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diff --git a/old/ltsvg10.txt b/old/ltsvg10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..494dee5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ltsvg10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10509 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Little Savage, by Captain Marryat +#4 in our series by Captain Marryat + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Little Savage + +Author: Captain Marryat + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6897] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 9, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LITTLE SAVAGE *** + + + + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Tom Allen, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +THE LITTLE SAVAGE + +BY + +CAPTAIN MARRYAT + + + + +THIS IS FAIRY GOLD, BOY; AND 'T WILL PROVE SO. + +SHAKESPEARE + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +There is a reference, in _The Life and Letters of Captain +Marryat_ by his daughter Florence Marryat, to "_The Little +Savage_, only two chapters of the second volume of which were +written by himself." + +This sentence may be variously interpreted, but most probably +implies that Marryat wrote all Part I (of the first edition) and two +chapters of Part II, that is--as far as the end of Chapter xxiv. The +remaining pages may be the work of his son Frank S. Marryat, who +_edited_ the first edition, supplying a brief preface to Part II:-- + +"I cannot publish this last work of my late father without some +prefatory remarks, as, in justice to the public, as well as to +himself, I should state, that his lamented decease prevented his +concluding the second volume." + +"The present volume has been for some time at press, but the +long-protracted illness of the author delayed its publication." + +_The Little Savage_ opens well. The picture of a lad, who was +born on a desert island--though of English parents--and really +deserves to be called a savage, growing up with no other +companionship than that of his father's murderer, is boldly conceived +and executed with some power. The man Jackson is a thoroughly human +ruffian, who naturally detests the boy he has so terribly injured, +and bullies him brutally. Under this treatment Frank's animal +passions are inevitably aroused, and when the lightning had struck +his tyrant blind, he turns upon him with a quiet savagery that is +narrated with admirable detachment. + +This original situation arrests the reader's attention and secures +his interest in Frank Henniker's development towards civilisation and +virtue. His experience of absolute solitude after Jackson's death +serves to bring out his sympathies with animals and flowers; while, +on the arrival of Mrs Reichardt, he proves himself a loyal comrade +under kind treatment. + +It is much to be regretted that Marryat did not live to finish his +work. + +R. B. J. + +_The Little Savage_ originally appeared in 1848-49. Marryat, +who was born in 1792, died at Langham, Norfolk, August 9, 1848. + +The following is the list of his published works:-- + +Suggestions for the Abolition of the Present System of Impressment +in the Naval Service, 1822; The Naval Officer, or Scenes and +Adventures in the Life of Frank Mildmay, 1829; The King's Own, 1830; +Newton Forster (from the _Metropolitan Magazine_), 1832; Jacob +Faithful (from the _Metropolitan Magazine_), 1834; Peter Simple, +1834; The Pacha of Many Tales, 1835; Midshipman Easy (from the +_Metropolitan Magazine_), 1836; Japhet in Search of a Father +(from the _Metropolitan Magazine_), 1836; The Pirate and The +Three Cutters, 1836; A Code of Signals for the Use of Vessels +employed in the Merchant Service, 1837; Snarleyyow, or The Dog Fiend, +1837; A Diary in America, with Remarks on its Institutions, 1839; The +Phantom Ship, 1839; Poor Jack, 1840; Olla Podrida (articles from the +_Metropolitan Magazine_), 1840; Joseph Rushbrook, or The Poacher, +1841; Masterman Ready, or The Wreck of the _Pacific_, 1841; Percival +Keene, 1842; Narrative of the Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet +in California, Sonora, and Western Texas, 1843; The Settlers in Canada, +1844; The Mission, or Scenes in Africa, 1845; The Privateer's Man, 1846; +The Children of the New Forest, 1847; The Little Savage (posthumous), +1848-49; Valerie (posthumous), 1849; Life and Letters, Florence Marryat, +1872. + + + + +THE LITTLE SAVAGE + + + + +Chapter I + + +I am about to write a very curious history, as the reader will agree +with me when he has read this book. We have more than one narrative +of people being cast away upon desolate islands, and being left to +their own resources, and no works are perhaps read with more +interest; but I believe I am the first instance of a boy being left +alone upon an uninhabited island. Such was, however, the case; and +now I shall tell my own story. + +My first recollections are, that I was in company with a man upon +this island, and that we walked often along the sea-shore. It was +rocky and difficult to climb in many parts, and the man used to drag +or pull me over the dangerous places. He was very unkind to me, which +may appear strange, as I was the only companion that he had; but he +was of a morose and gloomy disposition. He would sit down squatted in +the corner of our cabin, and sometimes not speak for hours--or he +would remain the whole day looking out at the sea, as if watching for +something, but what I never could tell; for if I spoke, he would not +reply; and if near to him, I was sure to receive a cuff or a heavy +blow. I should imagine that I was about five years old at the time +that I first recollect clearly what passed. I may have been younger. +I may as well here state what I gathered from him at different times, +relative to our being left upon this desolate spot. It was with +difficulty that I did so; for, generally speaking, he would throw a +stone at me if I asked questions, that is, if I repeatedly asked them +after he had refused to answer. It was on one occasion, when he was +lying sick, that I gained the information, and that only by refusing +to attend him or bring him food and water. He would be very angry, +and say, that when he got well again, he would make me smart for it; +but I cared not, for I was then getting strong, whilst he was getting +weaker every day, and I had no love for him, for he had never shown +any to me, but always treated me with great severity. + +He told me, that about twelve years before (not that I knew what he +meant by a year, for I had never heard the term used by him), an +English ship (I did not know what a ship was) had been swamped near +the island, in a heavy gale, and that seven men and one woman had +been saved, and all the other people lost. That the ship had been +broken into pieces, and that they had saved nothing--that they had +picked up among the rocks pieces of the wood with which it had been +made, and had built the cabin in which we lived. That one had died +after another, and had been buried (what death or burial meant, I had +no idea at the time), and that I had been born on the island; (How +was I born? thought I)--that most of them had died before I was two +years old; and that then, he and my mother were the only two left +besides me. My mother had died a few months afterwards. I was obliged +to ask him many questions to understand all this; indeed, I did not +understand it till long afterwards, although I had an idea of what he +would say. Had I been left with any other person, I should, of +course, by conversation, have learnt much; but he never would +converse, still less explain. He called me, Boy, and I called him, +Master. His inveterate silence was the occasion of my language being +composed of very few words; for, except to order me to do this or +that, to procure what was required, he never would converse. He did +however mutter to himself, and talk in his sleep, and I used to lie +awake and listen, that I might gain information; not at first, but +when I grew older. He used to cry out in his sleep constantly.