again. - -"Hullo! what is that?" said Talbot, "someone tumbled down the -companion?" - -"Yes," said Conal laughing, "but it is only Old Pen. He finds that the -most expeditious way of getting below now. He just throws himself on -his back, head down, and toboggans down the steps." - -And a second or two after, Pen appeared in the doorway, and looked -wonderingly at the group assembled round the fire. - -"You all look very snug here," he seemed to say. "Is there room for poor -Old Pen among you?" - -"Come along, Pen," said Conal, "we can always make room for you. Sit -there on your tail beside Vike, and warm your soles." - -"Yah--yah--yah!" cried the monkey, offering Pen a cockroach in quite a -friendly way. But delicious as this might be, the bird preferred a bit -of tinned salmon. - -"Pen," said Duncan, "knows on what side his bread is buttered." - -The bird eyed him knowingly, as, leaning on his tail, he held one broad -foot up to the blaze. - -"Pen", he seemed to say, "prefers his bread buttered on both sides." - -It was comparatively late to-night before anyone thought of retiring. -Moreover, it was Frank's "all night in", but I do not think he slept a -great deal. There was noise enough on deck, aloft, and around the bows -on the ice to have awakened Rip Van Winkle himself, but slumber he did -at last, though only to revisit in dreams his native land, and the wild -and lonesome grandeur of romantic Scotland. - -Nay, but I ought not to say lonesome, for how could he feel lonesome -with his sweetheart Flora walking by his side, or darting off every now -and then to chase a butterfly, or cull some rare and beautiful flower. - -Ah! he could not help thinking, even in his dreams, if life were ever -ever like this. Late in the middle watch he was awakened in a very -unceremonious way indeed. In fact he was well-nigh pitched clean and -clear out of his bunk. He wondered what was up, for there was a more -sea-like motion about the ship. But, sailor-like, he just turned upon -his back and went off to sleep again. - -The explanation was simple. The ship had struck a very wide lane of -open water. Open to a great extent that is, for many a dangerous and -nasty piece of green ice battered the sides of the vessel as, glad to be -free, she went dashing through the open water under all sail that could -be safely carried. Boats, also under sail, were ahead of her to keep -her in the right course. - -But at daybreak the captain himself went aloft, and noticing that the -open water was visible at least a dozen miles ahead, and that the lane -grew wider towards the north, he had the main-yard hauled aback. The -boats were then hoisted, and all the crew bore a hand in shipping the -rudder once more. - -The breeze still held, and a splendid day's record was made nor was -there at night any reason to fear danger. - -The pieces of ice, however, lay about in all directions, and sometimes -three or four appeared ahead, suddenly too. As these could not always -be avoided, the plan was to select the largest and steer straight -stem-on to that. It is better to do so than to be struck on the -broadside by a heavy piece. - -But as she sailed through streams of smaller pieces the noise of the -cannonading, as heard down below, was sometimes quite deafening. - -It would have been very nice for all on board had this lane of water -conducted the ship right out into the open northern ocean. - -It did not, however, for by and by the wind fell, and slowly, but -surely, the sides of the great natural canal came closer and closer -together, and finally the good ship _Flora M'Vayne_ was again completely -beset, with no signs of water even from the mast-head. - -Only all around was the white and dazzling pack. For a whole fortnight, -or over, the frost continued, and never a cloud was seen. - -One day, however, the active and busy little Frank Trelawney discovered, -from the crow's-nest--a barrel high up on the main truck--a cloud no -bigger than a man's hand, away down on the southern horizon. - -It slowly increased, and before many hours was a huge and rolling mass -of cumulus. - -Other clouds also were rolling up, and it was evident they were bringing -the wind with them. - -About the same time the temperature rose, but the glass fell -considerably, so that the skipper and Morgan shook their heads -ominously. - -"We're going to have a big blow, sir," said the latter. - -"That is so, mate, and we are not in a very enviable situation." - -"Listen, sir!" - -The mate held up his finger. - -There was a succession of loud reports almost alongside, and the -screeching and caterwauling sounds that followed, showed that the ship -was being nipped. - -"We're in for it, mate; but she has a nicely-rounded bottom, and will -rise twenty feet rather than be staved in. - -"But," he added, "we can't afford to lose our rudder, so we'll have that -unshipped once more." - -This was done, and probably only in time, for the pressure increased -every hour. - -It was evident now the ship would rise if the ice did not go clean -through her. - -She did rise, and that too with a vengeance, for by next morning she was -lying almost on her beam-ends on the adjoining floe. - -The yard-arms had been hauled fore-and-aft, else they would have touched -the snow. - -To live on board now was impossible for days and days to come. - -But boats and provisions were landed, and every preparation made to -journey northward over the great ice-pack, should the ship go down after -again righting herself. - -The wind was bitterly cold, even in the poor ship's lee, but they -managed to light fires and to cook, though it was indeed a wretched -time. - -Enveloped in rugs, the boys, with Viking, huddled together at night, but -for a long time after lying down sleep was impossible. And when slumber -did at last seal their eyes, the dreams they dreamt were far indeed from -pleasant. - -But now came a warm and almost pleasant wind from the north-north-west, -and the ice began to open. - -Captain Talbot's anxiety was now at its greatest, for there was water on -the starboard side of the ship and the berg or floe on which she lay. - -Ropes were therefore attached to her masts, and all hands upon the ice -bent on to these, pulling slowly with a long pull and a strong pull. - -For more than an hour they made no impression on the vessel, and it was -evident the cargo had shifted somewhat. - -Talbot gave the steward an order to splice the mainbrace. - -He countermanded this almost immediately after, however, for it was now -evident the vessel was doing her best to get righted. - -"Pull now, lads! Pull steadily all! Heave-oh and she comes!" - -Every hand is laid on the ropes; every nerve is braced, and the veins -start on the men's perspiring foreheads as they keep up the strain. - -Viking barks as if to encourage them. - -It is all the poor dog can do. - -"Heave and she goes! Heave and she rips! Hurrah! lads, hurrah!" - -"She is coming, boys! Heave-oh, again! Another pull does it! Easy! -Slack off! Hurrah!" - -A wild cheer rent the air as the brave and sturdy barque slid downwards -off the floe and took the water like a duck or a penguin. - -The men and officers paused now to wipe their faces. - -Then all hands got on board and manned the pumps. - -No, she was safe. Not a drop of extra water had she made, or was -making. - -What a relief! - -The sun was already sinking low on the horizon, and his last beams lit -up the great snow plain 'twixt the ship and sky, as if a canal of -crimson blood was there. - -Talbot was happy now. The recovery of the ship from her serious -position was like a good omen, so, as soon as everything was got on -board, he thought it high time to splice the main-brace. - -And so did the men also. - - ---- - -All hands were as merry that night as the winning team after a football -match. - -The wind had gone down, but the weather continued fairly mild, and there -was not a sound to be heard on the pack. - -On board, however, there were plenty of sounds--sounds of mirth and -music in the galley. For Frank had gone forward with his fiddle, and a -dance was the natural consequence. - -Johnnie Shingles, and old mother Pen, were once more in glorious form, -and their dancing brought down the house, and elicited rounds and rounds -of applause. - -Then dancing became general. - -But the fatigues of the day had been very great, so that it is no wonder -pipes were soon got out, and a wide and cheerful circle formed about the -fire. Songs and yarns were now to be the order of the evening, and -although it was not Saturday night it bore a very strong resemblance to -it. - -Just one song--written and sung by Frank himself, was to-night twice -encored. As to its composition I say nothing, except that everything -pleases the true-born British sailor that has got the ring of the sea -about it. - - FRANK'S SONG. - - And now, my boys, sit round the fire, - And pass the glasses round; - Our troubles all we'll soon forget - When we are homeward bound. - - Ah! many a danger we've defied, - We've weathered many a gale, - Nor stormiest seas, nor grinding ice, - Have ever made us quail! - - Though bergs are still about us, boys, - Far north the billows sound, - And we'll welcome every breeze that blows, - When we are homeward bound. - - Why should we mourn for pals we've lost, - Or let the tear-drops fall, - They sleep in peace, their sorrows o'er, - Beneath the snow's soft pall. - - So crowd around the fire, dear lads, - And pass the glasses round; - Our friends are moored on heavenly shores-- - And we are homeward bound. - - - - -CHAPTER XV.--THE ISLES OF DESOLATION. - - -If to be sailing northwards and east with a spanking breeze, and the -great sea of southern ice in which, and on which, so many adventures had -been had, was being homeward bound--then were our heroes homeward bound. - -It is a nice thing to sing about anyhow of an evening around a cheerful -fire; but ah! as I've said before there is many a slip 'twixt the cup -and the lip, and there is nothing certain at sea save the unexpected. - -However, bold Captain Talbot had no intentions of returning to England -with what he called only half a voyage. - -"I'm going to do my level best," he told the boys about a fortnight -after they had got clear and away, "to have a bumper ship, that shall -recoup us all for our outlay, to say nothing of our sufferings." - -"And now we're bearing up for Kerguelen, aren't we?" said Conal. - -"That's the place, lad; and I'm a Dutchman if we don't find the -elephant-seals there in countless thousands." - -"And when we fill up, what then?" - -"O, that question I was considering last night in bed, and I've -concluded we had better leave our cargo at the Cape. We can sell well -there at present, for oil is much needed. Then we shall clean ship -thoroughly, and sail northwards by the Indian Ocean, picking up a cargo -at the Cape, at Zanzibar, and wherever else we can find it. We can't go -wrong." - -"And back home through the Suez Canal. Is that your idea, sir?" said -the mate. - -"You've hit it completely, Morgan." - -"You must remember," he continued after a pause, during which he had -been watching the smoke that curled from his lips towards the roof of -the saloon, "that I look upon this only as an experimental voyage, and -as such it hasn't proved altogether a failure. We shall clear our feet -and pay our way, boys; and our adventures will be the theme of many a -lecture when at last we reach the old country. - -"And not that only, for our success will enable us to float a good -company for sealing and steam-whaling in the Antarctic seas. You see, -boys, I've been north and south. I've been what you well may term from -pole to pole. Well, my opinion is, that although the Arctic lies -handier to our own doors than the Antarctic, still it is almost played -out. They have been going it among the baby seals a trifle too fast, -and have given them no close season, so though I don't say they've -killed them nearly all off, still they have scared them pretty -considerably, and the modern Arctic seal isn't the innocent confiding -creature he was in the days of my boyhood. No, he has got far more -wary, and so packs of them are more difficult to find than formerly. - -"And as for Right whales, well, they are far wiser than we have any idea -of. Their kingdom is a boundless one. It is the ocean wild and wide, -and if they cannot have peace to gather in schools, and enjoy their -little parties in the north, why, they are free to come to the -Antarctic. And that is just what they have done. - -"Well, lads, we shall do something in it, be assured. But we've got to -have steam. Strong screw steamers with all appliances to repair damages -of every kind; and steam ice-hammers as well. You've thrown in your lot -with me, boys, and my name isn't Talbot if I don't help you to make a -good thing of it." - -"The Antarctic is very far away from England," said Frank thoughtfully. - -"There you're right, lad. You are thinking of the expense?" - -"Yes." - -"Ah! but our company will not bring their ships home to Britain. No, -they will cruise from the Antarctic to the very nearest markets--in -Australia, for instance. And so it will pay. For should we lose a ship -or two, well, the insurance companies must pay that, and they are well -able to. - -"So that is my scheme, boys, and, on the whole, I don't think it is a -bad one. There are so few ways of making fortunes nowadays that when -one gets the ball at his foot, he is a fool if he does not hit it as -hard as he knows how to." - - ---- - -The voyage to the Kerguelen islands was a very propitious one, and every -one on board the sturdy _Flora M'Vayne_ was as happy as the day was -long. Vike seemed to have got a new lease of life, and wallowed in the -sunshine. - -"It is such a change, you know," he told Conal, "and I believe we'll -soon be back once more in bonnie Scotland, and won't I tear around the -hills just!" - -The monkey was less melancholy now, and the cough which troubled him so -much while in the ice, appeared to have quite gone. - -And old Pen seemed to be almost beside himself with delight. He used to -go tearing along the decks, flapping his wings and shrieking as if -possessed, and even in his calmer moods he would sometimes leap up -suddenly and practise waltzing all alone. - -There was a delightful breeze nearly all the time. If not astern it was -a beam wind, and so the _Flora_ went ripping through the dark-blue seas, -every wave of which sparkled in the sunshine. - -Many whales were seen, but as Talbot depended most on getting among the -elephants now, boats were never lowered to go whaling. - -Frank spent much of his time in the crow's-nest. - -He was not afraid to swing through the sky at that giddy height, -although the first time he clambered up he believed that the crew would -have to lower him down with block-and-tackle, he was so thoroughly -frightened. - -"On deck there!" rang the young fellow's voice one forenoon from the -nest. - -"Ay, ay, lad," from the skipper. - -"Land in sight!" - -"Where away?" - -"On the starboard bow." - -"And what does it look like?" - -"I can only raise some mountain cones. They seem volcanic, and their -sides are covered with snow." - -"Bravo! Come down and I'll get up myself." - -Frank was soon on deck. - -"Well done, Frank," said Talbot laughing. "I promised a pair of canvas -trousers to the man who should first sight land, and you shall have -them." - -"Yes, thank you, and I shall wear them too." - -Away went the skipper up to the crow's-nest, and before long came an -order to alter the course a point or two. - -Close to the Islands of Desolation, as Kerguelen is called, it was fully -a week before the _Flora M'Vayne_ was able to reach and enter one of the -friths or creeks. For on the very day on which land was sighted a -fearful hurricane swept down on the ship, and so suddenly, too, that -before sails could be taken in many were rent into ribbons, that cracked -and rattled with a sound like the independent firing of troops in -action. There was no standing against wind of this awful violence, and -it was necessary to run for it under what is termed "bare poles", that -is, the smallest amount of sail that can be carried with steering power. - -But Kerguelen is the region of hurricanes, and few ships that visit -these wild shores escape with impunity. - -The coast of the chief islands was found to be iron-bound, high, barren, -and rocky, but when they entered and sailed along one of the creeks, -scenery of quite a different kind was met with. - -It would be difficult indeed to exaggerate the strange, wild, but -solitary beauty of this scenery. Solitary, that is, as regards sight or -sign of human being. - -But bird life was in evidence everywhere; in fact, Kerguelen might be -called the home of the sea-birds. They have seen but little of man, -however, and know nothing of his evil or demoniacal ways. They look -upon him only as a curious kind of biped, of the penguin species, but -without feathers. - -Well, when Duncan or Frank went on shore for a walk with the skipper, -the gulls, the petrels, the penguins, the albatrosses, and cormorants -flew around them in thousands, and the din they made was almost -deafening. - -Nor were our heroes free altogether from their attentions, which -sometimes were rather of an objectionable character, especially when -students of nature in the shape of huge yellow-cheeked penguins waddled -up to the place where they were sitting, and began examining their -jackets with the greatest curiosity. Pecking holes in them, too, and -pulling at them. - -When rudely thrust off they would retire but a little way, and stand -watching the boys with great interest. - -"Well, I never!" they seemed to say, looking at them from one side of -their heads. - -"Well, I'm gee-whizzled!" gazing at them with the other. - -"Penguins, aren't you? But the ugliest lot ever we saw. We really -wonder your mothers allow you go about like that!" - -To-day Captain Talbot and his boys went exploring, but a man was with -them to carry the game they killed, and these consisted chiefly of ducks -and rabbits. The former showed no fear, but the latter scurried away at -once. - -They journeyed far inland, and made many interesting discoveries, which -proved that these islands are not so utterly useless as they are -supposed to be. Indeed, they could be worked profitably both for coals -and oil. - -And Talbot made a general survey of the regions traversed and took ample -notes. - -"This would make an excellent centre for our great Antarctic whaling and -sealing expedition," he said. "And you and I, boys, might build -ourselves a house just under the shelter of these green lichen-clad -rocks yonder." - -"Oh, it would be awfully nice!" cried Frank. - -"And couldn't we have a garden?" - -"Yes, and plant and grow crops." - -"And trees?" - -"Yes, again, and if we