--"A +judgment, a judgment on me for my sins, my heavy sins--God be +merciful!" But what judgment, or what sin was, or what was God, I did +not then know, although I mused on words repeated so often. + +I will now describe the island, and the way in which we lived. The +island was very small, perhaps not three miles round; it was of rock, +and there was no beach nor landing place, the sea washing its sides +with deep water. It was, as I afterwards discovered, one of the group +of islands to which the Peruvians despatch vessels every year to +collect the guano, or refuse of the sea birds which resort to the +islands; but the one on which we were was small, and detached some +distance from the others, on which the guano was found in great +profusion; so that hitherto it had been neglected, and no vessel had +ever come near it. Indeed, the other islands were not to be seen from +it except on a very clear day, when they appeared like a cloud or +mist on the horizon. The shores of the island were, moreover, so +precipitous, that there was no landing place, and the eternal wash of +the ocean would have made it almost impossible for a vessel to have +taken off a cargo. Such was the island upon which I found myself in +company with this man. Our cabin was built of ship-plank and timber, +under the shelter of a cliff, about fifty yards from the water; there +was a flat of about thirty yards square in front of it, and from the +cliff there trickled down a rill of water, which fell into a hole dug +out to collect it, and then found its way over the flat to the rocks +beneath. The cabin itself was large, and capable of holding many more +people than had ever lived in it; but it was not too large, as we had +to secure in it our provisions for many months. There were several +bed-places level with the floor, which were rendered soft enough to +lie on, by being filled with the feathers of birds. Furniture there +was none, except two or three old axes, blunted with long use, a tin +pannikin, a mess kid and some rude vessels to hold water, cut out of +wood. On the summit of the island there was a forest of underwood, +and the bushes extended some distance down the ravines which led from +the summit to the shore. One of my most arduous tasks was to climb +these ravines and collect wood, but fortunately a fire was not often +required. The climate was warm all the year round, and there seldom +was a fall of rain; when it did fall, it was generally expended on +the summit of the island, and did not reach us. At a certain period +of the year, the birds came to the island in numberless quantities to +breed, and their chief resort was some tolerably level ground-- +indeed, in many places, it was quite level with the accumulation of +guano--which ground was divided from the spot where our cabin was +built by a deep ravine. On this spot, which might perhaps contain +about twenty acres or more, the sea birds would sit upon their eggs, +not four inches apart from each other, and the whole surface of this +twenty acres would be completely covered with them. There they would +remain from the time of the laying of the eggs, until the young ones +were able to leave the nests and fly away with them. At the season +when the birds were on the island, all was gaiety, bustle, and noise, +but after their departure it was quiet and solitude. I used to long +for their arrival, and was delighted with the animation which +gladdened the island, the male birds diving in every direction after +fish, wheeling and soaring in the air, and uttering loud cries, which +were responded to by their mates on the nests. + +But it was also our harvest time; we seldom touched the old birds, +as they were not in flesh, but as soon as the young ones were within +a few days of leaving the nests, we were then busy enough. In spite +of the screaming and the flapping of their wings in our faces, and +the darting their beaks at our eyes, of the old birds, as we robbed +them of their progeny, we collected hundreds every day, and bore as +heavy a load as we could carry across the ravine to the platform in +front of our cabin, where we busied ourselves in skinning them, +splitting them, and hanging them out to dry in the sun. The air of +the island was so pure that no putrefaction ever took place, and +during the last fortnight of the birds coming on the island, we had +collected a sufficiency for our support until their return on the +following year. As soon as they were quite dry they were packed up in +a corner of the cabin for use. + +These birds were, it may be said, the only produce of the island, +with the exception of fish, and the eggs taken at the time of their +first making their nests. Fish were to be taken in large quantities. +It was sufficient to put a line over the rocks, and it had hardly +time to go down a fathom before anything at the end of it was seized. +Indeed, our means of taking them were as simple as their voracity was +great. Our lines were composed of the sinews of the legs of the +man-of-war birds, as I afterwards heard them named; and, as these were +only about a foot long, it required a great many of them knotted +together to make a line. At the end of the line was a bait fixed over +a strong fish-bone, which was fastened to the line by the middle; a +half-hitch of the line round one end kept the bone on a parallel with +the line until the bait was seized, when the line being taughtened, +the half-hitch slipped off and the bone remained crossways in the +gullet of the fish, which was drawn up by it. Simple as this +contrivance was, it answered as well as the best hook, of which I had +never seen one at that time. The fish were so strong and large, that, +when I was young, the man would not allow me to attempt to catch +them, lest they should pull me into the water; but, as I grew bigger, +I could master them. Such was our food from one year's end to the +other; we had no variety, except when occasionally we broiled the +dried birds or the fish upon the embers, instead of eating them dried +by the sun. Our raiment, such as it was, we were also indebted to the +feathered tribe for. The birds were skinned with the feathers on, and +their skins sewn together with sinews, and a fish-bone by way of a +needle. These garments were not very durable, but the climate was so +fine that we did not suffer from the cold at any season of the year. +I used to make myself a new dress every year when the birds came; but +by the time that they returned, I had little left of my last year's +suit, the fragments of which might be found among the rocky and steep +parts of the ravine where we used to collect firing. + +Living such a life, with so few wants, and those periodically and +easily supplied, hardly varied from one year's end to another, it may +easily be imagined that I had but few ideas. I might have had more, +if my companion had not been of such a taciturn and morose habit; as +it was, I looked at the wide ocean, and the sky, and the sun, moon, +and stars, wondering, puzzled, afraid to ask questions, and ending +all by sleeping away a large portion of my existence. We had no tools +except the old ones, which were useless--no employment of any kind. +There was a book, and I asked what it was for and what it was, but I +got no answer. It remained upon the shelf, for if I looked at it I +was ordered away, and at last I regarded it with a sort of fear, as +if it were a kind of incomprehensible animal. The day was passed in +idleness and almost silence; perhaps not a dozen sentences were +exchanged in the twenty-four hours. My companion always the same, +brooding over something which appeared ever to occupy his thoughts, +and angry if roused up from his reverie. + + + + +Chapter II + + +The reader must understand that the foregoing remarks are to be +considered as referring to my position and amount of knowledge when I +was seven or eight years old. My master, as I called him, was a short +square-built man, about sixty years of age, as I afterwards estimated +from recollection and comparison. His hair fell down his back in +thick clusters and was still of a dark color, and his beard was full +two feet long and very bushy; indeed, he was covered with hair, +wherever his person was exposed. He was, I should say, very powerful +had he had occasion to exert his strength, but with the exception of +the time at which we collected the birds, and occasionally going up +the ravine to bring down faggots of wood, he seldom moved out of the +cabin unless it was to bathe. There was a pool of salt water of about +twenty yards square, near the sea, but separated from it by a low +ridge of rocks, over which the waves only beat when the sea was rough +and the wind on that side of the island. Every morning almost we went +down to bathe in that pool, as it was secure from the sharks, which +were very numerous. I could swim like a fish as early as I can +recollect, but whether I was taught, or learnt myself, I cannot tell. +Thus was my life passed away; my duties were trifling; I had little +or nothing to employ myself about, for I had no means of employment. +I seldom heard the human voice, and became as taciturn as my +companion. My amusements were equally confined--looking down into the +depths of the ocean, as I lay over the rocky wall which girded the +major portion of the island, and watching the motions of the finny +tribes below, wondering at the stars during the night season, eating, +and sleeping. Thus did I pass away an existence without pleasure and +without pain. As for what my thoughts were I can hardly say, my +knowledge and my ideas were too confined for me to have any food for +thought. I was little better than a beast of the field, that lies +down on the pasture after he is filled. There was one great source of +interest however, which was, to listen to the sleeping talk of my +companion, and I always looked forward to the time when the night +fell and we repaired to our beds. I would lie awake for hours, +listening to his ejaculations and murmured speech, trying in vain to +find out some meaning in what he would say--but I gained little; he +talked of "that woman"--appearing to be constantly with other men, +and muttering about something he had hidden away. One night, when the +moon was shining bright, he sat up in his bed, which, as I have +before said, was on the floor of the cabin, and throwing aside the +feathers upon which he had been lying, scratched the mould away below +them and lifted up a piece of board. After a minute he replaced +everything, and lay down again. He evidently was sleeping during the +whole time. Here, at last, was something to feed my thoughts with. I +had heard him say in his sleep that he had hidden something--this +must be the hiding place. What was it? Perhaps I ought here to +observe that my feelings towards this man were those of positive +dislike, if not hatred; I never had received one kind word or deed +from him, that I could recollect. Harsh and unfeeling towards me, +evidently looking upon me with ill-will, and only suffering me +because I saved him some trouble, and perhaps because he wished to +have a living thing for his companion,--his feelings towards me were +reciprocated by mine towards him. What age I was at the time my +mother died, I know not, but I had some faint recollection of one who +treated me with kindness and caresses, and these recollections became +more forcible in my dreams, when I saw a figure very different from +that of my companion (a female figure) hanging over me or leading me +by the hand. How I used to try to continue those dreams, by closing +my eyes again after I had woke up! And yet I knew not that they had +been brought about by the dim recollection of my infancy; I knew not +that the figure that appeared to me was the shadow of my mother; but +I loved the dreams because I was treated kindly in them. + +But a change took place by the hand of Providence. One day, after we +had just laid in our yearly provision of sea birds, I was busy +arranging the skins of the old birds, on the flat rock, for my annual +garment, which was joined together something like a sack, with holes +for the head and arms to pass through; when, as I looked to seaward, +I saw a large white object on the water. + +"Look, master," said I, pointing towards it. + +"A ship, a ship!" cried my companion. + +"Oh," thought I, "that is a ship; I recollect that he said they came +here in a ship." I kept my eyes on her, and she rounded to. + +"Is she alive?" inquired I. + +"You're a fool," said the man; "come and help me to pile up this +wood that we may make a signal to her. Go and fetch some water and +throw on it, that there may be plenty of smoke. Thank God, I may +leave this cursed hole at last!" + +I hardly understood him, but I went for the water and brought it in +the mess kid. + +"I want more wood yet," said he. "Her head is this way, and she will +come nearer." + +"Then she is alive," said I. + +"Away, fool!" said he, giving me a cuff on the head; "get some more +water and throw on the wood." + +He then went into the cabin to strike a light, which he obtained by +a piece of iron and flint, with some fine dry moss for tinder. While +he was so employed, my eyes were fixed on the vessel, wondering what +it could be. It moved through the water, turned this way and that. +"It must be alive," thought I; "is it a fish or a bird?" As I watched +the vessel, the sun was going down and there was not more than an +hour's daylight. The wind was very light and variable, which +accounted for the vessel so often altering her course. My companion +came out with his hands full of smoking tinder, and putting it under +the wood, was busy blowing it into a flame. The wood was soon set +fire to, and the smoke ascended several feet into the air. + +"They'll see that," said he. + +"What then, it has eyes? it must be alive. Does it mind the wind?" +inquired I, having no answer to my first remark, "for look there, the +little clouds are coming up fast," and I pointed to the horizon, +where some small clouds were rising up and which were, as I knew from +experience and constantly watching the sky, a sign of a short but +violent gale, or tornado, of which we usually had one, if not two, at +this season of the year. + +"Yes; confound it," replied my companion, grinding his teeth, "it +will blow her off! That's my luck." + +In the meantime, the smoke ascended in the air and the vessel +approached nearer and nearer, until she was within, I suppose, two +miles of the island, and then it fell quite calm. My companion threw +more water on to increase the smoke, and the vessel now hauling up +her courses, I perceived that there were people on board, and while I +was arranging my ideas as to what the vessel might be, my companion +cried out--"They see us, they see us! there's hope now. Confound it, +I've been here long enough. Hurrah for old England!" and he commenced +dancing and capering about like a madman. At last he said, + +"Look out and see if she sends a boat, while I go into the cabin." + +"What's a boat?" said I. + +"Out, you fool! tell me if you see anything," + +"Yes, I do see something," replied I. "Look at the squall coming +along the water, it will be here very soon; and see how thick the +clouds are getting up: we shall have as much wind and rain as we had +the time before last, when the birds came." + +"Confound it," replied he, "I wish they'd lower a boat, at all +events;" and so saying, he went into the cabin, and I perceived that +he was busy at his bed-place. + +My eyes were still fixed upon the squall, as I watched it advancing +at a furious speed on the surface of the water; at first it was a +deep black line on the horizon, but as it approached the vessel, it +changed to white; the surface of the water was still smooth. The +clouds were not more than ten degrees above the horizon, although +they were thick and opaque--but at this season of the year, these +tornadoes, as I may call them, visited us; sometimes we had one, +sometimes more, and it was only when these gusts came on that we had +any rain below. On board of the vessel--I speak now from my after +knowledge--they did not appear to be aware of the danger; the sails +were all set and flapping against the masts. At last, I