are spared to come back here we shall bring with -us a few hundreds of young pine-trees--Scotch, and spruce--and plenty of -seed." - -"How delightful! I should like so much to be a Crusoe. But listen! -Surely that was a dog barking high up the hill yonder." - -And so it was, for next moment down came Vike with a rabbit in his -mouth. - -"Why, Vike," cried Duncan, "we left you on board." - -"Very likely," said Vike, speaking with his tail and eyes as he lay -there panting from his exertions, with about two yards--more or less--of -pink tongue hanging out over his alabaster teeth. "Very likely, but -five hundred yards of a swim isn't much to a dog like me. And what is -more. Wowff, wowff! you had no business to bolt away without me. -Wowff! Don't do it again!" - -"Well, now," said Talbot to his mate next day at breakfast, "what do you -say to stay here till we lay in a real good cargo, for outside the -elephants are in thousands, and the poor things have young beside them -too." - -"The idea is excellent, sir," said Morgan, "and I have another." - -"Out with it, mate. We can't have too many ideas in this world, if we -mean to be successful. These ideas of ours don't all hold water; but -then we can go over them at our leisure and pick out the best." - -"That's it, sir. Well, why not get all the skins we can procure, and -then make off the oil. Coals are plentiful on shore, and we have -cauldrons, you know." - -"Bravo! Morgan. That is just what we shall do." - -So after breakfast boats were called away, and returned in the evening -laden to the gunwales. - -So the vessel was shifted nearer to the open sea, and thus the whalers -could go and return twice or even thrice in one day with their hauls. - -It was no easy work, you may well believe, when I tell you that the skin -and blubber of one of these huge sea-elephants sometimes weighed eight -hundred-weight. - -Poor, great, innocent brutes, it did seem a shame to kill their young -before their eyes! The sight of the blood made mothers and fathers -frantic, and they rushed on shore as if bent on revenge, but only to -fall victims to the rifles of the gunners. - -It was a bloody and terrible scene, and I have no desire to describe it. -Indeed, were I to tell the reader one quarter of the cruelties I have -seen enacted by sealers, I should so harrow his feelings that his dreams -would not be pleasant for one night afterwards. - -Not merely for a fortnight, but for more than three weeks did the -_Flora_ lie at Kerguelen, but in a sheltered cove, so that the -hurricanes, that on four or five different occasions swept down from the -mountains with terrific violence, had but little effect on her. By this -time they had boiled down all their oil, salted all their skins and -tanked them, and were in reality a bumper ship. - -I must not forget one little incident that took place about a week after -their arrival. - -One day that extremely wise and wondrous bird, Old Pen, went hopping -down the starboard gangway and leapt into the sea. - -Vike, who had been observing him, sprang right off the bulwark and tried -most energetically to head him off. - -The bird and dog met face to face, and it really seemed as if a -conversation somewhat as follows took place. - -Old Pen: "Hullo, what's your game?" - -Viking: "I'm going to rush you back to your ship." - -O. P.: "Your grandmother! I won't be rushed. I can swim better than -you, and dive like a fish-hawk. So don't let us quarrel. In spring, you -know, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. I've got -an appointment on shore here. Ta, ta! Be as good's ye can." - -Vike: "But I say, Old Pen--" - -Old Pen had dived and was out of sight, and so Vike swam sadly back to -the ship once more. - -Just a few hours, however, before the anchor was got up, and while the -crew were busy shaking out the sails before departing for the far west, -something between a squawk and a squeal was heard alongside, and, sure -enough, there was Old Pen come back again. - -He was assisted on board, and shook himself as unconcernedly as if -nothing unusual had happened. - -But Viking's delight knew no bounds, nor did that of little Johnnie -Shingles. The former went tearing round and round the deck, like a -hairy hurricane. - -"If I don't allay my feelings thus," cried Vike, "I shall go clean off -my chump." - -Now it happened that Frank was on deck with his fiddle, ready to play to -the men as they got up the anchor. - -But, seeing how matters stood, he instantly struck up a lively -schottische. - -"Squawk--s--squaw--awk!" cried Old Pen, waving his flippers. - -"Hurray!" cried Johnnie, and next moment he and his strange partner were -whirling round and round on the quarter-deck, in one of the maddest, -merriest dances that surely ever yet was seen. - -And I don't believe there was a soul on board who was not rejoiced that -Old Pen had returned once again. - -That evening they were far away on the quiet and lonesome sea, and, -standing by the fire in the saloon warming his flat feet, one by one, as -usual, was Old Pen, while near him, sound asleep, lay Vike. - -"Awfully good of the bird to come off in time, wasn't it, boys?" said -the skipper, relighting his pipe. "If he hadn't come back I should have -believed I was about to be deserted by all my good fortune. - -"We are glad to see you, Pen, and hope you'll never leave us again. But -what put it into your silly noddle to go away at all, Pen?" - -Pen made two hops of the space between him and the captain. Then -leaning his head on his knee he looked up drolly with one eye--which -being half-closed gave him the appearance of winking. - -"I did think of getting spliced, you know," he seemed to say, "and more -than one lovely Lady Pen asked me to fly with her to a foreign shore. -Nary a fly," says I, "not if Pen knows it. Marriage is a precarious -kind of experiment, so after flirting around for a bit I remembered my -old friends and just floated off again." - - ---- - -Fine weather all the way to the Cape, with stunsails set 'low and aloft -most of the time. - -Ah, reader, there isn't much to beat the life a sailor leads after all! - -In foul weather? Yes, foul or fine, and it isn't always blowing big -guns at sea. - -And Jack has no undergrowth of care to curl round the very roots of his -life, and try to swamp him. - -If he does his duty--and what real sailor doesn't?--he may be as happy -and jolly as the Prince of Wales, only a vast deal more so. - -Besides, what Jack afloat is there, who has not some loved one to think -of when far away at sea; someone that he knows right well is thinking, -ay, and praying, for him. So even in storm and in danger Jack may sing: - - "Blow high, blow low, let tempests tear - The main-mast by the board; - My heart with thoughts of thee, my dear, - And love well stored, - Shall brave all danger, scorn all fear. - The roaring winds, the raging sea, - In hopes on shore, - To be once more, - Safe moor'd with thee." - - ---- - -The crow's-nest had been taken down, but stride-legs on the -foretop-gallant cross-trees sat Frank one sunny forenoon. Gently to and -fro swings the ship, the top-masts forming the arc of a great circle. -But Frank minds not the motion. - -He is an ancient mariner now. - -Or he thinks he is. - -"On deck there!" - -It is a shout which is half hysterical with joy. - -"Land on the lee-bow. The Cape, sir! The Cape!" - -Then a cheer rises up from far below that makes the very sails shiver. - -Vike starts up and barks, and taking this for an invitation to dance, -Old Pen with a squawk and a squeal springs up, and next minute Johnnie -Shingles and he are wheeling round in fine style on the quarter-deck. - -"Land! Land! Land!" And, for a time at least, the dangers of the deep -are past. - - BOOK III. - - IN THE LAND OF THE NUGGET AND DIAMOND. - - - - -CHAPTER I.--SHIPWRECK ON A LONELY ISLE. - - -This book opens amidst scenery far different indeed from that which I -had to describe in my last. - -I should like the reader to bear in mind that my youthful heroes were -very far indeed from being mercenary, and were just at that age, when -wild adventure appeals to the heart of a young fellow who has any spark -of manhood in his composition. - -Certainly they had sailed in search of fortune, but it was not on their -own account they were seeking for wealth, as I have endeavoured to show. - -Well, even already, they had been fairly fortunate. They had not buried -their talents in the earth, nor in the ocean either, and at the Cape of -Good Hope their cargo brought them in so much, that the fortunes of all -who had a share in the ship was not only doubled but tripled. - -They had, immediately after clearing out, employed a gang of heathens, -as Morgan always called people with dark skins, to thoroughly scour and -disinfect the ship. They had been employed for days at the work, under -the lash of a ganger, the ganger himself being under the watchful eye of -Morgan the first mate. - -And so the work was perfectly done. - -Then fresh and cleanly cargo was laid in, which would doubtless fetch a -big price in the London market. This consisted of wool, firmly bound -and packed into small compass; ostrich feathers, and wine, to say -nothing of curios. They did not quite fill up, however, hoping to make -even better bargains up the coast. - -And so they did, especially as regards ostrich feathers, gum copal, -pepper, nutmegs and arrow-root. - -They called at Zanzibar, one of the strangest cities on earth, and here, -while the _Flora M'Vayne_ lay quietly at anchor in the beautiful open -roadstead, where floated ships bearing the ensigns of at least half a -dozen different nations, the boys went on shore, taking Vike with them, -and enjoyed most thoroughly not only rambles through the crowded -streets, but out in the beautiful bush, where they could revel in the -rarest and most delicious fruits the world can grow. - -I need but mention mangoes, guavas, and cocoa-nuts, to say nothing of -huge pine-apples, with the tropical sun-tints on their rough but shining -rinds, and perfume as sweet even as their luscious taste and flavour. - -But here were no wild adventures, so that the lads were not sorry when -the anchor was once more weighed, and the ship far away on the heaving -sea. - -It was the captain's intention to be towed through the canal, but lo! -and alas! from the very first day of their leaving Zanzibar misfortune -attended them. - -One of these terrible circular storms, all too common in the Indian -Ocean, and called typhoons, came roaring down upon them with scarcely a -minute's warning. - -The higher sails were blown into ribbons, the topgallant masts carried -away, and the gallant ship thrown so much on her beam-ends, that the -water came over the lee rails. - -She righted again, it is true. And speedily too; and now like some -living frightened creature she literally flew before the fearful storm. - -As speedily as possible the sails that were not split were taken in. -This was a very dangerous employment, and one poor fellow was blown off -the yardarm. - -Nicholson was his name, and he was a powerful swimmer, but useful though -this art of swimming is, what could it avail him in a sea like that! - -For just a moment or two his brave and handsome face was seen among the -surf in the wake. - -He waved his hand once, as if bidding his comrades all adieu, then sank -to rise no more. - -As a rule, circular storms do not last for a very long time, and a good -sailor like Talbot knows how to manoeuvre his ship so as to get clear as -speedily as possible; but this typhoon ended in a gale, which in force -was quite a hurricane. - -And this kept on for several days. - -The last night was the worst. About six o'clock in the evening the sun -went down in a brassy haze, behind the foam-crested turmoil of waves; -and the wind seemed still on the increase. - -Not a star to-night. - -It was pitchy dark, for the horizon was close aboard of the -storm-tormented ship, and the clouds may have been half a mile in depth. -There were two men at the wheel, and those who had to keep watch were -fain to lash themselves to rigging or shrouds. - -But keeping watch is here but a figure of speech. What watch could be -kept in a dark so dark? There was no thunder that could be heard, but -the occasional flashes of lightning that dazzled the eyes one moment -only rendered the darkness more intense the next. - -It must have been about four bells in the first watch, and those in the -saloon were trying to obtain a kind of scrambling supper. Old Pen had -come aft, and Vike was here too. Both knew that to-night there was -danger on the deep. - -Suddenly there came a shout from those on deck, this was followed by a -crashing sound like the splintering of masts, a loud grating noise, and -then all motion ceased. - -"We are doomed, boys, but we must still continue to have faith in our -heavenly Father." - -"Do you think, sir," faltered Frank, "that--that we are wrecked?" - -"We are driven on shore, lad, but where, it is impossible to say." - -The ship was already battened down, so that, although the seas were -making a clean breach over her, there was no immediate danger. - -The mate found his way below. - -His oil-skins were glittering with water, and his red face dripping too. - -He shook the drops from his brown beard and sat down, with a strange -uneasy kind of smile on his face. - -"Not much to be done, is there, Morgan?" - -"Nothing," replied the mate. "Seems to me we've just got to sit here -and wait for death." - -"Is that the view you take?" - -A terrible wave at that moment dashed over the vessel, shaking her from -stern to stem. - -"Hark, sir! Isn't that the view you take?" - -"While there is life there is hope, my friend." - -The mate laughed half scornfully. - -"There won't be much of either half an hour after this," he said -solemnly. - -The captain now essayed to go on deck. He ventured forward only a step -or two. To have come farther would have been sheer madness. - -Morgan was right. They had only to wait for death. - -Wait and pray, however. - -Ah, yes! for God the Lord is everywhere, on sea as well as on the dry -land, and prayer is never denied us. - -Morgan's half-hour was past, and another to that; still the sturdy ship -gave no signs of breaking up. - -On the contrary, the wind had gone down considerably, and the seas as -well. - -"Mate," said Talbot. - -"Yes, sir." - -"Are the men below?" - -"Three, I think, were washed away; the rest are all in the galley or -half-deck." - -"It is very dreadful. But we have hope now. An hour ago I should not -have ventured to serve out grog, lest in despair some might have broken -into the spirit-hold. Come with me now, mate, and we will splice the -main-brace. Come, steward, you know what is wanted." - -It was very difficult even yet to get forward, so covered was the deck -with wreckage. But they succeeded at last. - -Sad, indeed, was the sight that dawn revealed. - -The mizzen-mast alone was left standing, the fore and main having gone -by the board. - -The ship herself had been carried by a huge tidal wave, right in between -two high volcanic-looking rocks, and there so jammed that at low tide it -was perfectly possible to walk under keel. - -Jibboom and bowsprit were also smashed, and a single glance at the ship -would have told even a landsman that she was doomed. - -Nor would it be safe even to remain on board, for at any time she might -slide backwards and lie on the shingle beneath, broadside up. - -Talbot was no pessimist. - -"Thank God, boys," he said, "that our lives have been spared." - -"Amen!" was said by all around, and that, too, with both reverence and -fervour. - -But the wind had fallen almost to a dead calm, and there was not a sound -to be heard except the rustle of the shingle as it was hurled upon the -beach by each advancing wavelet, and sucked back by the next. - -"Now, men," cried the captain, "we'll go to breakfast at once, and then -make all speed to land the cargo and stores. This island is evidently -uninhabited, and it may be many a long day, indeed, before we are -discovered and able to get away." - -On the shore side, and between the rocks, was a green bank, and into -this the shattered bowsprit had been thrust. So that to make a rough -bridge from the fo'c's'le to the shore was a very simple matter. - -There were still thirty men left as crew all told of the unfortunate -_Flora_, not to mention Johnnie Shingles, Viking, and Old Pen, neither -of whose names were borne on the ship's books. - -But with such hearty good-will did the men work that before sunset, not -only had they erected a huge marquee with spare spars, the wreck of the -masts and sails, but had got a very large quantity of the most valuable -stores on shore. - -It was a strange island indeed, and evidently of volcanic origin. Not -very large, probably not six miles in circumference altogether. It was -well wooded, though the trees were by no means high, and in the centre -was a beautiful circular lake, in which a lovely little island-grove -seemed to float or to hang. - -Work was resumed next day, and the men now set themselves to build two -strong, substantial, living huts, a big and a smaller, with a rough but -dry shed for the stores and cargo, not forgetting the balloon and the -varied apparatus for inflating it. - -It took them a whole week and a day to get everything snug and -comfortable; and all this time it continued calm. - -But never a boat nor dhow was to be seen from the outlook. The last was -simply a spare spar of considerable height, with rigging thereto. It -was, moreover, a flagstaff by day and a beacon by night. But I may -state at once that this uninhabited isle being fully two hundred miles -from the mainland shore, and quite out of the way of any kind of -commerce, licit or illicit, there was but small chance of any signal -being seen. - -What made the situation more desperate was the fact that not a boat had -been left, all were smashed and washed away; three having gone before -the vessel struck. - -But the greatest misfortune of all was the almost complete destruction -of the donkey-engine, so that it would be impossible to distil water. - -They managed to save enough, however, to last for fully three weeks with -economy, and as Talbot said, there was no saying what might not occur -before then. - -This water was carefully stored in casks, placed in sheltered corners, -and raised on stones to defend them against the ravages of the terrible -white ant. - -A more terrible scourge than these _Termitidae_ constitute, it would be -difficult to conceive. What makes it more serious, is that they work -completely concealed--in galleries, that is. And so thin is the outer -shell of wood which they leave that their presence is not suspected -until the whole of some structure--and this may be of any size, from a -wine-box to a building,--suddenly gives way. - -These white ants once, to my knowledge, attacked a library of books -which had not been used for some time. They were evidently fonder of -reading than the townspeople. We talk of devouring a favourite author. -Well, in the case in point these terrible _Termitidae_ devoured their -authors in a far more literal sense, and fairly ate them up, but they -left the bindings all intact, so that when a volume was pulled out one -day it turned Dead Sea fruit, and fell to dust in the librarian's hands. -Then, and not till then, was the whole extent of the mischief -discovered. - -Our little shipwrecked colony now settled down to wait and watch. - -There was but little else to do. - -They lived in hope, however, and day after day many a straining eye was -turned seawards, to seek for the sail that never appeared, and the last -thing at night which Talbot or the boys did was to walk around the edges -of the cliffs, in the expectation of seeing some mast-head light. - -A fire was ready at a moment's notice to light as a signal, but alas! it -was not required. - -They had yet to find out, however, what these ants were capable of. - -It was the water they dreaded most to lose. Without this they must soon -sink and perish. - -Just one fearful accident I must here record, though I have no intention -to pile up horrors. - -But in the expectation of rain one night a huge piece of waterproof -canvas was spread, or rather hung, by the four corners between as many -trees, hammock fashion. - -The rain did come. - -Water from the casks was at this time served out only in small -quantities, so that the poor mariners were already suffering greatly -from thirst. They were overjoyed, therefore, to find their great -hammock almost full next morning. - -They drank greedily of the apparently pure liquid, although some averred -that it tasted bitter. - -Alas! it was poisoned! - -For in about half an hour afterwards the men were suffering the most -excruciating agony. - -Luckily, none of the officers had partaken of this water, which must -have been poisoned by the copper or some other chemical, with which the -canvas had been treated, to render it waterproof. - -Before night, although Talbot gave everyone emetics of strong mustard -and water, treating them afterwards with wine and spirits, no fewer than -four poor fellows were dead. The others got better, but continued weak -and ill for weeks. - - - - -CHAPTER II.--A WEARY TIME. - - -Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news brought -one morning to Captain Talbot. For when the steward went to draw water -from a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavoured -to send it home a little. At the very moment he did so the whole -collapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dust -or little else. - -All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that the -mariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificial -rain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and this -was most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the rays -of the sun. - -What a terrible outlook! And no signs were there of further rain, not -even the tiniest cloud. - -Well might they pray for rain now as did the prophet of old, for if it -fell not soon, sad indeed must be the fate of all. - -The captain and first mate now held a consultation, and that night it -was decided that they should endeavour to build a boat of some kind, and -therein sail for the distant mainland. - -Pity it was they had not thought of this sooner, for in two hours after -the decision had been arrived at, another circular storm arose. Such -storms in the Indian Ocean are not infrequent, and terrible they are -while they rage. - -Rain fell at first and at the latter part of it, otherwise it was a -burning hot wind, that caused one to choke and gasp for breath. -Nostrils and lips became dry, the mouth parched, and the eyes were like -coals of fire beneath their lids. - -On this occasion the sea rose higher than it had done before. - -A huge ocean bore, that could be seen even in the uncertain light of the -stars, came roaring on towards the rocks, and the spray dashed high over -the camp. - -Next morning not a timber of the unfortunate _Flora M'Vayne_ was to be -seen. She had been sucked backwards with that great tidal wave, and was -engulfed in the deeper water farther out. - -As ill-luck would have it, most of the carpenter's tools had been left -on board, for until the storm came on--when they had to rush on shore -for dear life's sake--the men had been busy cutting out pieces of plank -with which to fashion a boat. - -There was not the slightest chance of building such a thing now, and the -water grew scarcer and scarcer. - -A raft was then thought of, but in the weakened condition of the men for -want of water it would take a long time to build. - - "There passed a weary time. Each throat - Was parched, and glazed each eye. - A weary time! A weary time! - How glazed each weary eye!" - - -Once more fell rain. Once more the little rocky tank, which was always -left exposed at night, was filled, and once again the men's eyes -brightened. - -During the gale of wind that had resulted in the wreck of the _Flora -M'Vayne_, the poor monkey had been washed overboard, but old Pen was -still here, and so, too, was honest Vike. - -They had suffered as much from the want of water as anyone, but to the -credit of our heroes be it told, they received their daily water ration. - -Old Pen used to waltz with joy when he had taken a drink, but Vike was -less demonstrative, only he never failed to lick the hand with loving -tongue that served the water out. - -But hope rose higher now. That water would last for weeks--would last, -perhaps, till water came again. Hope rose to a pitch of excitement that -no one who has never known shipwreck, or never known what it is to float -a mere hulk upon a breezeless sea, can form any conception of, when, -just as the sun leapt red and fiery above the main next morning, a -steamer was observed but a few miles away in the west. God! how the men -rushed to the cliff edge, and how wildly they waved their arms, their -coats, and shouted. Shouted and shouted until every tongue - - "Seemed withered at the root; - And they could not speak, no more than if - They had been choked with soot". - - -But all in vain! - -The ship passed on. - -"They cannot have seen us! They cannot have seen us! Lower the flag to -half-mast. Light the fire; they will see the smoke." - -All this was done. - -All this was done in vain. There was not breeze enough to float the -flag. - -The fire, too, was a failure. No smoke arose, for the flames licked it -up. - -No wonder the men gazed after the retreating vessel with weary, weary -eyes. - -Oh, cruel, cruel, to desert us so! - -This was all anyone could say. - -And now Duncan bethought him of the balloon. - -Surely there was some hope left in that. - -As they sat under the shade of some dwarf and straggling trees, our -three younger heroes, with Captain Talbot and Morgan, they seriously -reviewed the whole question of their situation. Not only Duncan, but -even Conal and Frank had become somewhat more earnest in their manner of -late. Their sufferings had sobered them. - -"Boats, and even a raft, are denied us," said Duncan, "and ships do not -come." - -"No," answered Talbot; "and yet some British cruiser, or even an Arab -dhow, is bound to come this way before very long." - -"It is just that which I greatly doubt, sir," said Morgan. "We seem to -be landed at the back of the north wind, and out of the way of -everything." - -"But the balloon," continued Duncan. "I and Conal--" - -"And I," interrupted the Cockney boy. - -"Well, and you if the balloon is strong enough." - -"It would carry you all, and a horse besides," said the skipper with -just the ghost of a smile. - -"Well, we should ascend until we found a wind to carry us towards the -mainland, where we could descend and find assistance." - -"It is a forlorn hope, Duncan." - -"Seems to me, though, that it is our last chance," said Morgan. "The -water can't last long. What if it rains no more for months. All that -could ever be found of us in that case would be our skeletons bleaching -in the sun." - -"Not so pessimistic, please, Morgan. I still have hope in God. If it -be His will to help us we shall be rescued. If not, it is our duty to -submit." - -Truly a brave man was Talbot. - -And the merchant-service has many a thousand such, who, without doubt, -will be of infinite service to their country in our day of direst -need--when wild war comes, - - "In a fostering power, while Jack puts his trust - As fortune comes--smiling he'll hail her, - Resign'd still, and manly, since what must be must; - And this is the mind of a sailor." - - ---- - -Talbot arose at last. - -"I cannot go," he said, almost solemnly, after gazing for over a minute -at the blue above and the blue below, the sky without a cloud, the sea -without a ripple. "For weal or for woe, boys, I must stay with my men. -Now am I resigned. I will pray for you, lads, and so shall we all." - -"But," he added, "serve out some water and a modicum of wine. God bless -our poor fellows yonder, for their conduct and discipline have been -splendid. Many men in their hopeless condition would have broken into -the spirit stores and died maudlin drunk, or murderously mad." - -The men quickly came to the call of "All hands!" and just as quickly -Talbot explained the position, and told them what the three youngsters -proposed doing. The cheer that followed his words was not a lusty one, -but it was very sincere. - -And now, though with no nervous haste, the work of arranging and -inflating the balloon was commenced and for some days steadily proceeded -with. - -On the third day dark clouds came sweeping down, and a thunder-storm -broke over the island. What a God-send! Somewhat unusual, too, for the -time of year. Not only was the rocky tank filled with water and -rapidly-melting hail, but many hollows elsewhere, and every drop was -precious. - -Compared with Andree's great Arctic balloon, the _Hope_, as Talbot's had -been named, was quite a baby, but it was strong enough for anything, and -could have supported and carried far more than they needed for weeks -together. - -Long before this, Talbot had instructed his youngsters in the art of -managing a balloon, and now there was little more for them to learn on -this score. - -The inflation was completed at last. The net, a very strong one, was in -its place. The car attached, and the splendid ball dragged impatiently -at her moorings, as if longing to soar away into freedom. - -Food, arms, ammunition, wine, and water--everything was in its place, -everything secure, yet handy. - -Then the last night came. - -It was clear and starry, with a bright scimitar of a new moon in the -west. - -Duncan slept but little. His mind was in a whirl of anxiety. There -were so many things to think about, and they came cropping up in his -mind all in a bunch, as it were, all demanding explanation at once. - -One thing which would grieve him very much was parting with Vike. -Animals have died of grief many times and oft ere now, and somehow he -felt that he would never see his favourite dog again. - -But lo! about the first news he got next morning after getting up was -that Viking was missing. He had evidently wandered away, it was -thought, and tumbled over a cliff. - -When the boys went to bathe for the last time that morning they were -almost dumb with grief. - -But while returning to camp they met Johnnie Shingles and Old Pen. - -Both were capering with joy. - -"Vike he all right, sah, foh true. Golly, I'se shaking wid joy all -ober." - -"And where is he?" - -"In the sky-car, sah. O ees, he dere shuah enuff." - -It was true. Vike evidently knew all about it, and had taken his seat -already. Booked in advance! - -He could not be coaxed out. But he took his breakfast when handed to -him, and a drop of water afterwards. - -"Boys," said Talbot, "you must take him. It seems very strange, but it -also seems fate." - -"Fate be it, then," said Duncan. - -And indeed the poor fellow's mind was greatly relieved. - - ---- - -That very forenoon the great balloon was cast off, and with blessings -and farewells on both sides. Upward she soared into the clear blue sky, -and was soon seen by those below only as a tiny dark speck, no larger -than a lark. - - - - -CHAPTER III.--CHILDREN OF THE SKY. - - -I have been down in a diving-bell, and have traversed or been led -through the dark and seemingly interminable seams of a coal-mine, and -felt no very exaggerated sense of exhilaration in either situation, but -the glad free feeling one has when afloat in a balloon, and after the -first nervous shudder of trepidation has passed off, is well worth -risking life and limb to experience, and is, moreover, in my opinion, a -proof that man was made and meant for better things than grovelling on -earth like a stranded tadpole thrown out of its pond by the hands of -some idle school-boy. - -It is always the unknown that strikes the greatest amount of terror into -man's soul. Therefore I claim for my young heroes the possession of an -amount of courage and pluck, that you shall seldom find in any other -hearts save those of British-born boys. - -The balloon ascended with inconceivable rapidity at first, swaying just -a little from side to side, and causing the inmates to grasp the sides -of the car with some degree of nervous terror. When, however, they -found that to fall out would be the most unlikely thing that could -happen, they took heart of grace, and began to laugh and talk. - -"Isn't it just too awfully lovely for anything," said Frank. "I say, -you know, Conal, I'm a sort of sorry I didn't bring my fiddle." - -"It's a fine sensation," said Conal. "It must be just like going to -heaven." - -"Yes"--from Duncan--"but we should have somebody to meet us when we got -on shore there. But we don't know where this aerial tour may end." - -"Well, we're going high enough anyhow," said Frank. "And," he added, -"I'm not half so funky as I thought I'd be. I've often thought, mind -you, that I'd like the going up in a balloon, 'cause there is plenty of -sky-room, and nothing to knock your head against. It was the thoughts of -alighting on earth again that always had terrors for me, hitting against -poplar-trees and steeples and such, or spiked on the weather-cock of a -town-hall and left to kick. But this is glorious, and I suppose we'll -get down all straight." - -Duncan held down his hand to Viking, and the honest dog licked it with -his soft tongue. - -"It is so good of you to take me, master," he seemed to say. "I don't -know where in all the world you're off to, but you're here, and that's -good enough for old Vike." - -"I say, Duncan," said Conal, "aren't we taking an easterly direction?" - -Duncan was rated "captain of the car", so all questions were referred to -him. - -"It really looks a little like it," was the reply, "unless the island -down yonder, with our dear friends on it, has broken adrift, and is -bound for the mainland." - -They could talk lightly, almost joyously now, so bracing was the air, -and so delicious the sensation of floating through space. - -"I say, captain," said Frank, "hadn't we better put another man to the -wheel, and tack and half tack for a time. Or suppose we lie to, eh?" - -"Providence is at the wheel, Frank, but we're at the mercy of every -breeze that may blow." - -They were evidently being driven out to sea, but there was no help for -it. - -And so easterwards, ever easterwards, they drifted for many hours. The -island itself was now but a little dark dot on the blue, and several -other islets had come into view, and latterly, oh, joy! a steamer. - -Evidently on her way to China or Japan! - -Could they communicate? - -In case of meeting a ship, several tin flagons had been prepared and -ballasted, with letters in them. - -The balloon was drifting but slowly now, and seemed to be on the turn. - -Signals were accordingly made, while Conal, with the telescope, kept the -ship's quarter-deck well under observation. - -"Ha!" he cried, "they see us, and are signalling back." - -Overboard now were thrown not one flask only, but three, and each would -tell the same story of the ship-wrecked mariners, dying slowly for want -of water on the lonely island far to the west. The latitude and -longitude of this was given also. - -It was evident that the flasks fell near the ship, for presently they -could see a boat lowered, as if to pick them up. It soon returned to -the ship and was hauled up. - -But for a long time those in the balloon waited in vain for a signal. -It came at last. A flag--bright red--was hoisted to the peak and -rapidly lowered again. - -Then the ship held on its course. - -"Gracious heavens!" cried Duncan excitedly, "they are leaving our poor -friends to their fate." - -"I do not believe it possible," said Frank. - -"No, it cannot be. See, see, they have stopped ship." - -This was true. And it was evident also that a consultation was being -held on board, as to whether they should really alter their course, and -seek for the uninhabited island and perishing mariners or not. - -"I know how it is," said Duncan. "It is, as usual, a question of money, -like everything else in the world. That is no doubt a mail steamer, and -the loss of time means a heavy fine, even though they might prove they -had been on an errand of mercy." - -But to their infinite joy our heroes saw at last the ship's prow turned -westwards. - -Night fell now, down on the sea that is. For at the great altitude -which they had attained the sun was still visible. - -The very last thing they noted was that the captain of that steamer had -apparently changed his mind once more, and that the vessel was stopped. -There she lay without or breath or motion - - "As idle as a painted ship - Upon a painted ocean". - - -"Cruel! cruel!" cried Frank. - -"We must not judge," said Duncan. "Down there it is now almost dark, -and in mercy let us believe they are merely dodging to await the -moonrise. - -When day returned, the brave balloonists found themselves not over the -sea any longer, but over a dense dark forest of Africa's mainland. - -During the darkness a strange kind of stupor had weighed their eyelids -down, and every one had slept. - -But the balloon had changed its course, and was now driving inland on -the wings of an easterly wind. - -By aid of the telescope they could just perceive a long line of blue -'twixt the sky and the greenery of the woods. - -But this itself soon disappeared as the balloon kept floating westwards -and away. - -The last thing they had done was to throw over the car at intervals, as -they swept on, no less than six tell-tale flasks, and each had a little -white flag over it. - -But now came the question--what was to be