perceived a +small object close to the vessel; this I presumed was the boat which +my companion looked for. It was like a young vessel close to the old +one, but I said nothing; as I was watching and wondering what effect +the rising wind would have upon her, for the observations of my +companion had made me feel that it was important. After a time, I +perceived that the white sails were disappearing, and that the forms +of men were very busy, and moving on board, and the boat went back to +the side of the vessel. The fact is, they had not perceived the +squall until it was too late, for in another moment almost, I saw +that the vessel bowed down to the fury of the gale, and after that, +the mist was so great that I couldn't see her any more. + +"Is she sending a boat, boy?" cried my companion. + +"I can't see her," replied I; "for she is hidden by the wind." + +As I said this, the tornado reached to where we stood, and threw me +off my legs to the entrance of the cabin; and with the wind came down +a torrent of rain, which drenched us, and the clouds covered the +whole of the firmament, which became dark; the lightning darted in +every direction, with peals of thunder which were deafening. I +crawled into the cabin, into which the rain beat in great fury and +flowed out again in a small river. + +My companion sat near me, lowering and silent. For two hours the +tornado lasted without interruption; the sun had set, and the +darkness was opaque. It was impossible to move against the force of +the wind and the deluge of water which descended. Speak, we did not, +but shut our eyes against the lightning, and held our fingers to our +ears to deaden the noise of the thunder, which burst upon us in the +most awful manner. My companion groaned at intervals, whether from +fear, I know not; I had no fear, for I did not know the danger, or +that there was a God to judge the earth. + +Gradually the fury of the gale abated, the rain was only heavy at +intervals, and we could now hear the beating of the waves, as they +dashed against the rocks beneath us. The sky also cleared up a +little, and we could dimly discern the white foam of the breakers. I +crawled out of the cabin, and stood upon the platform in front, +straining my eyes to see the vessel. A flash of lightning, for a +second, revealed her to me; she was dismasted, rolling in the awful +breakers, which bore her down upon the high rocks, not a quarter of a +mile from her. + +"There it is," exclaimed I, as the disappearance of the lightning +left me in darkness, more opaque than ever. + +"She's done for," growled my companion, who, I was not till then +aware, stood by my side. "No hopes this time, confound it!" Then he +continued for some time to curse and swear awfully, as I afterwards +discovered, for I did not then know what was cursing and swearing. + +"There she is again," said I, as another flash of lightning revealed +the position of the vessel. + +"Yes, and she won't be there long; in five minutes she'll be dashed +to atoms, and every soul perish." + +"What are souls?" inquired I. + +My companion gave me no reply. + +"I will go down to the rocks," said I, "and see what goes on." + +"Go," said he, "and share their fate." + + + + +Chapter III + + +I left him, and commenced a careful descent of the precipices by +which we were surrounded, but, before I had gone fifty paces, another +flash of lightning was followed up by a loud shriek, which arrested +my steps. Where the noise came from, I could not tell, but I heard my +companion calling to me to come back. I obeyed him, and found him +standing where I had left him. + +"You called me, master?" + +"Yes, I did; take my hand, and lead me to the cabin." + +I obeyed him, wondering why he asked me so to do. He gained his bed-place, +and threw himself down on it. + +"Bring the kid full of water," said he--"quick!" + +I brought it, and he bathed his head and face. After a time, he +threw himself back upon the bed-place, and groaned heavily. + +"O God! it's all over with me," said he at last. "I shall live and +die in this cursed hole." + +"What's the matter, master?" said I. + +He gave me no answer, but lay groaning and occasionally cursing. +After a time, he was still, and then I went out again. The tornado +was now over, and the stars were to be seen here and there, but still +the wind was strong and the wild clouds flew fast. The shores of the +island were one mass of foam, which was dashed high in the air and +fell upon the black rocks. I looked for the vessel, and could see +nothing--the day was evidently dawning, and I sat down and waited its +coming. My companion was apparently asleep, for he lay without motion +or noise. That some misfortune had happened, I was convinced, but +what, I knew not, and I passed a long time in conjecture, dividing my +thoughts between him and the vessel. At last the daylight appeared--the +weather was moderating fast, although the waves still beat furiously +against the rocky shore. I could see nothing of the vessel, and I +descended the path, now slippery and insecure from the heavy fall of +rain, and went as near to the edge of the rocks as the breaking billows +would permit. I walked along, occasionally drenched by the spray, +until I arrived where I had last seen the vessel. The waves were +dashing and tossing about, as if in sport, fragments of timber, casks, +and spars; but that was all I could see, except a mast and rigging, +which lay alongside of the rocks, sometimes appearing above them +on the summit of the waves, then descending far out of my sight, for +I dared not venture near enough to the edge to look over. "Then the +vessel is dashed to pieces, as my companion said," thought I. "I wonder +how she was made." I remained about an hour on the rocks, and then +turned back to the cabin. I found my companion awake, and groaning +heavily. + +"There is no ship," said I, "nothing but pieces of wood floating +about." + +"I know that," replied he; "but what do I care now?" + +"I thought by your making a smoke, that you did care." + +"Yes, I did then, but now I am blind, I shall never see a ship or +anything else again. God help me! I shall die and rot on this cursed +island." + +"Blind, what is blind?" inquired I. + +"The lightning has burned out my eyes, and I can see nothing--I +cannot help myself--I cannot walk about--I cannot do anything, and I +suppose you will leave me here to die like a dog." + +"Can't you see me?" + +"No, all is dark, dark as night, and will be as long as I live." And +he turned on his bed-place and groaned. "I had hope, I lived in hope +--it has kept me alive for many weary years, but now hope is gone, and +I care not if I die to-morrow." + +And then he started up and turned his face towards me, and I saw +that there was no light in his eyes. + +"Bring me some more water, do you hear?" said he, angrily. "Be +quick, or I'll make you." + +But I now fully comprehended his condition, and how powerless he +was. My feelings, as I have before said, were anything but cordial +towards him, and this renewed violence and threatening manner had its +effect. I was now, I suppose, about twelve or thirteen years old-- +strong and active. I had more than once felt inclined to rebel, and +measure my strength against his. Irritated, therefore, at his angry +language, I replied-- + +"Go for the water yourself." + +"Ah!" sighed he, after a pause of some seconds, "that I might have +expected. But let me once get you into my hands, I'll make you +remember it." + +"I care not if I were in your hands," replied I; "I am as strong as +you." For I had thought so many a day, and meant to prove it. + +"Indeed! well, come here, and let us try." + +"No, no," replied I; "I'm not such a fool as you say I am--not that +I'm afraid of you; for I shall have an axe in my hand always ready, +and you will not find another." + +"I wish that I had tossed you over the cliffs when you were a +child," said he, bitterly, "instead of nursing you and bringing you +up." + +"Then why have you not been kind to me? As far back as I can +remember you have always treated me ill; you have made me work for +you; and yet