done? Would it not be better -at once to attempt a descent, and make their way eastwards through the -forests and across the streams, which they could see here and there like -silver strips among the woods and hills. - -It was a question that needed some little consideration. - -To alight in a forest did not seem feasible. Here, to say nothing of -the danger of such a descent, they could find no natives to help them, -and they should be exposed to the attacks of wild beasts and venomous -reptiles. - -They could see mountains far ahead, and among these there would -doubtless be many an inhabited glen; so they agreed to keep on for a few -hours longer. - -"Besides," said Duncan, "there is a chance of a change of wind, which -will blow us coastwards far more quickly than we could ever get on -foot." - -All hands were hungry, so breakfast would be a most enjoyable pastime. - -Something more than a pastime, however. They settled down to it -seriously, poor Viking standing up to receive his share. - -Breakfast in a balloon--how strange it seems! - -What did they have to eat? Enough and to spare, but, saving the -biscuits--a considerable percentage of which was weevils fresh and -alive--all else was tinned meat. - -They made a hearty meal nevertheless, washing it down with a modicum of -wine and water. - -They were now ready for further adventures, but of course had no idea -what was in store for them. - -Well, the forest was soon left far behind, and, much to their -astonishment, they perceived mountains ahead of them so high that snow -lay white on their conical summits. - -In an hour or two they were over a charming valley, and so low down that -they could see the black natives running about in a great state of -excitement, having evidently caught sight of the aeronauts. - -"Fortune favours the brave," cried Duncan exultantly. "Here shall we -descend, and make assurance doubly sure, and the safety of our friends -certain." - -With a little manipulation of the valves, a descent was made far more -easily than any one could have imagined. Anchors were let go, and soon -it was possible for all hands, including even Vike, to get out of the -car. - -An innovation awaiting them which they had little expected. Here were -at least a thousand spear-armed warriors assembled, and as they came -towards them, all threw themselves on their faces, or bent themselves in -attitudes of worship. - -"Here's a wind-up to a windy day," cried Frank laughing. "Why, these -chaps evidently take us for gods!" - -"It would seem so," said Duncan, "but I for one don't feel quite up to -that form." - -One of the savages was held aloft in a kind of sedan-chair, and was -evidently the chief or king. He was the most hideous-looking savage it -is possible to imagine; extremely corpulent, with a cruel, cut-throat -expression of face; small deep-set eyes, and cheeks covered with -parallel scars about an inch long. His hair in front hung straight down -in tiny ringlets over a retreating forehead. - -One should never show fear before savages. Duncan knew this, and -walking boldly up to the huge travelling throne he saluted him in an -off-hand way, and addressed him in English. - -His majesty only shook his hideous head, but pointed with his spear -towards his army. - -Every one sprang up and stood erect, but silent as the grave. - -"C'rambo!" said the king. - -And C'rambo advanced smiling. - -Very different was this tall, lithe, and supple-looking savage to any -about him. His skin was yellow instead of black. His smile was a -forbidding, sarcastic leer, and although our heroes knew nothing of -African savages, any coasting sailor could have told them this man was a -Somali. - -In his right hand he carried three ugly spears, one of which was -attached by a cord to his wrist, while on his left forearm was a small -round shield--such as are worn by the tribes on the eastern coast north -of the line. - -This fellow first salaamed to the chief, addressing him in a harsh and -guttural jangle of words. Then he turned haughtily towards our heroes. - -"Who am you, and whe' you comes from?" - -"First and foremost," replied Duncan, quite as haughtily, "who are you? -Whose country are we in, and how far from the coast are we?" - -"Humph! You feels dam bold, eh? Suppose I holds up my leetle white -finger, King Slaleema's men den cut all your troats plenty much quick." - -In spite of a feeling of doubt and fear that dwelt at his heart, Duncan -burst out laughing. - -"Your little white finger, my friend, is as yellow as a duck's foot. - -"You see this little revolver?" he added. "Your life and five more of -your beastly lot, including your pig of a king, lie in these chambers. -Have you any particular longing to be stretched? If not, civility will -pay you. Now, will you answer?" - -Both Frank and Conal, following their captain's lead, had laid their -hands on their pistol-butts. - -"Pay?" said the fellow. "S'pose you gift me, I do most anything. Wot -you wants foh to know?" - -"We will give you gifts. What would you like?" - -"English food, tools, a lifel (rifle). Money no good." - -"You're modest, but we are liberal. How far are we from the coast?" - -"Foh one Englishmans six week. Foh one gentleman Somali, plaps one." - -"How many miles?" - -"I not count, free undled, plaps. Plaps mo'. Plenty savage, plenty -folest (forest), lion, tiger, and 'gators in de ribbers. Pletty soon de -gobble up poo' little Englishmans." - -"Where did you learn your English?" - -"At de court ob de Sultan ob Zanzibar. But I cut de troats ob two tree -men and den fly in one canoe. I now King Slaleema's plime minister." - -"And a bonnie ticket you are," said Duncan. "Now, listen; if you will -carry a letter to Lamoo and bring an answer you shall have a gun on your -return with the reply. The letter shall be for the Sultan. Are you -agreed?" - -The fellow seized Duncan's hand and pressed it to his brow. - -"De bargain am made," he cried. "I'se ready. All de way I run. -Carrambo hab de good legs." - -"Who called you Carrambo?" - -"De dam Portugee. I cut tree, four troats all de same." - -The recollection caused him to laugh. But he now spat viciously on the -ground. - -"De Portugee all fools. Pah!" he cried in disgust. - -"Now," he added, "I ver goot man. I not cheatee you. I come back -plenty twick (quick). Bling de answer all same too. But take care." - -"Care of what?" - -"Ob you' dam troats. Dese savage tink you come flom 'eaben (heaven). I -tell 'em, dis quite tlue. S'pose dey not b'lieve, den dey kill and eat -you." - -"Hah! Cannibals, are they? How very comforting!" - -"Eberyone cannibals heah. De dog, dey tink, am de debbil. Again I say -to Slaleema, all tlue." - -"Well, Carrambo, perhaps you are a much more honest fellow than you -look. And you don't look a saint." - -"All beesiness, sah. You gib me one gun and plenty 'munition, den I -selve (serve) you. S'pose a Portugee say I gib you tree gun, cut all -der troats; I cut all your troats plenty much quick, and King Slaleema -he gobble you up foh tlue." - -"You're an honest, faithful fellow, Carrambo," said Duncan -sarcastically. - -"Beesiness, sah, beesiness," replied the prime minister. "Wot dis wo'ld -be widout beesiness, tell me dat?" - -Carrambo held his head a little to one side and both open palms out in -front of him. - -As, however, the question was too philosophical in its nature, Duncan -made no reply. - -"'Scuse me one moment, sah." - -He hurried away, and presently afterwards reappeared from behind a hut, -dragging a poor little naked girl by one hand. - -"You take lifel and s'oot de chile," he said. "She foh de king's -dinner. Dis will make one good implession on dese pore ignolant -savages." - -This might have been true, but Duncan nevertheless did not see his way -to become the king's executioner. - -He shot a fowl, however, and at the flash and report the savages, who -had never seen white men before, and never heard the sound of a gun, -screamed wildly, and rushed off with such precipitation, that they -seemed to be all a mist of long black scraggy legs and arms. - -But Carrambo's voice recalled them, and they returned awed and -terror-struck. - -The dead fowl, moreover, was evidence of the terrible power possessed by -these great "children of the air". - -What might they not do next? - -These innocent wretches trembled to think. I call them innocent simply -because they knew not sin. - -"If then," says the apostle, "knowing these things, happy are ye if ye -do them." - -For knowledge brings with it responsibility, and this neglected is -accounted to us as sin. - -This night our young heroes spent in the car of the balloon, and honest -Viking went on guard. But even if the savages--for savages they were of -the most demoniacal type--possessed any longing to do them to death, -fear, natural and supernatural, deterred them. - -Next morning early, Carrambo, the king's prime minister, departed upon -his long and dangerous mission, taking two young warriors with him, and -promising faithfully to return in two weeks at the farthest. - -"S'pose you not see me den," he added sententiously, "den I gone deaded -foh tlue." - -The place seemed more lonesome now that Carrambo had gone, for, -scoundrel though he undoubtedly was, he was someone to speak to. - -They now began seriously to consider their situation and prospects. - -In their heart of hearts they believed that they had been the means of -sending succour to their marooned shipmates, on that lonely isle of the -ocean. Their minds were easy enough on that score, for if even the -steamer they had hailed had resumed her course without making any -attempt to find the isle and rescue the mariners, the Sultan of Lamoo, -Duncan fully understood, had always been friendly with the British, and -would immediately despatch assistance in some shape or other. - -Duncan, before doing anything else, got out his instruments of -observation, and as well as could be made out, the glen in which they -were virtually imprisoned was between two and three hundred miles off -the coast, and some degrees south of the line. - -He was puzzled at first as to why the place had never been discovered by -British explorers. - -But there are hundreds of such tribe-lands that have never yet been -trodden by the foot of Christian men. - -There was one clue to the mystery, however, and this was probably the -true one, but they did not find it out just then. - -"Now," said Duncan, "for a visit of ceremony to that fat old pig of -king. And we must take him some presents, too." - -Duncan had not forgotten that there were on board the _Flora_ many large -and beautiful strings of beads, which had been intended for bartering -with any natives they might meet, and he had stowed away many such in -the balloon car. - -"Come, Conal, or Frank," he said, "I don't care which. But one of you -with Vike must stay by the car and stand by your guns, in case the -cupidity of these cut-throat natives gets the better of their fear." - -"I'll stay," cried the Cockney boy, as pluckily as ever Englishman -spoke. - -So down the hill towards the village, revolvers in their belts and -rifles cocked, marched Duncan and Conal. - -They found the king sitting cross-legged outside his kraal or great -grass hut, and being assiduously fanned by his wives. - -These were no beauties, but Duncan lifted his cap and salaamed to the -king first and then to them. - -They seemed both pleased and tickled, and giggled inordinately, until -the king rounded on them, scowling and drawing his fore-finger across -his throat in a most significant manner. - -The young Britons, as they approached his majesty, tried not to look at -the awful remains of his last night's feast, but the sickening sight -obtruded itself upon them in spite of all they could do. - -Besides the beads, they had brought with them a four-pound tin of -preserved beef. - -They had expected his majesty to take a little of this, but were not a -little surprised when he seized the tin and began digging out and -swallowing huge lumps of it, with a guttural ejaculation of delight -between each mouthful. - -"Goo--goo--goo!" he exclaimed, as with about a yard of hideous tongue he -finished off by licking out the tin. - -"Nothing more horrible have I ever seen!" said Duncan. - -"That is true," said Conal. - -The king threw down the empty tin--he couldn't swallow that--smiled, -nodded, and pointed towards the clouds. - -"Goo--goo--goo--" he cried interrogatively. - -Duncan nodded and smiled in turn, although he had wished the brute had -choked himself. - -But the horror of the brothers is not to be described when, at a call -from the king, accompanied by a string of words that consisted mostly of -vowels, two slaves came forward and offered them the roasted forearms of -a child--no doubt those of the girl which Carrambo had asked them to -shoot the day before. - -They turned away, and shook their heads, but fearing to give offence, -immediately presented his majesty with a string of beautiful beads. - -His delight was childish-like and unbounded, and he immediately called -for his sedan-chair of bamboo cane, and was trotted through the village -of huts that his subjects might admire him. - -That same forenoon Duncan, accompanied only by Viking, went on a voyage -of discovery as he called it. He wanted to find out the lay of the land. - -Two natives, impelled by curiosity, followed him, and when he beckoned -to them and gave each a bead, they readily accompanied him as escort. - -Vike kept aloof. - -He didn't like the looks of these savages. - -But after climbing a conical hill, Duncan found out the true reason for -the isolation of these savages. Their country was at least a thousand -feet above the level of the land. And this last, except on one side -where the mountains hid their snow-capped heads in the clouds, -everywhere were dark and seemingly impenetrable forests. - - - - -CHAPTER IV.--TREASURE-HUNTERS. THE FOREST. - - -The exact topography of Cannibal Glen, as the boys had named this -blood-reeking territory, was, however, not the only discovery made -to-day. - -The other was singular in the extreme. It was nothing less than that of -a ruined fort, at no great distance from the place where the balloon was -anchored, but high up on the side of a hill and surrounded by a clump of -trees. - -The fort was built of stone, and still of considerable strength, and so -constructed that it could be defended, if occasion demanded, by two -resolute young men against four score savages. - -Duncan thought it somewhat strange, that there was no footpath leading -towards it, and that it seemed to be avoided by the natives. - -They found out afterwards that the place had been the scene of a cruel -massacre of white men--Portuguese without a doubt--and that it was now -supposed to be the abode of evil spirits. - -All the better for our young adventurers. And they made up their minds -to take possession of the old fort the very next day. - -That afternoon, however, they removed everything from the car of the -balloon, and camped just a little way therefrom. - -They had lit a fire really more for the sake of light than heat, and -for, many hours after the sun's last glow tipped the snowy summits of -the mountains with pink and blue, and the stars had come out, they sat -here talking of home. But not of home only, but of their future -prospects. - -"From several strange cavities I have observed in my rambles to-day," -said Duncan, "I have come to the conclusion that the white men who built -that fort were also miners. Everything points to this fact, and also, -alas! to that of their murderous extermination by fire and by the spears -of these fiendish savages." - -"Yes, Conal, it may have been many long years ago, centuries perhaps, -but who can say what discoveries we may not make next. There may be -buried treasure!" - -Both Conal and Frank opened their eyes wider now. - -"What!" cried Frank, "you think--" - -"I don't think, Frank, my boy, I am reasoning from analogy, as it were. -First and foremost, it is not for nought the glaud whistles." - -"I don't hitch on," said the Cockney boy. - -"The glaud," said Conal by way of explanation, "is a wild Scottish hawk, -that always whistles aloud before darting on his prey." - -"The glaud in this case," said Duncan, "is the Portuguese, who never go -into any savage country except for the sake of treasure or plunder. - -"Secondly," he continued, "if the band were all massacred, they -doubtless had hidden their dust, and it is evidently there still. -Thirdly, these cannibal outcasts care nothing for gold, and would at any -time give a large and valuable diamond for a coloured bead." - -"I do declare," cried Frank, "I sha'n't sleep a wink to-night for -thinking of all this. Duncan, you are clever!" - -"Have you only just found that out?" said Conal, laughing. Conal was -proud of his brother. - -"And now," said Duncan, "shall we, after a few days of exploration, get -into the balloon once more, and try to find our way to the sea-shore." - -"Before I could answer that question myself," he added, "I would like to -think it all out, and so I move that we curl up." - -Wrapped in their warm rugs--for, at this elevation, though in -mid-Africa, a rug is almost a necessity at night--the boys were soon -asleep beside the fire, and no one was left on guard except dear old -Vike. - -He slept with one eye open, or one ear at all events, and was likely to -give a good account of any savage who might come prowling around the -camp. - -But, by way of making assurance doubly sure, the adventurers slept with -loaded revolvers close beside them. - -They slept heavily. - -And that, too, despite the roaring of lions far down in the plains -below, and the unearthly shrieks of goodness knows what, that came, ever -and again, from the dark depths of the forest. - -The sun was just rising over the distant green and hazy horizon when -Duncan sat up. - -He rubbed his eyes, and gazed around him almost wildly. - -"Conal, Frank," he cried them, "awake! awake! Where is the balloon?" - -Had there been any echo it might well have answered "Where?" - -The balloon was gone! - -The explanation was not difficult. For, relieved of its load, it had -quietly slipped its moorings during the darkness and gone on a voyage on -its own account, goodness only knows where. And our heroes would never -see it more. - -To say that they were not deeply grieved would be far short of the -truth. The loss seemed to cut them off entirely from the outer world. - -But their hearts were young and buoyant, and so they did not mourn long. - -After breakfast, indeed Duncan, who was the recognized leader, laughed -lightly, saying as he did so: - -"Come, you fellows, don't look so blue. Perhaps the loss of the balloon -is a blessing in disguise." - -"I don't quite see it," said Frank. - -"No, you don't see the balloon. You've looked your very last on that; -but