never even spoken kindly to me. I have wanted to know +things, and you have never answered my questions, but called me a +fool, and told me to hold my tongue. You have made me hate you, and +you have often told me how you hated me--you know you have." + +"It's true, quite true," replied he, as if talking to himself. "I +have done all that he says, and I have hated him. But I have had +cause. Come here, boy." + +"No," replied I; "do you come here. You have been master, and I have +been boy, long enough. Now I am master and you are boy, and you shall +find it so." + +Having said this, I walked out of the cabin and left him. He cried +out, "Don't leave me," but I heeded him not, and sat down at the edge +of the fiat ledge of the rock before the cabin. Looking at the white +dancing waves, and deep in my own thoughts, I considered a long while +how I should behave towards him. I did not wish him to die, as I knew +he must if I left him. He could not obtain water from the rill +without a great chance of falling over the cliff. In fact, I was now +fully aware of his helpless state; to prove it to myself, I rose and +shut my own eyes; tried if I could venture to move on such dangerous +ground, and I felt sure that I could not. He was then in my power; he +could do nothing; he must trust to me for almost everything. I had +said, let what would follow, I would be master and he boy; but that +could not be, as I must still attend upon him, or he would die. At +last the thought came suddenly upon me--I will be master, +nevertheless, for now he shall answer me all my questions, tell me +all he knows, or he shall starve. He is in my power. He shall now do +what I have ever tried to make him do, and he has ever refused. +Having thus arranged my plans, I returned to the cabin, and said to +him: + +"Hear what I say--I will be kind to you, and not leave you to +starve, if you will do what I ask." + +"And what is that?" replied he. + +"For a long while I have asked you many questions, and you have +refused to answer them. Instead of telling me what I would know, you +have beaten or thrown stones at me, called me names, and threatened +me. I now give you your choice--either you shall promise to answer +every question that I put to you, or you may live how you can, for I +shall leave you to help yourself. If you do as I wish, I will do all +I can to help you, but if you will not, thank yourself for what may +happen. Recollect, I am master now; so take your choice." + +"Well," replied he slowly, "it's a judgment upon me, and I must +agree to it. I will do what you wish." + +"Well, then, to begin," said I, "I have often asked you what your +name was, and what was mine. I must call you something, and Master I +will not, for I am master now. What is your name?" + +He groaned, ground his teeth, and then said, "Edward Jackson." + +"Edward Jackson! very well; and my name?" + +"No, I cannot bear the name. I cannot say it," replied he, angrily. + +"Be it so," replied I. "Then I leave you." + +"Will you bring me some water for my eyes? they burn," said he. + +"No, I will not, nor anything else, unless you tell me my name." + +"Frank Henniker--and curses on it." + +"Frank Henniker. Well, now you shall have the water." + +I went out, filled a kid, and put it by his side, + +"There is the water, Jackson; if you want anything, call me. I shall +be outside." + +"I have gained the mastery," thought I,--"it will be my turn now. He +don't like to answer, but he shall, or he shall starve. Why does he +feel so angry at my name? Henniker! what is the meaning of Henniker, +I wonder? I will make him tell me. Yes, he shall tell me everything." +I may here observe, that as for pity and compassion, I did not know +such feelings. I had been so ill-treated, that I only felt that might +was right; and this right I determined upon exercising to the utmost. +I felt an inconceivable pleasure at the idea of my being the master, +and he the boy. I felt the love of power, the pride of superiority. I +then revolved in my mind the daily task which I would set him, before +he should receive his daily sustenance. He should talk now as much as +I pleased, for I was the master. I had been treated as a slave, and I +was now fully prepared to play the tyrant. Mercy and compassion I +knew not. I had never seen them called forth, and I felt them not. I +sat down on the flat rock for some time, and then it occurred to me +that I would turn the course of the water which fell into the hole at +the edge of the cliff; so that if he crawled there, he would not be +able to obtain any. I did so, and emptied the hole. The water was now +only to be obtained by climbing up, and it was out of his power to +obtain a drop. Food, of course, he could obtain, as the dried birds +were all piled up at the farther end of the cabin, and I could not +well remove them; but what was food without water? I was turning in +my mind what should be the first question to put to him; and I had +decided that I would have a full and particular account of how the +vessel had been wrecked on the island, and who were my father and +mother, and why I was named Henniker--when I was roused by hearing +Jackson (as I shall in future call him) crying out, "Boy, boy!" "Boy, +indeed," thought I--"no longer boy," and I gave no reply. Again he +called, and at last he cried out, "Henniker," but I had been ruffled +by his calling me boy, and I would not answer him. At last he fairly +screamed my name, and then was silent. After a moment, I perceived +that he crawled out of his bed-place, and feeling by the sides of the +cabin, contrived on his hands and knees to crawl in the direction of +the hole into which the water had previously been received; and I +smiled at what I knew would be his disappointment when he arrived +there. He did so at last: put his hand to feel the edge of the hole, +and then down into it to feel for the water; and when he found that +there was none, he cursed bitterly, and I laughed at his vexation. He +then felt all the way down where the water had fallen, and found that +the course of it had been stopped, and he dared not attempt anything +further. He dashed his clenched hand against the rock. "Oh! that I +had him in this grasp--if it were but for one moment. I would not +care if I died the next." + +"I do not doubt you," replied I to him, above, "but you have not got +me in your hands, and you will not. Go in to bed directly--quick," +cried I, throwing a piece of rock at him, which hit him on the head. +"Crawl back as fast as you can, you fool, or I'll send another at +your head directly. I'll tame you, as you used to say to me." + +The blow on the head appeared to have confused him; but after a time +he crawled back to his bed-place, and threw himself down with a heavy +groan. + + + + +Chapter IV + + +I then went down to the water's edge to see if I could find anything +from the wreck, for the water was smooth, and no longer washed over +the rocks of the island. Except fragments of wood, I perceived +nothing until I arrived at the pool where we were accustomed to +bathe; and I found that the sea had thrown into it two articles of +large dimensions--one was a cask of the size of a puncheon, which lay +in about a foot of water farthest from the seaward; and the other was +a seaman's chest. What these things were I did not then know, and I +wish the reader to recollect that a great portion of this narrative +is compiled from after knowledge. The cask was firm in the sand, and +I could not move it. The chest was floating; I hauled it on the rocks +without difficulty, and then proceeded to open it. It was some time +before I could discover how, for I had never seen a lock, or a hinge +in my life; but at last, finding that the lid was the only portion of +the chest which yielded, I contrived, with a piece of rock, to break +it open. I found in it a quantity of seamen's clothes, upon which I +put no value; but some of the articles I immediately comprehended the +use of, and they filled me with delight. There were two new tin +pannikins, and those would hold water. There were three empty wine +bottles, a hammer, a chisel, gimlet, and some other tools, also three +or four fishing-lines many fathoms long. But what pleased me most +were two knives, one shutting up, with a lanyard sheath to wear round +the waist; and the other an American long knife, in a sheath, which +is usually worn by them in the belt. Now, three or four years back, +Jackson had the remains of a clasp knife--that is, there was about an +inch of the blade remaining--and this, as may be supposed, he valued +very much; indeed, miserable as the article was, in our destitute +state it was invaluable. + +This knife he had laid on the rock when fishing, and it had been +dragged into the sea as his line ran out; and he was for many days +inconsolable for its loss. We had used it for cutting open the birds +when we skinned them, and, indeed this remains of a knife had been +always in request. Since the loss of it, we had had hard work to get +the skins off the birds; I therefore well knew the value of these +knives, which I immediately secured. The remainder of the articles in +the chest, which was quite full, I laid upon the rocks, with the +clothes, to dry; of most of them I did not know the use, and +consequently did not prize them at the time. It was not until +afterwards, when I had taken them to my companion, that I learned +their value. I may as well here observe, that amongst these articles +were two books, and, from the positive commands of my companion, not +to touch the book in the cabin, I looked upon them with a degree of +awe, and hesitated upon taking them in my hand; but, at last, I put +them out to dry on the rocks, with the rest of the contents of the +chest. + +I felt the knives, the blades were sharp; I put the lanyard of the +clasp knife round my neck; the sheath knife, which was a formidable +weapon, I made fast round my waist, with a piece of the fishing +lines, which I cut off; and I then turned my steps towards the cabin, +as night was coming on, though the moon was high in the heavens, and +shining brightly. On my return, I found Jackson in his bed-place; he +heard me come in, and asked me, in a quiet tone, whether I would +bring him some water? I answered, + +"No, that I would not, for what he had said about me, and what he +would do, if he got me into his power. I'll tame you," cried I. "I'm +master now, as you shall find." + +"You may be," replied he, quickly, "but still, that is no reason why +you should not let me have some water. Did I ever prevent you from +having water?" + +"You never had to fetch it for me," I rejoined, "or you would not +have taken the trouble. What trouble would you take for me, if I were +blind now, and not you? I should become of no use to you, and you +would leave me to die. You only let me live that you might make me +work for you, and beat me cruelly. It's my turn now--you're the boy, +and I'm the master." + +The reader must remember that I did not know the meaning of the word +"boy"; my idea of it was, that it was in opposition to "master," and +boy, with me, had the same idea as the word "slave." + +"Be it so," replied he, calmly. "I shall not want water long." + +There was a quietness about Jackson which made me suspect him, and +the consequence was, that although I turned into my bed-place, which +was on the ground at the side of the cabin opposite to his, I did not +feel inclined to go to sleep, but remained awake, thinking of what +had passed. It was towards morning when I heard him move; my face +being turned that way, I had no occasion to stir to watch his +motions. He crept very softly out of his bed-place towards me, +listening, and advancing on his knees, not more than a foot every ten +seconds. "You want me in your grasp," thought I, "come along," and I +drew my American knife from its sheath, without noise, and awaited +his approach, smiling at the surprise he would meet with. I allowed +him to come right up to me; he felt the side of my bed, and then +passed his right hand over to seize me. I caught his right hand with +my left, and passing the knife across his wrist, more than half +divided it from his arm. He gave a shriek of surprise and pain, and +fell back. + +"He has a knife," exclaimed he, with surprise, holding his severed +wrist with the other hand. + +"Yes, he has a knife, and more than one," replied I, "and you see +that he knows how to use it. Will you come again? or will you believe +that I'm master?" + +"If you have any charity or mercy, kill me at once," said he, as he +sat up in the moonlight, in the centre of the floor of the cabin. + +"Charity and mercy," said I, "what are they? I never heard of them." + +"Alas! no," replied he, "I have shewed none--it's a judgment on me-- +a judgment on me for my many sins; Lord, forgive me! First my eyes, +now my right hand useless. What next, O Lord of Heaven?" + +"Why, your other hand next," replied I, "if you try it again." + +Jackson made no reply. He attempted to crawl back to his bed, but, +faint with loss of blood, he dropped senseless on the floor of the +cabin. I looked at him, and satisfied that he would make no more +attempts upon me, I turned away, and fell fast asleep. In about two +hours, I awoke, and looking round, perceived him lying on the floor, +where he had fallen the night before. I went to him and examined him-- +was he asleep, or was he dead? He lay in a pool of blood. I felt him, +and he was quite warm. It was a ghastly cut on his wrist, and I +thought, if he is dead, he will never tell me what I want to know. I +knew that he bound up cuts to stop the blood. I took some feathers +from the bed, and put a handful on the wound. After I had done it, I +bound his wrist up with a piece of fishing-line I had taken to secure +the sheath knife round my waist, and then I went for some water. I +poured some down his throat; this revived him, and he opened his eyes. + +"Where am I?" said he faintly. + +"Where are you?--why, in the cabin," said I. + +"Give me some more water." + +I did so, for I did not wish to kill him. I wanted him to live, and +to be in my power. After drinking the water he roused himself, and +crawled back to his bed-place. I left him then, and went down to bathe. + +The reader may exclaim--What a horrid tyrant this boy is--why, he is +as bad as his companion. Exactly--I was so--but let the reader +reflect that I was made so by education. From the time that I could +first remember, I had been tyrannised over; cuffed, kicked, abused +and ill-treated. I had never known kindness. Most truly was the +question put by me, "Charity and mercy--what are they?" I never heard +of them. An American Indian has kind feelings--he is hospitable and +generous--yet, educated to inflict, and receive, the severest +tortures to and from, his enemies, he does the first with the most +savage and vindictive feelings, and submits to the latter with +indifference and stoicism. He has, indeed, the kindlier feelings of +his nature exercised; still, this changes him not. He has been from +earliest infancy brought up to cruelty, and he cannot feel that it is +wrong. Now, my position was worse. I had never seen the softer +feelings of our nature called into play; I knew nothing but tyranny +and oppression, hatred and vengeance. It was therefore not surprising +that, when my turn came, I did to others as I had been done by. +Jackson had no excuse for his treatment of me, whereas, I had every +excuse for retaliation. He did know better, I did not. I followed the +ways of the world in the petty microcosm in which I had been placed. +I knew not of mercy, of forgiveness, charity, or goodwill. I knew not +that there was a God; I only knew that might was right, and the most +pleasurable sensation which I felt, was that of anxiety for +vengeance, combined with the consciousness of power. + +After I had bathed, I again examined the chest and its contents. I +looked at the books without touching them. "I must know what these +mean," thought I, "and I will know." My thirst for knowledge was +certainly most remarkable, in a boy of my age; I presume for the +simple reason, that we want most what we cannot obtain; and Jackson +having invariably refused to enlighten