listen to logic: We might have journeyed away in that balloon and -been carried into regions from which we never could have got free -again." - -"True enough!" said Conal. - -Indeed everything his brother said was right in Conal's eyes. - -"Well," said Frank after a pause, "I'm not going to bother about it. -The Pope was correct in saying, 'What is, is right.'" - -"It wasn't the Pope, Frank, but Pope the poet." - -"Ah, well, it doesn't matter; only I had such grand dreams last night." - -"Indeed!" - -"Yes, indeed. I was wandering through the diamond mines of Golconda, -with Aladdin's lamp in one hand and a horse's nose-bag in the other. -And I filled that nose-bag too, you bet." - -"Well, Aladdin, or not Aladdin, I move now that we move up the hillside -and take formal possession of the Portuguese old fort." - -"I second the moving motion," said Conal. - -So Duncan and Conal became the carriers; Frank, with Vike, remaining -below on guard until everything was taken up. - -It took them the whole of that day, and the next as well, to settle down -in their new quarters, and to make everything snug and comfortable. - -To their great delight, at the foot of a rock not far off they found a -small well with a spring of the coldest water, bubbling up through the -rocks. - -It was partly no doubt on account of this very well, that the former -inhabitants of the fort had chosen this spot as their habitat. - -One room, and one only, of the ruin was roofed, and this they commenced -to overhaul and thoroughly clear and clean. - -They shuddered somewhat, however, when they came across human bones, and -these had been charred by fire, and so told a terrible tale. - -But Duncan and his comrades were not to be daunted, and determined to -make this their living-room, for no matter how hard the rain might fall, -their stores would be dry and safe. - -Besides the door, there was one opening which had been a window. - -It was at first proposed to barricade it up, but this would have -prevented ventilation, and shown fear also. - -"I have it!" cried Frank. - -"Well?" - -"Erect two skulls. There they are all ready to hand." - -This was done. - -The terrible relics were fastened to short poles, and one was stuck at -each side of the window outside. - - ---- - -For a time, at all events, the boys might well consider themselves safe, -for superstition is far more deep and rife in heathen lands than it is -in Christian, and that is saying a good deal. - -"I do think all this is rather jolly than otherwise," said Frank a -morning or two after they had got nicely settled, as he termed it, "and -I wouldn't mind living here for some time." - -"I'm afraid we'll have to, Frank," said Duncan, laughing. - -"Bar the vicinity of that ugly king, and his crowd," Conal put in. - -"But you must admit, captain, that there is a spice of romance in this -mode of life, and I wouldn't mind much what happened to me, if there was -a ground-work of romance in it." - -Frank was reminded of these remarks by his fellows some time after this, -and after a thrilling adventure, in which he happened to be -first-person-singular. - -"But I say," he added, "what shall we call ourselves? Crusoes? Eh?" - -"I think," said Conal, "that a Crusoe must live on an island." - -"Hermits, then." - -"No. You can't have a plurality of hermit. A hermit is a hermit, and -he is all by himself. If a lot of people come and live in the same -place he is a hermit no longer." - -"Solitaires," suggested Duncan. - -Conal laughed aloud. - -"Why," he cried, "you stupid old Duncan, a solitaire is a sleeve-link or -collar-stud or something." - -"Foresters, then." - -"Fiddlesticks! The forest is miles away." - -"Treasure-hunters?" - -"That's better. And we'd best leave it at that." - -"Well, having made everything snug, suppose we go and see the fat king -again." - -"Good! and then go and fish. There is a nice little stream down here, -and we might even have a peep into the forest." - -"Happy thought!" said Frank. - -Frank's mind, by the way, was partially built upon happy thoughts, and -there was always one or two ready to bob up on the surface. - -"What now, Frank?" - -"We've lots of wine, and we won't drink it. Suppose we take King Pig a -bottle." - -They did so, and also some more beads. - -They marched--that is, Frank and Duncan, Conal being left at home to -keep house--straight to the king's kraal. - -They sang as they entered the village, seeming to know by instinct what -I had to learn from experience, that a happy, independent, and careless -manner goes a long way to impress savages with one's superiority. - -The cannibal king was just getting up. He had eaten too much the night -before, and overslept himself. But he seemed glad to see our heroes, -smiled, and poked his black, fat fingers funnily towards them. - -His hut was a big one, but something in it immediately caught Frank's -eye. It was a huge, black, and horribly ugly doll. The king's god, -without a doubt. It was as black as the ace of clubs, with red lips and -white tusks. The eyes seemed to glare at the intruders, but the -intruders didn't mind. - -Frank drew nearer to it, for something in this wooden god's head shone -with a light that was perfectly dazzling. Anyone could have seen it was -a diamond of the purest water. - -How could he secure it? that was the question. Why, that stone was a -fortune in itself. Robbing a cannibal king might not be much of a -crime, but the treasure-hunters recoiled from the idea. - -Barter! Ha! that indeed. Finance is a fine thing! - -Frank held out a handful of beautiful beads, and pointed to the god's -grinning head. - -But the king looked frightened, and shook his head. - -Frank replaced the beads in his pocket. - -The king looked wofully sad. - -"The wine," said Frank, and Duncan produced it. He poured some out into -a little tin cup and drank, then corked the bottle. - -"Goo--goo--goo!" exclaimed the king, excitedly. - -"Why, the old rogue," said Duncan, "knows what it is. Let him smell the -bottle." - -"Confound him, no! He'd seize and drink the lot." - -But he handed him some in a cocoa-nut shell, and having gulped that -down, he handed the shell back to be refilled. - -Frank laughed, but shook his head. - -He now offered the beads and the bottle for the diamond, and at once the -cannibal yielded. - -He waddled over towards the god, and digging out the glorious gem with -the point of an ugly crease--which doubtless had slit many an innocent -throat--he handed it to the financier, Frank Trelawney. - -Frank first put it carefully in his pocket, then he proceeded to insert -three beautiful and large beads in the hole in the god's forehead, left -empty by the abstraction of the gem. - -"Goo--goo--goo!" cried the king. - -"Don't be a big baby! You'll have the wine in a brace of shakes". - -Determined to be honest, Frank not only placed a string of beads about -the neck of the idol, but a larger and more handsome one over the king's -broad brisket. Then he gave him nutful after nutful of sherry till there -wasn't a drop left in the bottle. - -The king thought he would sing now. - -His song was like the snoring of an Indian frog. But the king was happy. - -So was Frank. - -"I say, Duncan," he said, "a knowledge of finance is an excellent thing. -And honesty is the best policy, isn't it? Well, we've made one man -happy this morning. It is very soothing to one's conscience, and -really, Duncan, I wouldn't mind making a few more cannibals happy--" - -"At the same price?" - -"That's it," said Frank. - -The king slept, and, leaving his wives to fan him, the boys slipped -away. - -They now went back "home", as they called the haunted fort, then -arranged for a day's sport. - -The stream they soon reached was close to the forest, and seemed alive -with fish. The tackle which they used was simple but effective. Not -original either, for country boys in Scotland constantly use it, and -though the marvellously-dressed and fully-equipped Englishman may fish -all day and catch nothing, the ragged urchin not far off is making a -string of dozens--a string that the Cockney eventually purchases and -palms off as the result of his own prowess. - -Such is life! But the tackle? Oh, yes, the tackle! Well, it was a bent -pin, a short string and rod, with a morsel of an insect for bait. - -But Duncan and Frank made a discovery to-day that was alarming. - -After catching sufficient fish to suffice for more than one hearty meal, -they hid their rods and tackle in the bush, and ventured to march -towards the forest. - -It was terribly darksome and gloomy, with very little undergrowth, and -as they knew there were lions about they ventured forward with great -caution, keeping close together, treading lightly, and keeping a good -look-out on every side. - -They had not gone far before they found that this great woodland was the -abode of creatures, probably quite as much to be dreaded even as lions. - -The first part they traversed, however, was apparently a land of -delight, just as it was a land of the most brilliant flowering trees and -shrubs, among which thousands of bright-winged birds chattered and sang, -while parrots by the score mimicked them. - -"Surely," said Frank, "we have come to paradise at last! Did ever you -see such glorious fruit? Oh, we must indulge, Duncan, and carry back -some guavas and mangoes to poor lonely Conal and Viking." - -They did indulge, and that too without stint. - -But this paradise soon drew to an end. - -"Anyhow, Duncan," said Frank, cheerfully, "we shall know now where to -find both fish and fruit." - -"Hark!" - -Well might he say hark. - -The sounds that now broke harsh and terrible upon their ears would have -appalled older and stouter hearts than theirs. - - - - -CHAPTER V.--FIGHTING THE GORILLAS. - - -Frank and Duncan had undoubtedly been rash. They had penetrated for -fully a mile into the gloomy depths of this dark, primeval forest. The -sun-life of beautiful birds and luscious fruits--Frank's paradise--they -had left far behind. Here was nothing that could be called inviting: -slimy, rotting leaves on the bare ground, with here and there a huge and -ugly toadstool; and the branchless trunks of mighty trees covered with -white and yellow mildew or flour-like fungi. And these trees towered -skywards, forming a dark green canopy overhead, that no sunlight could -ever penetrate, nor moonlight or star-rays at night. - -The silence for some time had been both cold and irksome. I cannot -otherwise describe it. - -But now that dread silence was broken, and not only high overhead, but -far away in front, the forest suddenly awoke into a sylvan pandemonium. - -What yells, what shrieks, what hoarse and fearful cries! - -The boys instinctively drew closer together, and stood ready to shoot. - -But nothing appeared, though the awful noises increased rather than -diminished. - -Frank saw Duncan's lips moving, but he could hear nothing. - -Surely they were in a demon-haunted forest. - -They looked at each other, then at once commenced a speedy retreat. - -They ran as fast as ever they had done at school, and up behind them -came the roar of the demons. But they could see no creature as yet, -though they often glanced furtively behind them. - -The enemy, however, seeing that they were but little more than a hundred -yards from the sunlight, mustered up courage for the attack. - -And down from the trees they leapt--a score, at least, of hideous, -long-armed, hairy gorillas. - -If they did not possess the courage, they at all events had far more -than the strength of ordinary men. - -As they advanced they beat their breasts furiously, uttering savage -cries. - -"A clear head now!" shouted Duncan. - -Both young fellows leaned their rifles against trees to make sure of -their aim. - -Br-rang! Br-rang! - -The sound awakened the echoes of the ugly forest, and two gorillas fell -dead. - -There was a silence of fully fifteen seconds, and the boys went hurrying -on again. - -Then came wailings and howlings, as of grief, but these were quickly -changed to yells of anger, and on they came once more. They soon -overtook our two heroes, who, after firing with good effect, drew their -revolvers and made a running battle of it. - -Luckily they never once allowed these fiendish monsters to get into -grips, else speedily indeed would they have been throttled to death. - -Out into the sunshine, the glorious life-giving sunshine at last. And -now they were safe. They crawled rather than walked as far as a little -stream that trickled from a rock, and threw themselves down exhausted. - -But youth soon recovers from exertion, and terror too, and so they -finally found themselves back at the ruined fort loaded with both fruit -and fish. - -Happy indeed was Conal to see them, for, far away from the fort though -the forest was, he had listened appalled to the awful medley of yells -and shrieks, and made sure they were being murdered. - -"Hillo!" cried Frank, cheerful once again--and hungry also--and it seems -to me Frank was always hungry--"Hillo! Why, you have actually dinner -ready?" - -"Yes," said Conal, laughing. "Vike and I found some sweet-potatoes and -we cooked these." - -"But that splendid fish you are broiling?" - -"Ah! isn't she a beauty? But you should have seen the little girl who -brought it, carrying it on a little grass rope. She was a beauty too. -And we had quite a little flirtation." - -"Conal! I'm--" - -"Oh, are you, indeed? but I don't mind. I gave Umtomie--that's her -pretty name--two lovely beads, and she sat there and sang to me, so -sweetly! Then she brought me a calabash full of water, and, smiling -over teeth quite as white and even as a pointer puppy's, she waved her -hand, her lily hand--no, her raven hand--" - -"That's more truthful, Con." - -"And off she trotted once again." - -"Then, I suppose," said Frank, "the sunshine went all out of your life, -eh?" - -"Well, there did seem to be a partial eclipse or something. But down -you sit to chow-chow." - -Down they did sit, and a right hearty meal they made. - -It was Conal's turn to go sporting the next day. But he and Duncan gave -the forest a wide berth, and so nothing very wild in the shape of -adventure fell to their lot. - - ---- - -Much time was spent every day now in prospecting. - -Duncan couldn't and wouldn't believe that the hands that built that -strong fort had not dug for and found both gold and diamonds. - -And he determined, if possible, to find some also. - -Unluckily they had no mining-tools, neither spade, shovel, nor pick-axe. - -But Frank was a boy of infinite resources. - -"Why not make miners' tools?" he said. "We have chisels and hammers and -what not, and there is a tree growing yonder that is as hard as iron!" - -"What! Another happy thought, Frank?" - -"Yes, Duncan, my brave old captain, and I haven't got half-way to the -bottom of my mine of happy thought yet." - -Well, picks and spades were now actually fashioned, partly by tools, -partly by fire. And then the boys set to work with a will to open the -old mines. - -They had worked for a whole week, but without success, when one evening -a loud and awful trumpeting told them that elephants had arrived on the -plains below, or were passing through the country of the cannibals for -pastures new. - -"What a splendid chance for sport!" cried Frank. - -"Yes," said Conal. "Fancy bagging a few elephants. Tuskers, don't they -call them, brother?" - -"Yes, in India the males are so named, but here in Africa both sexes -have tusks, though those on the he ones are bigger, and are said to be -better ivory." - -It was determined, therefore, to march against the elephants next day, -and neither Conal nor Frank could sleep very well for thinking of it. - -Now, though I have no desire to be hard upon my heroes, I must say that -I am not sorry for what happened, because elephants--next to our friend -the dog--are probably the wisest and most innocent animals in the world. - -When, therefore, Duncan next forenoon killed a lady elephant and Conal -wounded a bull, the lady being his wife, it was no wonder he should lose -his temper and charge right down on the lad. - -To fly was impossible. There was no refuge anywhere. But Conal did -attempt to retreat. He stumbled and fell, however, and next moment the -awful foe was upon him. A less brave boy would have fainted, but there -was no such weakness about Conal, though he felt his hour was come, and -Duncan, who was fully eighty yards away, could not assist him. He put -his hands to his eyes to avoid being a witness to the dreadful death of -his brother, which now seemed inevitable. - -The wounded monster had dashed forward trumpeting, but, once alongside, -though blood was jerking from a wound through one of his eyes, he -attacked immediately. He knelt beside the boy's prostrate form and -attempted to tusk him. The terrible snorting, blood-streaming head was -close over him. But, with the quickness and cuteness of a professional -footballer, Conal rolled himself between his legs, and now the brute -attempted to squash him to death with his knees, and Conal managed, -strange to say, to avoid each stroke. - -It was really a tussle for life, and, unable to bear the sight any -longer, Duncan came rushing on now towards the scene of conflict, -apparently determined to die with Conal if he could not rescue him. - -The boy seemed to be dead, and was almost under the elephant. But -Duncan took steady aim, and the bullet put out the poor beast's other -eye. He staggered to his feet now, and, stumbling and trumpeting as he -went, made directly back to the herd. - -Conal was bruised and sore, as well he might be, but otherwise intact, -and the two hunters now made for higher ground. - -Now I do not know the reason for what followed. I can but guess it, and -give the reader facts. Only, when the great bull regained the herd, -which, by the way, numbered only about a score, he fell, or rather threw -himself down in front of his companions. - -"Kill me now," he seemed to plead. "My mate is dead, and I am blind and -in pain. Put me out of my misery." - -Next moment the killing had commenced. The bull never winced nor moved, -and his companions trode him to death before the eyes of their human -persecutors. - -"Let us go back to the fort," said Duncan sadly. "A more heartrending -sight I never have seen. Conal, I have shot my first and my last -elephant." - -When they told Frank all the sad story, he, too, agreed that -elephant-shooting is not sport, but the cowardly murder of one of the -most noble animals ever God placed on earth. - - ---- - -Strange to say, every day that Conal was left at the fort to do the -watching and the cooking, little Lilywhite, as he now called the wee -savage lassie, came to pay him a visit, her eyes all a-sparkle, her two -rows alabaster teeth flashing snow-white in the sunshine. - -Nor did she ever come without a fish, which she herself had caught. So -tame did she become, that he could trust her to attend to the fire, for -which she gathered wood, turn the fish with a wooden fork, and gather -and cook the sweet-potatoes or yams. - -Of course Frank chaffed Conal unmercifully about this lady-love, -Lilywhite, of his. - -But Conal cared nothing for that. - -"You can't do less than marry her, you know," he said one day. "It -would be cruel to trifle with the young lady's affections." - -"I shouldn't think of doing less than leading her to the altar," said -Conal. "I should hate a breach of promise case." - -They still paid many visits to the king, but though he frequently asked -for "goo-goo" (wine), no goo-goo was given him for the present. - -At last, oh joy! news came from the far-off outer world. For Carrambo -returned. - -A little thinner he looked, but maintained the same nonchalant air. - -He handed Duncan a letter, and as it was written in a bold English hand -he tore it nervously open. - -"Flom de skipper of de _Pen-Gun_," said Carrambo. "When I see de -gun-boat lie in de ribber of Lamoo, I say to myse'f, 'No good bother wid -the Sultan.' Den I go on board. All boo'ful white deck; all shiny -blass, and black big gun; and de men all dress in sca'let and blue. Oh, -dam fine, I 'ssure you. De skipper he take me below and give me -biscocoes and vine till I not can dlink mo'. - -"He read the letter. He den write anoder and soon I go again." - -"Ten thousand thanks, Carrambo. You have earned your rifle. My brother -and I shall teach you to shoot, and if when we make an attempt to leave -this wild land, you will come with us to be our guide to Lamoo many -another present you shall receive besides." - -Lieutenant-commanding H.M.S. _Pen-Gun_ wrote most cheerfully and -hopefully to Duncan, assuring him that he himself would steam at once -eastwards, and if he was successful in finding the unhappy mariners, -they should be immediately taken off, tenderly cared for, and landed at -Zanzibar, to wait under the charge of the British consul until a ship -should arrive and take them back to England. - -"Thank God for all his mercies," exclaimed Duncan piously, after he had -twice read the letter aloud to his comrades. - -Then all hands shook Carrambo's hard fist, and noting that there was -something more than usual on the tapis, Vike must jump up and go dancing -all round the fort. But he made his way to the water to finish up with, -for racing in Africa is hot work. - -Carrambo received his rifle, and that very evening received also his -first lessons in the use thereof. - -Carrambo was indeed a proud man now. - -He held his head erect and said to Duncan: - -"We'n King Slaleema he want some piccaniny kill fo' to eat, I bling dat -piccaniny down wid one lifel bullet plenty twick." - -Then Duncan lost his temper. - -He was a strong young Scot and athlete, and Carrambo, tough savage -though he was, had no show after Duncan got hold of that rifle. - -He wrenched it from his hand before anyone could have said "knife". - -"You yellow-skinned scoundrel!" he cried, "you do not touch the rifle -again till you promise me on your honour--though I don't suppose that -weighs much--that you will never attempt to shoot, even at the king's -bidding, any child he wishes to destroy." - -Carrambo glanced one moment at Duncan, then, turning on his heel, walked -off. - -The boys thought he was gone for good; but presently he returned, -holding in his hand a long thin root. - -This he cut in two with his knife. - -He placed one half in his bosom, and gave the other to Duncan. - -"Carrambo plomise. Suppose Carrambo bleak dat plomise, den de debbil he -cut Carrambo's heart in two, and take he away to de ver bad place." - -This was an oath, though of a curious sort, but Duncan knew that this -strange being would keep it, and so the rifle was restored. - -The Somali now went off to see the king, but he first and foremost -delivered the rifle into Conal's keeping. - -Presently he returned laughing. - -"De king--ha, ha!--he want to see you, foh tlue." - -"Yes?" - -"And he vant to see you vely mooch dilectly." - -"Well?" - -"Well, ha, ha, ha!" Carrambo evidently couldn't contain himself, "he -wants one bottle of goo-goo." - -The royal command was obeyed by Frank and Duncan, Carrambo accompanying -them to carry the goo-goo. - -The king laughed like one possessed when he saw the bottle, and made -various signals for a drink, holding out the same old nutshell. - -It was three times filled, and Carrambo himself was also presented with -a nutful. - -Then the king waxed communicative, and, after calling upon two of his -wives to fan him, and two more to cool Duncan and Frank down, he said he -would tell them the story of the fort, and Carrambo himself stood by to -translate. - -The story was certainly a sort of a "freezer", as Frank termed it, but -Carrambo, I have no doubt, gave a very literal translation thereof. - -Let me carry it on to the next chapter please. - - - - -CHAPTER VI.--AN INVADING ARMY--VICTORY! - - -"Goo-goo!" said the king. - -Duncan shook his head as he sat on a block of wood near to him, and just -where he could get a good look of his sable countenance. - -"He say," Carrambo interpreted, "no goo-goo, no stoly." - -But Duncan was firm. Savages are very like children in some of their -ways, and Duncan knew it. He shifted the bottle farther back therefore. - -"No story, no goo-goo. Tell him that, Carrambo." - -The fat king grinned, slapped one of his wives, grinned again, and began -to talk. - -As translated by the Somali, the story ran somewhat as follows:-- - -"I king now. My fadder he king once. My fadder fadder he king befo'; -my fadder fadder fadder he king too. 'Twas when fadder fadder fadder -king. De boys all in de bush one day, make much fine spolt. Shoot de -monkey fo' eat; shoot de lion and de spot-cat (leopard) all wid bow and -arrow. Some dey kill wid spear. - -"Plesantly, all as soon as nuffin, plenty much noise and shout in de -bush. Den fire-sticks flash and plenty thunder, and one, two, tlee, -nine, ten (the king was counting on his fingers and could go no further) -ob my fadder's fadder's fadder's poor people lie down and bleed red, and -die. But dis not all. De king's people fight, and many mo' all kill -and bleeding, and so de king make peace. - -"De white men dey take many wives away, den take de country, and de king -he king no mo'. All de same he not conquer. Plaps he take revenge one -day. You see plenty soon. - -"Well, de white men wid de thunder-sticks, they build big big -house--big, big, stlong, stlong, all de same as you young gemmans lib in -now. So dey settle down and lib heah. - -"Dey go spolt plenty in de bush, and kill much wild beast. Sometimes de -wild beast--ha, ha!--kill dey, and chew up foh tlue. - -"But all de same de white folks stay one two year. Dey gadder much glass -stone--" - -"These," said Duncan, "were evidently diamonds." - -"Were they like these?" said Frank, taking the splendid diamond from his -pocket and holding it up. - -"All same, all same, de king say," cried Carrambo. - -"Dey go heah and dere all ober de mountain to seek fo' de glass stone, -and many dey find and buly." - -"Bury," cried Duncan, showing some little excitement. "Ask him, -Carrambo, where the glass was buried. Wait a minute though," he added. -"Frank, give him another nutful of goo-goo." - -Frank did as he was told. Carrambo put the question, and the king's -eyes sparked. - -"What does he say, Carrambo?" - -"He says de debbil guard the glass stones, and if he tell any white man -where they lie, den de debbil take he plenty quick." - -The king was offered a whole bottle of goo-goo if he would only divulge -the secret, but he was obdurate. - -"No, no, no," said Carrambo. "He say de debbil no catchee he foh many -many long year yet." - -Then his majesty proceeded with the story. - -"De white men now begin to dig holes in the earf. Dey want to make hole -for bad men to come up throo, and cut all de throats of my fadder's -fadder's fadder's pore people. - -"De ole ole king he fink, 'I no can stand dis no mo'." "Den one night in -de dark folest he gadder his people togedder. - -"He 'splain to dem all 'bout de big hole. 'Plaps,' he say, 'eben -to-mollow de bad white debbils come up out ob de hole, and catchee us -foh tlue.' - -"And de ole king's people shake wid anger. - -"'Kill, kill, kill, and eat the fire-stick men!' dey cly. - -"Dey shake moh and moh wid anger, den de ole king say, 'Vely well, all -kill'. - -"Dat night, out on de plain de moon he shine. De moon hab one big led -(red) face. He look down, he smile and laugh. 'Kill, kill!' he seem to -say. 'Kill de white debbils and dair wives, kill de white piccaninnies -too. Make much fine bobbery, much fine kill. I not tell.' - -"But de white men dat night say, 'O, de black cannibal not come dis -night. Too much moon!' So dey dlink goo-goo, and moh and moh goo-goo. -Den dey sing--ha, ha!--den dey sleep. - -"De moon he smile all de same. And the black man wid plenty spear and -knife lie quiet in de bush. - -"But the king cly now, and all at once de savage jump up. - -"Plenty much branch ob tree dey cut. - -"Plenty much fire. - -"Den wid gleat stones de door fly all bloken, and de white men come out -to fight. - -"But too much goo-goo--he, he, he!--and dey fall and fall all in one big -heap. Much blood. Much kick and scream! - -"Not one alibe now, only de white women and de piccaninnies. - -"Ha, ha, ha, how de king do laugh. My fadder, fadder, fadder, dat is. - -"But now all de women am drag out, and all de piccaninny. Der troats--" - -"Horrible!" cried Duncan. "We will have no more. Give the old pig of a -king more goo-goo and let him go and sleep it off. I have never heard, -Frank, of a more diabolical massacre in my life." - -Said Carrambo now: "What foh you open again de old debbil pits? Some -night dey people rise and murder you tree pooh souls all same as dey -kill and eat de odder white folks long, long ago. Carrambo know well. -Dese sabages not hab de debbil pits open. Oh, no!" - -"There is much truth," said Duncan, "in what Carrambo says. It would be -a pity to leave this land of gold and diamonds without knowing for -certain whether the mines are worth working; but I move that we leave -the devil pits alone for a time until we try to reclaim these savages -just a little." - -"I should reclaim them off the face of the earth," said Frank. - -"That is impossible, and were it not, we should only be reducing -ourselves to their level. That is not the doctrine of Jesus Christ." - -So the "debbil pits", much to the joy of the king, were partially -refilled. But just as they were shovelling in the earth, brave -broad-shouldered Duncan struck something with his wooden spade. - -"Hillo!" he cried, "what have we here?" - -Frank and Conal rushed up to see. - -"Why, a nugget. And, boys, it is six pounds weight if an ounce." - -The excitement of the three young fellows now knew no bounds. They -shook each other by the hand; they shouted aloud for joy, and then, -while honest Viking capered around them, they raised their voices in -song, Duncan leading in an old song, sung by the gold-diggers of -California in days long, long gone by. - -But a right cheery one it was. - - "Pull away, cheerily, - Not slow and wearily, - Rocking the cradle,[1] boys, swift to and fro. - Working the hand about, - Sifting the sand about, - Looking for treasures that lie in below." - -[1] The machine used for washing the "pay-dirt". - - -"Hurrah! Hurrah!" - -Another and a truly British cheer. The savages far down below heard it -and trembled. - -"Plaps," said Carrambo, "dey tink all de debbils was let loose now foh -tlue." - -"Here, Carrambo, hurry down with a bottle of goo-goo to the old king, -and tell him we are his friends now, and if an enemy comes we will help -to fight him." - -Carrambo came back the same evening rejoicing, but laughing his wildest. - -"Plenty much fun!" he cried. "De fat king he dlunk, ebber so much -dlunk. He do nuffin' now. Jus' lie on him back and sing. Ha! ha! ha!" - -The boys went back to their fort to dine. Carrambo would be their -friend, though to the savages he pretended not to be so. He was even -entrusted with a revolver, and thus a right happy man was he. - -Well, when Duncan talked about the invasion of an enemy he might have -been speaking for speaking sake; but one evening a runner brought the -alarming intelligence that a rich neighbouring tribe were preparing to -fall upon and extirpate the inhabitants of these glens and hills. - -"And a jolly good job too," said Frank. "We'll stand by and look on, -won't we, Duncan?" - -But Duncan shook his head. - -"A promise even to a savage is sacred, Frank, and we must fight." - -The Umbaloomi, as the invading tribe was called, did not keep the tribe -long waiting. - -They came in force on the very next day. The king himself marched along -with his warriors, mounted on a huge elephant, while behind him, on -another, rode his two favourite wives. The Umbaloomi potentate had -promised them a great treat, and many heads with which to decorate their -huts. - -Now Duncan had determined that Goo-goo, as the fat king had come to be -called, should attack the invaders first. If he failed to conquer, then -Duncan, with Frank, Conal, and Carrambo, meant to give them a startler, -and something like a surprise. - -This was all as it should be, and the fight, as seen from the bush where -our heroes lay _perdu_, was a fearful one. - -What a horrible melee! What a murderous massacre! No wonder that the -wild birds rose in screaming clouds, or that the echoes of the forest -were awakened by the bedlam shrieks and howlings of the gorillas! - -"Now for it, lads!" cried Duncan, as he noticed that Goo-Goo's side was -losing. "Steady aim. Give 'em fits, but don't fire until I tell you." - -Nearer and nearer to the foe they crept under cover of the mimosa -bushes. - -"Fire!" - -At the word a rattling volley was poured into the very midst of the foe. - -Another and another, for the rifles were repeaters. - -"Hurrah!" shouted Carrambo, "the fire-debbils have come!" - -Whether the enemy understood him or not I cannot say, but they were -staggered, and backward now they reeled in a confusion which is -indescribable. - -The elephants waxed wild, and, instead of flying, charged right towards -the Goo-Goo tribe. - -And the invading king, with both his wives, were instantly slain. - -That completed the victory. - -But after victory came the rout, the slaughter, and utter extermination -of the invaders. - -With the details of the fearful feast that followed, I should be sorry, -indeed, to sully my pages. - -So the curtain drops on a sadder scene than ever I trust any of my -readers shall ever behold. - -There was another feast, however, of a somewhat less terrible kind. For -on the slain that night the beasts of the forest held high revel. - -And thus ended the invasion of King Goo-Goo's land. - - - - -CHAPTER VII.--THE MYSTERIOUS STONE. - - -For the first time since their arrival Goo-Goo paid the boys a visit of -ceremony, on the day after the battle. - -Carrambo had apprised them of the honour they were about to be the -recipients of, and they stayed at home in consequence. - -Goo-Goo was very pompous--and precious little else. - -He was elated with his victory, but did not hesitate to admit that -Duncan and his comrades had contributed a little to the turn of the tide -of battle. - -Goo-Goo was even boastful - -Goo-Goo was also very thirsty. - -So Duncan invited him to come inside. - -He refused. Not even a whole bottle of his favourite sherry would have -tempted him to cross the threshold of the fort, because--as he explained -through Carrambo--"plenty much debbil lib (live) in one hole below de -floor". - -But he made very small work of a nut-shell of goo-goo that Duncan -presented to him with his own hand. - -Then he explained why he had come. It was to offer to our heroes the -two tame elephants that had been captured in battle. - -Duncan nodded to his fellows, and the gift was accepted unconditionally, -and that very day the great wise beasts were taken over. - -A huge compound was erected for them in a bit of jungle not far off; the -king's men building it with their own hands. - -Moreover, two men were told off to feed and care for the noble brutes, -who soon became very great pets indeed, with all hands. - -The larger of the two might well have been called immense or colossal. -He seemed especially fond of Frank, and there wasn't a titbit Frank -could think of that he did not bring to Ju-ju of a morning. - -Ju-ju was certainly grateful. He had one very curious method of showing -his gratitude, namely, by encircling the boy with his trunk and swaying -him up and down, and to and fro. - -"Gently, Ju-ju," Frank would say sometimes; "gently, Ju, old man." - -Then Ju would set him quietly down and trumpet with delight. - - ---- - -But as soon as it was dark, all was generally peaceful enough about the -fort, for after a residence of some months in king Goo-Goo's country -they had got quite used to the cry of wild beasts, and even the roar of -lions did not disturb their slumbers. - -But the nugget and the diamond--oh! these indeed. Duncan's eyes used to -sparkle with delight as they were placed upon the table of an evening. - -What possibilities did they not point to! What joy for the future -seemed to scintillate from the diamond! One night something that the -king had said during his visit to the fort suddenly flashed across -Frank's memory. - -He almost startled both Conal and Duncan by the eagerness with which he -almost shouted: - -"Cousins!" he cried, "I have the happiest thought that ever I had. Do -you not remember that the king refused to come into the fort because -devils dwelt in a hole beneath the floor!" - -"Yes, yes, he did say so." - -"Duncan, those devils are diamonds, and, it may be, gold nuggets as -well." - -His comrades were thunder-struck apparently, but they admitted that in -all likelihood Frank's surmise was correct. - -"Then, boys," said Frank, "we shall open a devil hole right here where -we sit." - -This proposal was agreed to, and the work would have commenced the very -next day had not a strange adventure happened to Frank. - -It may be observed that mostly all the terrible adventures did happen to -Frank. Some people are born unlucky, you know. - -But next forenoon Duncan and he had gone towards the forest for the -purpose of shooting hyenas, no great or very exalted sport, it is true, -but they had become numerous and bold of late, and needed scattering. - -Duncan had followed a wounded monster some distance for the sake of -giving him his _conge_, when he came back---- lo! Frank was gone. - -For hours and hours Duncan searched all that portion of the forest that -he dared to enter, but in vain. - -But he found his comrade's gun, and at some little distance his cap. - -So he went sorrowfully home. - -Further search was made next day, some of the bravest of Goo-Goo's -native soldiers assisting. - -But no more trace of the lost Frank could be found. - -A whole fortnight went past, and he was mourned for as one dead, and -even Carrambo gave up hopes. - -Frank, he told them, must have been throttled by the gorillas and hung -up in a tree. - -But lo! and behold, one forenoon who should appear again _in propria -persona_, but the laughing little Cockney boy himself. - -By the hand he led a little long-armed hairy gorilla, that clung to him -in terror when Viking began to growl. - -Jeannie, as she was called, sprang trembling into Frank's arms, but he -gently soothed her, and after having a cup of coffee he told his -marvellous story.