me on any subject, I became +most anxious and impatient to satisfy the longing which increased +with my growth. + + + + +Chapter V + + +For three days did Jackson lie on his bed; I supplied him with +water, but he did not eat anything. He groaned heavily at times, and +talked much to himself, and I heard him ask forgiveness of God, and +pardon for his sins. I noted this down for an explanation. On the +third day, he said to me, + +"Henniker, I am very ill. I have a fever coming on, from the wound +you have given me. I do not say that I did not deserve it, for I did, +and I know that I have treated you ill, and that you must hate me, +but the question is, do you wish me to die?" + +"No," replied I; "I want you to live, and answer all my questions, +and you shall do so." + +"I will do so," replied he. "I have done wrong, and I will make +amends. Do you understand me? I mean to say, that I have been very +cruel to you, and now I will do all you wish, and answer every +question you may put to me, as well as I can." + +"That is what I want," replied I. + +"I know it is, but my wound is festering and must be washed and +dressed. The feathers make it worse. Will you do this for me?" + +I thought a little, and recollected that he was still in my power, +as he could not obtain water. I replied, "Yes, I will." + +"The cord hurts it, you must take it off." + +I fetched the kid of water, and untied the cord, and took away the +feathers, which had matted together with the flow of blood, and then +I washed the wound carefully. Looking into the wound, my desire of +information induced me to say, "What are these little white cords, +which are cut through?" + +"They are the sinews and tendons," replied he, "by which we are +enabled to move our hands and fingers; now these are cut through, I +shall not have the use of my hand again." + +"Stop a moment," said I, rising up, "I have just thought of +something." I ran down to the point where the chest lay, took a shirt +from the rock, and brought it back with me, and tearing it into +strips, I bandaged the wound. + +"Where did you get that linen?" said Jackson. + +I told him. + +"And you got the knife there, too," said he, with a sigh. I replied +in the affirmative. + +As soon as I had finished, he told me he was much easier, and said, + +"I thank you." + +"What is I thank you?" replied I. + +"It means that I am grateful for what you have done." + +"And what is grateful?" inquired I again. "You never said those +words to me before." + +"Alas, no," replied he; "it had been better if I had. I mean that I +feel kindly towards you, for having bound up my wound, and would do +anything for you if I had the power. It means, that if I had my +eyesight, as I had a week ago, and was master, as I then was, that I +would not kick nor beat you, but be kind to you. Do you understand me?" + +"Yes," replied I, "I think I do; and if you tell me all I want to +know I shall believe you." + +"That I will as soon as I am well enough; but now I am too ill--you +must wait a day or two, till the fever has left me." + +Satisfied with Jackson's promise, I tended him carefully, and washed +and dressed his wound for the two following days. He said that he +felt himself much better, and his language to me was so kind and +conciliatory, that I hardly knew what to make of it; but this is +certain, that it had a good effect upon me, and gradually the hatred +and ill-will that I bore to him wore off, and I found myself handling +him tenderly, and anxious not to give him more pain than was +necessary, yet without being aware that I was prompted by better +feelings. It was on the third morning that he said,-- + +"I can talk to you now; what do you want to know?" + +"I want to know the whole story of how we came to this island, who +my father and mother were, and why you said that you hated me and my +name?" + +"That," said Jackson, after a silence of a few minutes, "will take +some time. I could soon tell it you if it were not for the last +question,--why I hated your name? But the history of your father is +so mixed up with mine, that I cannot well tell one without the other. +I may as well begin with my own history, and that will be telling you +both." + +"Then tell it me," replied I, "and do not tell me what is not true." + +"No; I will tell you exactly what it was," replied Jackson; "you may +as well know it as not.--Your father and I were both born in England, +which you know is your country by birth, and you also know that the +language we talk is English." + +"I did not know it. Tell me something about England before you say +any more." + +I will not trouble the reader with Jackson's description of England, +or the many questions which I put to him. It was night-fall before he +had finished answering, and before I was satisfied with the +information imparted. I believe that he was very glad to hold his +tongue, for he complained of being tired, and I dressed his wound and +wetted the bandage with cold water for him before he went to sleep. + +I can hardly describe to the reader the effect which this +uninterrupted flow of language had upon me; I was excited in a very +strange way, and for many nights after could not sleep for hours. I +may say here, I did not understand a great proportion of the meaning +of the words used by Jackson; but I gathered it from the context, as +I could not always be interrupting him. + +It is astonishing how fast ideas breed ideas, and how a word, the +meaning of which I did not understand when it was first used, became +by repetition clear and intelligible; not that I always put the right +construction on it, but if I did not find it answer when used at +another time to my former interpretation of it, I would then ask and +obtain an explanation. This did not however occur very often. As for +this first night, I was positively almost drunk with words, and +remained nearly the whole of it arranging and fixing the new ideas +that I had acquired. My feelings towards Jackson also were changed-- +that is, I no longer felt hatred or ill-will against him. These were +swallowed up in the pleasure which he had afforded me, and I looked +upon him as a treasure beyond all price,--not but that many old +feelings towards him returned at intervals, for they were not so +easily disposed of, but still I would not for the world have lost him +until I had obtained from him all possible knowledge; and if his +wound did not look well when I removed the bandage, I was much more +distressed than he was. Indeed, there was every prospect of our +ultimately being friends, from our mutual dependence on each other. +It was useless on his part, in his present destitute condition, to +nourish feelings of animosity against one on whose good offices he +was now so wholly dependant, or on my part, against one who was +creating for me, I may say, new worlds for imagination and thought to +dwell on. On the following morning, Jackson narrated in substance (as +near as I can recollect) as follows:-- + +"I was not intended for a sailor. I was taught at a good school, and +when I was ten years old, I was put into a house of business as a +clerk, where I remained at the desk all day long, copying into +ledgers and day-books, in fact, writing what was required of me. This +house was connected with the South American trade." + +"Where is South America?" said I. + +"You had better let me tell my story," replied Jackson, "and after I +have done, you can ask any questions you like, but if you stop me, it +will take a week to finish it; yesterday we lost the whole day." + +"That's very true," replied I, "then I will do so." + +"There were two other clerks in the counting-house--the head clerk, +whose name was Manvers, and your father, who was in the counting-house +but a few months before me. Our master, whose name was Evelyn, was +very particular with both your father and myself, scanning our +work daily, and finding fault when we deserved it. This occasioned a +rivalry between us, which made us both very active, and I received +praise quite as often as he did. On Sunday, Mr Evelyn used to ask +your father and me to spend the day. We