[2] It was briefly as follows:-- - - -[1] This is no sailor's yarn, but founded on fact. - - -He had been captured by the awful gorillas, having been first stunned by -a blow from a club. Then carried deep into the forest and up into a -very high tree. There he found a shelter, quite a hut in fact, and far -from being unkind to him, the gorillas fed and tended him every day, -only guarding him at night. - -"And this is my little pupil," he added. "Jeannie was given me to -educate, I suppose; but early this morning the gorillas went off to do -battle with some neighbouring tribe, and Jeannie and I slipped down the -tree and ran for it. - -"So here I am!" - -"Heaven be praised!" cried Duncan with tears in his eyes. "You come to -us as one risen from the dead." - -"And what are you going to do with Jeannie?" asked Conal. - -"Oh!" said Frank, "Jeannie is a sweet child. She shall go with us -wherever we go." - -"I hope," said Conal, "her parents won't come for her. It might be -rather inconvenient." - - ---- - -Two long months passed away, and our heroes were almost weary of this -lonesome and wild land. - -But they had not been idle all the time of their sojourn here. On the -contrary, they had commenced to dig in the fort itself for buried -treasure. - -There was plenty of excitement about this, but for many a weary week no -luck attended their excavations. - -The excitement, however, was somewhat like that of gambling, and once -begun they felt they could not give it up until they came to something. - -So they dug and dug. - -But all in vain. - -They still spent much of their time in fishing and shooting, however. -These were necessary sports. Food they must have. - -A rather gloomy time arrived later on, when they had finally abandoned -all hopes of finding any buried treasure. Tremendously heavy banks of -clouds had rolled up from the horizon and overspread the heavens. - -Then with terrible thundering and vivid lightning a short rainy season -was ushered in. The stream became flooded, so that fishing was now out -of the question. - -But Conal's little Lilywhite visited the fort every day, and--though I -cannot say where she found them--never came without a fish, while just -as often as not she brought the boys a present of delightful fruit. - -The rain-clouds were scattered at last, and soon the country all around -was greener and more lovely than ever the wanderers had seen it, while -the most gorgeous of flowers seemed to spring into existence in the -short space of twenty-four hours. - -Sport began again once more. - -They still paid visits to the king, but these were not so welcome now to -his sable majesty, for the goo-goo was all finished, and he cared for -little else--with, of course, the exception of human flesh. - -Conal was exceedingly well developed, and under certain conditions he -would not have objected being reminded of this. - -But when the king one day felt his arm and said something which Carrambo -translated: "Ah, num-num! you plenty good to eat," Conal hardly relished -the verdict. - -But the great elephants became a source of much pleasure to everyone. -They were so perfectly tractable and manageable that the boys often went -across country with them. - -This was practice, and Duncan had a meaning for it. - -Well, one day as Frank was entering the living-room of the fort, his -eyes fell upon a curious mark upon a stone, which proved to be an arrow -bent partly upwards. He followed its direction with his eye and on -another stone found another arrow, then two or three more, and finally -there was a square stone above the window with a cross over it, thus -(cross symbol). - -There were no more arrows. - -Frank rushed out half frantic with joy. - -"Duncan! Conal!" he shouted. - -They were coming quietly up the hill. - -"Come quick, boys, I've made a discovery!" - -Then he led them in and pointed the arrows, and the stone marked with -the (cross symbol). - -"The diamonds are there," he said excitedly. - - ---- - -The stone, however, was so firmly cemented in that it defied any -ordinary methods to get it out. - -So they determined to dine first, and go to work on it afterwards. - -But no one could think or speak of anything else except their hopes of -finding the treasure. - -The boys had made cocoa-nut-oil lamps, and by the little flicker of -light these gave, they now set about attacking the flint-hard cement in -earnest. They chipped it out bit by bit, and hard, tedious work they -found it. - -But they succeeded at last, and stood silent and with a kind of awesome -delight. For there before them was the glad sparkle of diamonds--a -sparkle that seemed to dim the light of their poor oil lamp. - -"Boys," cried Duncan, "our fortune is made!" - -The diamonds, however, were but few--eight in all--but of great size, -and apparently of high value, although the boys were no judges. - -The hole where they had lain was carefully cemented all round, and -besides the diamonds they found here two or three nuggets of gold, and a -tiny brick of cement about six inches by four by three. - -Just one word was engraved thereon. - -That word was evidently Spanish, though partly obliterated--ABRIR-- - -They hoped to find diamonds inside. - -They did not, however; only a piece of parchment, on which many words -were written which they could not understand. - -They were just putting in the stone again, after carefully storing away -the diamonds and parchment, when Viking sprang up fiercely barking, and -with his hair erect all along his spine. - -At the same moment they perceived a terrible face at the open window. - -It was that of a savage in his war-paint--the lips were painted red, -great red rings were around each eye, and cheeks and brow were daubed -with spots of white. - -"Idle curiosity, I suppose," said Duncan, "or a trick to frighten us. -For now that the goo-goo is all exhausted, I believe the king would like -to see the very last of us." - -When Carrambo came next day they told him about the terrible face at the -window. - -Carrambo considered for a moment, then shook his head. - -"Dat no good," he said. "You close all de debbil pit?" - -"Yes," said Duncan. - -"Dat bad sabage see somefing, sah! He go tell de king. King make -bobbery soon. Plaps cut all you troats, like he kill pore leetle -Lilywhite to-mollow." - -"What!" cried Conal, "kill Lilywhite! If he dares, I'll put a bullet -through his fat and ugly phiz." - -"Poh Lilywhite!" continued Carrambo, as if speaking to himself. "But," -he added, "s'pose you come to-night, I take you to de hut. Lily come -back heah; den not die." - -Conal at once agreed, and Carrambo came for him some hours after sunset. - -The butchering hut was at a considerable distance from the main village, -and, strange to say, unguarded. But they crept in and found Lily bound -hand and foot. - -She was speedily rescued, and in an hour's time they were all back at -the fort. - -But Conal had seen something that night which seriously alarmed both him -and his companions. - -The savages were squatted out-of-doors around fires, and all in -war-paint. - -They looked fierce and terrible. - -Very busy, too, were they, sharpening horrid knives and spears. - -This was fearful intelligence to bring back, and Carrambo, being asked -what it all meant, did not hesitate a moment in replying. - -"It mean dis," he said; "dey tink dat you open de debbil hole again. -To-mollow dey come plenty twick and cut all you troats, foh shuah." - -"Carrambo," said Duncan after a pause, "can you guide us towards Lamoo?" - -"Ees, sah, I guide you foh tlue!" - -"Without having to go through that gorilla-haunted forest?" - -"Ees, sah, ees," was the quick reply. "I myse'f not go t'loo de -folast." - -"Well, Carrambo, send for the men who attend to the elephants, and we -shall start this very night." - -The two elephant attendants were very sincere, and when Duncan promised -them clothes and beads and many fine gifts, they readily consented to go -with them to the coast. - -So packing was commenced without a moment's delay. - -And none too soon, as things turned out. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII.--THE BATTLE AT THE FORD. - - -Even Viking seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation, for -while he watched with great earnestness, not to say joy, the hurried -preparations for departure, he never once barked. - -All was ready at last, and just a little before midnight a start was -made. - -Nothing had been forgotten, and luckily the two men who had charge of -the elephants knew how to load these. On the first, a very large -animal, was a low but strong howdah, in which were packed the -instruments, spare arms, and ammunition, food, cooking utensils, rugs -and wraps, &c. It was built low and of wattle, not only for lightness' -sake, but that it might not catch against any trees they might have to -get under, during their long and dangerous march towards the coast. - -But a strange and curious band they formed, had anyone been there to -behold them. Let us count and see how many souls they numbered. Six -men in all, Lilywhite and Jeannie, Viking, and the two elephants. Eleven -all told. - -Why, I do believe I have given a soul to each. But just listen, boys, -while I, the author of this book, make a confession. The generality of -us poor upstarts have an idea we are immensely superior to the beings we -are all so fond of calling "the lower animals". We imagine--the majority -of us, I mean--that these were all made for our use, and they are badly -used accordingly. What utter rot, and what a shame! There is no great -gulf fixed between us and them. Their minds differ but in degree, not in -kind, from our own, and if we have a future existence, be sure and -certain that your pet dog or cat that died not long ago--and whom you -cannot forget--will live again also. Nothing good ever dies--only sin! - -So I certainly should not think of withholding a soul from those two -marvellously-wise elephants, and of course Viking was more wise and far -higher in the scale of intellect than many and many a drink-besotted -Englishman or Scotsman, whom I see making heavy weather and steering -badly as he marches homewards of a Saturday night. - -Well, Lilywhite and Jeannie occupied the other howdah, and I'm sure I -should not be mean enough to deny the possession of a soul to either. - -Pray, love the lower animals, boys, for, mind you, the same God who made -you made them. - - "Oh happy living things! no tongue - Their beauty may declare; - If springs of love gush from your heart - You bless them unaware." - - -Well, this good Somali, Carrambo, was to be depended upon. That was -evident. He was indeed a strange being in many ways, and held every -life but his own very cheap indeed, but he was going to be faithful to -his employers. He had a certain code of morality which he considered -binding on him, else he could have robbed our heroes and delivered them -into Goo-goo's hands very easily indeed. But he had no such thought. - -He now walked in front, as the elephants felt their way with cautious -steps adown the hill towards a ford in the stream, an attendant close by -the head of each. - -Carrambo did not mean to take his party through that demon-haunted -forest, but by a more circuitous and safer route. - -Well was it for all that they had abandoned the fort and the hill at the -time they did; for the savages had worked themselves up into a kind of -murderous frenzy, and determined to attack and slay the whites long -before daybreak. - -On looking behind them while still some distance from the ford, our boys -could hear their bloodthirsty and maniacal howls, and knew they had -reached the fort and found it empty. - -And then they knew they were being pursued! - -The full moon had now arisen, and its pure silvery light was bathing -hill and glen and forest. Even the distant snow-clad mountain-peaks -could be seen sparkling like koh-i-noors in its radiance. - -But here is the ford, and it is quickly negotiated. None too quickly, -however, for hardly are they on the other bank ere the savages had -reached the stream. - -A battle was now unavoidable. - -So all wheeled. - -Spears were thrown in a cloud from the other side, but each one missed -its mark. - -"Steady now, men!" cried Duncan. "Be cautious! Fire!" - -It was a rattling and a most destructive volley they poured into that -savage mob. The terrible shrieking increased, but it was now mingled -with howls of pain and impotent rage. - -Five more volleys were fired, and as the natives were crowded close -together the effect was fearful. - -They reeled, they turned, and were about to seek safety in flight when -one painted wretch, more brave than his fellows, waving his spear aloft, -dashed into the river and commenced to cross. - -More than one were following, and had they succeeded in getting over, -the fight would doubtless have had a sad and speedy ending. - -But now something happened that at once turned the tide of battle. - -Vike had hitherto been only a very interested spectator of the fight, -but now, seeing that savage half-way across, with a howl and a roar he -leapt into the river, and quickly ploughed his way towards him. - -All the courage that the cannibal possessed deserted him at once, when -he saw what he thought was an evil spirit coming towards him. With a -yell that quite demoralized his companions behind, he dropped his spear -and tried to rush back. - -A man cannot walk in deepish water so quickly as a dog can swim, and so -Viking seized him before he had gone many yards. - -Do savages faint, I wonder? I never have seen one "go off", as old -wives call it, and require smelling-salts and burned feathers. -Nevertheless this fellow became insensible when Vike proceeded to shake -him out of his skin. - -So the dog towed him in. - -Carrambo drew his knife, and would have killed him at once but for -Duncan's interference. - -"No, no," he shouted, "spare his life, Carrambo!" - -Firing had never slackened, and now as the enemy gave way it was more -rapid and deadly than ever. But in a few minutes' time there was not a -savage left on the opposite bank. Only the dead, only the wounded -tossing and writhing in agony in the moonlight. - -There was still a chance, however, of the attack being renewed. For -this reason: King Goo-goo had adopted a plan of his own for punishing -those who were defeated in battle, and invariably the first half-dozen -men who returned were clubbed to death. Goo-goo was rather partial to -brain fritters, and cared very little whose brains contributed to this -little _entree_. - -And now the march was resumed. - -Sometimes the little band was so close to the forest that they could -hear the howling and din of the gorillas, at other times they were -stretching over arid tracts of a kind of prairie land. Nor were these -silent and uninhabited. Beasts of the desert were leopards and even -lions. - -The former fled on sight, the latter did not dare to attack. - -Yet when one leapt up almost close to the foremost elephants, and began -slowly to retreat with head and tail erect and growling like loudest -thunder, bold Carrambo levelled and fired. The bullet must have pierced -the splendid beast's heart, for he at once dropped dead in his tracks. - -Carrambo was indeed a proud man now, and although the boys knew the shot -was only a fluke, he was patted on the back and permitted to wear the -laurels he had won. - -Yes, but Carrambo had the skin as well as the laurels. And this, after -rubbing the inside well with a kind of earth he found near by, and which -is often used as a preservative, he stowed it away in one of the -howdahs. - -On and on they marched all that night, often having to cross small -rivers and streams, or journey long distances by the banks of larger -ones, which proved unfordable, till at daylight they found themselves on -a tree-covered little hill, and here Duncan called a halt for -refreshment and for rest. - -All were tired, except little Lilywhite. For with the child-gorilla in -her arms she had slept most of the way. - -She was helped down. Both the shes in fact, and Jeannie soon jumped -into Frank's arms, caressing him in the most affectionate manner. - -"Behold how she loves her father!" said the boy laughing. - -"Well," he added, "I would rather have one little hairy gorilla who -loved me, than a thousand hairless bipeds of men who didn't give shucks -for me." - -To a stream close by ran Lily, and in a surprisingly quick time returned -with fish enough for all hands. - -And these, one of the men having lit a fire, she speedily cooked. - -Lily was, indeed, a jewel in her own way--though a black one. - -After a hearty breakfast, of which fruit formed a not unimportant -portion, rugs were spread in the shade, and leaving Carrambo on -guard--his time for rest would come afterwards--all lay down to snatch a -few hours' sleep. - -Lily squatted at Conal's head, fanning him with a broad leaf, till -finally he slept. - -Jeannie curled up beside Frank, and Viking with Duncan. So everyone was -contented and happy. - -I do not think the boys ever slept more soundly than they did under the -cool green shadow of those trees, and when the sun had gone a certain -distance round, and Carrambo, acting on his instructions, awoke them, -they felt as fresh as meadow larks, and quite fit to resume the journey. - -"I hope we won't have any more fighting, boys," said Duncan. - -"Why not?" said Frank the Cockney. "I think fighting is good fun. - -"Especially," he added, "when you win." - -"That's just it, Frank; but the bother is, that if we are hard pressed, -the other fellows will win next time, because our cartridges would soon -be all expended." - -"Let us hope for the best," said Conal. "We have plenty of ammunition -for our revolvers." - -"True, Conal; but when you are near enough to shoot a savage with a -revolver, he is near enough to scupper you with his spear." - -They encamped that night close to the banks of a sandy-bottomed river, -which Duncan said looked as if it contained gold. And once more -Lilywhite assumed the responsibility of cooking. - -Then, keeping the fire still alight to keep wild beasts at bay, the boys -left Vike on watch and curled up. - -In spite of the warm attentions of scores of very musical mosquitoes -they slept long and soundly, and daylight was almost breaking before -they awoke. - -On and on they journeyed day by day, and many and strange were their -adventures among wild beasts and wilder men. But although our heroes -always showed a bold front when trouble seemed rising, they found it -safest and best, if possible, to make friends with the different tribes -they came into contact with. - -The beads they still possessed went a long way to cement friendship. - -They had been on the road for over a month, for they did not hurry, -knowing the advantage of harbouring their strength in case of having to -fight for dear life itself. - -One day about this time, after crossing a high and desert upland, they -descended a hill and found themselves among a very strange people -indeed, and in a strangely beautiful country. - -As the inhabitants were friendly, Duncan resolved to stay with them for -a time, that all might recruit their health, and that Conal might regain -his. - -The poor lad, in a skirmish with some savages that had taken place -farther inland, had been wounded by a poisoned arrow, and although he -appeared to have recovered, the wound had broken out afresh, and he was -now in so low a condition, that he had to be carried on a bed of grass -made for him in one of the howdahs. - -A cool grass hut was set apart for the poor white boy, as the natives -called him, and Lily was a most attentive nurse to him. But indeed all -the people near by were unremitting in their attentions, not only to -Conal, but to everyone in the camp. - -This was a country of villages, scattered here and there wherever the -water was most plentiful for themselves and the cattle they owned. But -scattered though these were, and but sparsely inhabited, yet if the -tocsin of war sounded, they speedily flocked to one standard to repel an -invading foe. It was a real republic, owning no king or chief, and -placing the law in the hands of their elders in virtue of their age and -wisdom. - -As there was perfect peace and good understanding between these simple -pastoral natives and Duncan's little band, the latter were very happy -indeed. - -Conal got slowly well, but all hands had to remain in this happy land -for nearly six weeks before the journey could be renewed. - -And poor little Lilywhite stayed here for better or for worse. - -Here is how it happened. Shortly before Duncan was about to resume the -march towards the big river and city of Lamoo, Carrambo one day came -forward, leading a tall and rather ungainly young savage, and addressed -Conal as follows:-- - -"Dis dam young rascal he say you all de same's one fadder to Lily. He -want to mally Lily. He gib tree goat foh Lily." - -Here he struck the suitor under the chin. - -"Hol' you head up, Choo-ka!" he cried. "De white man no eat de likes ob -you!" - -Choo-ka would have blushed if he hadn't been black. - -"Is Lily willing?" said Conal, laughing. - -"Oh ees, sah, she plenty willin' 'nuff." - -"Well, consider it all arranged." - -So Conal lost his nurse, and Choo-ka gained a bride. As, however, the -girl had taken a great fancy for Jeannie, Frank gave the gorilla to her -as a wedding gift, and Duncan presented her with a string of beautiful -beads. - -And so they were married, and no doubt lived, or will live, for my story -does not date back any very extraordinary number of years, happy ever -after. - -The journey was now resumed, and with the exception of some adventures -with pythons and alligators, they reached the river without much further -trouble, and in a few days after this struck the outlying huts of the -large Arab city of Lamoo, and were received in the most hospitable way, -not only by the Portuguese, but by the Arabs, and even by the sultan -himself. - -A question now arose as to what they should do with the elephants. It -would be impossible to take these to sea with them. - -But a very wealthy Arab merchant offered to buy them, and after a -considerable deal of haggling he became the purchaser, and the boys were -paid in gold. - - ---- - -They had half expected to find a gun-boat here, but were disappointed. - -So after waiting for a whole week, they paid poor Carrambo off, after -telling him that they meant to revisit his country another day and open -the "debbil pits" in spite of old Goo-goo, then took passage in a large -Arab dhow for Zanzibar, with all their goods and chattels, their gold -and diamonds. - -Two weeks after this there landed on the white sandy beach of that -place, three as jolly and as happy boys as anyone ever shook hands with. - - - - -CHAPTER IX.--THE VERY IDENTICAL BIRD. - - -Zanzibar! The spotless sand, on which the blue waves broke lazily into -foam, sparkled like silver in the rays of the noonday sun. Higher up -were the walls of many a palatial-looking building, consulates, most of -them, and each one flying the flag of its country, and with, here and -there, gigantic cocoa-palms waving their dark-green foliage between. - -Conspicuous above all, the palace of the Sultan, with above it the -blood-red Arab flag. - -There were many ships in the roadstead; some men-o'-war too, but none -belonging to Her Majesty the Queen. - -This was slightly disappointing, for our heroes had been told that the -little gun-boat was here, and they longed with an indescribable longing -to know if their dear friends had been rescued alive from the -uninhabited island. - -During their voyage from Lamoo--the town lies about fifteen miles -inland, and on the banks of the river, and is navigable to vessels of -light draught all the way up--the Arab skipper had been both courteous -and kind to the young fellows, and when, after the landing of their -chattels, they bade him good-bye, they felt truly sorry to part with -him. - -There were plenty of willing hands on the beach to carry their goods to -the hotel. Indeed, they would have carried the boys themselves, and -Viking too, had a few pice been offered them as a reward. - -But here is the hotel. It has not been a long walk, albeit the narrow -streets have been--as they always are--crowded to excess with Arabs, -Parsees, Hindoos, Portuguese, Indians, and niggers of every size and -shade. Through this crowd they had to jostle their way with many a -shout of "Sameela! Sameela!" For neither the streets themselves nor -those who fill them have the sweet savour of-- - - "A primrose by the river's brim". - - -Yes, here is the hotel, and though the street in front is fairly wide, -the hostelry itself is not over-inviting. But the landlord, who happens -to be a Frenchman, gives them a right hearty welcome, and asks them -immediately what they will have for "deenir". - -"Oh," said Duncan, "what can we have?" - -"Eberytings, gentlemans; soup, feesh, entree, curry." - -"Ah! let us have some real curry. No, not any soup; we want solids. -And as soon as you are ready, we are." - -"Sartainly, gentlemans." - -"And now," continued Duncan, "we would like to see our bedrooms." - -"I have put your luggash all in one big, big room. Three beds it have, -'cause I know young officers like to talk much togedder." - -"Very thoughtful of you indeed!" - -"And dare is a bat'room just off it." - -"How luxurious!" cried Frank. "Why, boys, we are back once more into -civilization!" - -They certainly enjoyed their bath, as well as a change of raiment. - -"Now, if we had some coffee," said Frank "we--" - -He had no time to complete the sentence, for just as he was talking, the -landlord re-entered the room smiling. - -He bore, on a level with his forehead, a tray with a pot of the most -fragrant coffee, flanked by cups. - -Besides this, there was a huge basin of goat's milk. - -"For your beautiful dog, sir officer." - -Duncan thanked him most heartily, and Viking seemed most grateful also. - -"I sincerely love all de animiles in de world," said the Frenchman. -"One gentleman stay here now. Hab been stay many mont's, with one -leetle blackamoor servant. He possess one very curious bird. Ha, ha! -'Scuse me laugh. But ven I play on my little flute, den the bird and de -boy dance. It is all so funny!" - -The boys exchanged glances. - -"Can it be possible?" said Duncan. - -"I declare," cried Frank, "I feel fidgety all over." - -"And I," said Conal, "am cramful of nerves." - -"Landlord, can you introduce us to the bird and the boy?" - -"Sartainly, gentlemans. Follow, if you will be so kind." - -He led them down and down a flight of stone stairs that seemed to have -no end. - -Then the young fellows followed him into a large room. - -"Gol-a-mussy, gemmans, has you risen again flom de grabe?" - -It was little Johnnie Shingles, and none but he. - -"Grunt, grunt! squeak, squawk, and squawl!" Up rushed Pen himself. - -Yes, the very identical bird! - -"Wowff!" cried Vike, entering fully into the excitement. - -"Wowff, wowff, wonders will never cease." - -Then out came Monsieur T.'s flute. - -And Monsieur struck up a merry lilt. - -Up went the great bird's flappers, stretched out were Johnnie's arms, -and next moment they were whirling together round and round that -stone-floored room, in surely as daft a dance as ever yet was seen. - -It was just at this moment, and while all three boys were convulsed with -laughter, that a third person put in an appearance, and now for a time -everything else paled before the pleasure of once more meeting, and -grasping the hand of brave Master-mariner Talbot himself. - - ---- - -What anyone said for the matter of a minute or two is not worth -recording, consisting, as it did, chiefly of ejaculations, and little -brief sentences of wonder and pleasure. - -"Of course, you will dine with us, captain," said Duncan at last, "for -we have much to tell you, and your story will all be perfectly new to -us." - -"Another plate, landlord." - -"Sartainly, sah." - -To say that this was a happy meeting would be to print a mere -commonplace. - -It was more than happy, but it was agreed that they should not tell each -other the story of their adventures, till dinner had been discussed. - -Their anxiety, I may tell you at once, reader, did not prevent our -heroes doing ample justice to the delightful little meal that the -Frenchman had set before them. - -He waited upon them himself, too, and presently informed them that -dessert was laid upstairs. Duncan opened his eyes wonderingly. - -"What!" he cried, "do you serve dessert in the bedrooms?" - -Talbot laughed. - -"No," he said, "not in the bedroom, but on the upper deck. Follow me, -and see for yourself." - - - - -CHAPTER X.--THE WELCOME HOME. - - -Up and up and up! They were getting heavenwards, and presently found -themselves in quite an aerial paradise. - -On the roof, but covered with awning it was. From this place they could -see all over the city and catch glimpses of the blue ocean itself, to -say nothing of the greenery of the far-off woods. - -But here were splendid palms in pots, flowers of every hue, orange and -lemon trees, whose cool green foliage refreshed the eyes that gazed upon -them. Settees or lounges also, mild cigarettes on the tiny tables, iced -sherbet, mangoes, pine-apples, guavas, and great purple grapes. - -And presently a waiter brought cups of black coffee, of far better taste -and flavour than any they had ever drank on British soil. - -"What a treat after our hard and terrible life in the land of the -gorilla!" This from Conal. - -"But, my dear boy," said Frank, "the gorilla is really a gentleman -compared to the cannibal king Goo-goo. But now, Captain, we are all -anxious to hear your story." - -Captain Talbot did not reply at once. He simply smiled and smoked, -leaning well back in his rocking chair with his eyes on the curling -wreaths, just as he used to do of an evening on the deck of the dear old -_Flora M'Vayne_. - -"I am sorry to disappoint you, my brave lads, but the real truth is that -I've got no story to tell. - -"You know," he continued, "what our sufferings were before you left." - -"Alas! yes," said Duncan. - -"They grew worse instead of better after you sailed away. More men -died. Died, I think, of fever brought on by thirst. I, too, should -have died but for that child Johnnie. I do believe he brought me a -portion, and a large one too, of his own allowance of water. - -"Then it seemed to be all darkness, all night, and when I opened my eyes -at last I was no longer on the little island but at sea. - -"I was lying under an awning on the quarter-deck of a tiny British -man-o'-war called the _Pen-Gun_." - -"But," said Duncan, "soon after we left you we sighted and communicated -with a big steamer, and as far as we could make out she started off to -your rescue." - -"Well, she came not near us. But as long as I live I shall never forget -the unremitting kindness and attention bestowed upon us by the officers -of the _Pen-Gun_." - -"And Morgan the mate?" - -"Morgan has gone to England with the remainder of my crew, but after -hearing from you through the captain of the bold _Pen-Gun_ I determined -to wait and wait, and had you not put in an appearance in another week's -time, I was about to undertake an expedition into your charming King -Goo-goo's land and effect your rescue by hook or by crook. - -"That is all my little story; and now for yours." - - ---- - -It was late that night before Talbot and his boys parted, for the tale -of their adventures took a much longer time to tell. - -Every word of that story was of the greatest interest to the listener, -but when they told him about the gold and the diamonds, and showed him -their specimens, he must needs jump up from the chair and once more -shake hands all round. - -"Boys," he said, "you have made your fortunes. I do not mean to say -that it is here, but there are more diamonds and there is more gold -where these came from. - -"Leave it to me, lads, but you may give yourselves the credit of being -brave pioneers to a country bound, in the not far distant future, to be -one of the richest and greatest in the world. - -"As soon as we get back once more," he continued, "to the shores of -Britain, we shall set about forming a great company, and this will -speedily open up a road to your Goo-goo land, and open up the "debbil -pits" also, in spite of all that wretched king shall urge against it." - -"But we shall not call it Goo-goo Land," said Frank. - -"No? Well, I shall leave the naming of it to you." - -Then something very faint in the shape of a blush suffused the young -fellow's cheeks for a moment. - -"You know, Captain Talbot," he said, "my dear cousins know also how fond -of little Flora I am!" - -"Oh! she won't be so little by the time we get home," said Conal, -laughing. - -"Well, anyhow, when she grows bigger and grows a little older, she shall -be my wife. - -"Oh! you needn't smile; she has promised, and so after her I am going to -call our newly-discovered El Dorado--Floriana." - - ---- - -We are back again in bonnie Scotland, and it was Conal himself who -exclaimed, when bonnie Glenvoie, for the first time since coming home, -and as he was nearing it, spread itself out before him: - - "O Caledonia! stern and wild, - Meet nurse for a poetic child! - Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, - Land of the mountain and the flood, - Land of my sires! what mortal hand - Can e'er untie the filial band - That knits me to thy rugged strand!" - - -They had driven a great part of the way to Glenvoie, but had been seen -while still a long way off coming down the glen, and not only the -stalwart chief himself, but Frank's father, with about half a dozen -dogs, came out to meet them. - -Many of the dogs were old hill-mates of Viking's, so that was all right, -and a glorious gambol they had. - -But just as the principal actors and most of the company crowd the stage -before the curtain falls, so they do at the end of a story. - -If I tell you that the reunion was a happy one, I can do but little -more. - -Poor to some considerable extent both Colonel Trelawney and the laird -were, but I speak the honest truth when I say that had their brave boys -returned penniless and hatless, they would have been sure of a hearty -Highland welcome under the old roof-tree. - -Yes, Flora had grown very much too, but she had also grown more -beautiful--I do not like the word "pretty"--and as she bade her brothers -and her cousin welcome home, the tears were quivering on her eyelids and -a flush of joy suffused her face. - -And soon our young fellows settled down, and all the old wild life of -wandering on the hills and of sport began again. For indeed the boys -needed a rest. - -Little Johnnie Shingles and that droll Old Pen took up their abode in -the servants' hall, but were often invited into the drawing-room of an -evening, when, to the music of Frank's fiddle, the boy and Mother Pen -brought down the house, so to speak, by their inimitable waltzing. This -was fun to everybody else, and even to Johnnie himself. But while -whirling around in the mazy dance, with his head leant lovingly on the -nigger-boy's shoulder, Pen never looked more serious in his life. - -A great ball was given shortly after the return of our heroes, and -Glenvoie House looked very gay indeed. - -While dancing that night with Flora, Frank took occasion to say to his -partner, in language that was certainly more outspoken than romantic: - -"Mind, Flo, you and I are going to get hitched when we're a bit older." - -"Hitched, Frank?" - -"Well, spliced then. You know what I mean." - - "She looked down to blush, she looked up to sigh, - "With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye." - - -I throw in these two lines of poetry just because they look pretty, and -I sha'n't charge my publisher a penny for them either. But, to tell the -truth--a thing I always do except when--but never mind--Flora neither -blushed nor sighed. - -"That means getting married, doesn't it?" she said. "Well, we'll see; -but do keep step, Frank!" - -And this was all the wooing. - -But years have fled away since then. Five, six, nearly seven of them. - -The company was started. The parchment the boys had found in the old -fort gave the clue to the situation. The "debbil pits" were opened, and -are, even as I write, being worked with success. - -The boys are men! - -Boys will be men, you know! - -They are fairly wealthy, and happy also. Not that wealth makes people -happy, only it helps. - -Frank is spliced. - -And where do you think Flora and he spent their long, long honeymoon? -Yes, you are right. In Floriana, in the country of gold and diamonds. -The land of the great Goo-goo. - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COURAGE, TRUE HEARTS *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39729 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. 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