went to church in the +forenoon and dined with him. He had a daughter a little younger than +we were. She was your mother. Both of us, as we grew up, were very +attentive to her, and anxious to be in her good graces. I cannot say +which was preferred at first, but I rather think that if anything I +was the favourite, during the first two years of our being acquainted +with her. I was more lively and a better companion than your father, +who was inclined to be grave and thoughtful. We had been about four +years in the counting-house, when my mother died--my father had been +dead some time before I went into it--and at her death I found my +share of her property to amount to about L2500. But I was not yet +twenty-one years of age. I could not receive it for another year. Mr +Evelyn, who had till then every reason to be satisfied with my +conduct, used to joke with me, and say that as soon as I was of age, +he would allow me, if I chose it, to put the money in the business, +and thus obtain a small share in it--and such was my intention, and I +looked forward to bright prospects and the hope of one day being +married to your mother, and I have no doubt but such would have been +the case, had I still conducted myself properly. But, before I was of +age, I made some very bad acquaintances, and soon ran into expenses +which I could not afford--and the worst was, that I contracted a +habit of sitting up late at night, and drinking to excess, which I +never have since got over, which proved my ruin then, and has proved +my ruin through life. This little fortune of mine not only gave me +consequence, but was the cause of my thinking very highly of myself. +I now was more particular in my attentions to Miss Evelyn, and was +graciously received by her father; neither had I any reason to +complain of my treatment from the young lady. As for your father, he +was quite thrown into the back-ground. He had no property nor hope of +any, except what he might hereafter secure by his diligence and good +conduct; and the attention I received from Mr Evelyn, and also the +head clerk, who had an idea that I was to be a partner and +consequently would become his superior, made him very melancholy and +unhappy--for I believe that then he was quite as much in love with +Miss Evelyn as I was myself; and I must tell you, that my love for +her was unbounded, and she well deserved it. But all these happy +prospects were overthrown by my own folly. As soon as it was known +that I had property left to me, I was surrounded by many others who +requested to be introduced to me, and my evenings were passed in what +I considered very good company, but which proved the very reverse. By +degrees I took to gambling, and after a time, lost more money than I +could afford to pay. This caused me to have recourse to a Jew, who +advanced me loans at a large interest to be repaid at my coming of +age. Trying to win back my money, I at last found myself indebted to +the Jew for the sum of nearly L1000. The more that I became involved, +the more reckless I became. Mr Evelyn perceived that I kept late +hours, and looked haggard, as I well might; indeed, my position had +now become very awkward. Mr Evelyn knew well the sum that had been +left me, and how was I to account to him for the deficiency, if he +proposed that I should put it into the business? I should be ruined +in his opinion, and he never, I was convinced, would entrust the +happiness of his daughter to a young man who had been guilty of such +irregularities. At the same time, my love for her nearly amounted to +adoration. Never was there a more miserable being than I was for the +last six months previous to my coming of age, and to drown my misery +I plunged into every excess, and seldom, if ever, went to bed but in +a state of intoxication. Scheme after scheme did I propose to enable +me to conceal my fault, but I could hit upon nothing. The time +approached; I was within a few days of coming of age, when Mr Evelyn +sent for me and then spoke to me seriously, saying, that out of +regard to the memory of my father, with whom he had been very +intimate, he was willing to allow me to embark my little capital in +the business, and that he hoped that by my good conduct and +application I might soon become a useful partner. I stammered some +reply which surprised him; and he asked me to be more explicit. I +stated that I considered my capital too small to be of much use in +such a business as his, and that I preferred trying some quick method +of doubling it; that as soon as I had so done I would accept his +offer with gratitude. 'As you please,' replied he coolly; 'but take +care, that in risking all, you do not lose all. Of course, you are +your own master,' and so saying, he left me, apparently much +displeased and mortified. But circumstances occurred, which exposed +the whole affair. When in company with my evening companions, I +stated my intentions of trying my fortune in the East Indies, not +seriously, but talking at random. This came to the ears of the Jew of +whom I had borrowed the money; he thought that I intended to leave +the kingdom without taking up my bonds, and immediately repaired to +Mr Evelyn's counting-house, to communicate with the head clerk, and +ascertain if the report was correct, stating also the sums I was +indebted to him. The head clerk informed Mr Evelyn, and on the day +upon which I became twenty-one years of age, he sent for me into his +private room, and, after some remonstrances, to which I replied very +haughtily, it ended in my being dismissed. The fact was, that Mr +Evelyn had, since his last interview with me, made inquiries, and +finding out I had been living a very riotous life, he had determined +upon my leaving his service. As soon as my first burst of indignation +was over, I felt what I had lost; my attachment to Miss Evelyn was +stronger than ever, and I bitterly deplored my folly, but after a +time, as usual, I had recourse to the bottle, and to drowning my +cares in intemperance. I tried very hard to obtain an interview with +Miss Evelyn previous to my quitting the house, but this Mr Evelyn +would not permit, and a few days after, sent his daughter away, to +reside, for a time with a relation in the country. I embarked my +capital in the wine trade, and, could I have restrained myself from +drinking, should have been successful, and in a short time might have +doubled my property, as I stated to Mr Evelyn; but now, I had become +an irreclaimable drunkard, and when that is the case, all hope is +over. My affairs soon became deranged, and, at the request of my +partner, they were wound up, and I found myself with my capital of +L1500 reduced to L1000. With this, I resolved to try my fortune in +shipping; I procured a share in a brig, and sailed in her myself. +After a time, I was sufficiently expert to take the command of her, +and might have succeeded, had not my habit of drinking been so +confirmed. When at Ceylon, I fell sick, and was left behind. The brig +was lost, and as I had forgotten to insure my portion of her, I was +ruined. I struggled long, but in vain--intemperance was my curse, my +bane, the millstone at my neck, which dragged me down: I had +education, talents, and energy, and at one time, capital, but all +were useless; and thus did I sink down, from captain of a vessel to +mate, from mate to second mate, until I at last found myself a +drunken sailor before the mast. Such is my general history; to-morrow, +I will let you know how, and in what way, your father and I met again, +and what occurred, up to this present time." + +But I was too much bewildered and confused with what he had told me, +to allow him to proceed, as he proposed. + +"No, no," replied I. "I now recollect all you have said, although I +do not understand. You must first answer my questions, as to the +meaning of words I never heard of before. I cannot understand what +money is, what gaming is, and a great many more things you have +talked about, but I recollect, and can repeat every word that you +have said. To-morrow, I will recall it all over, and you shall tell +me what I cannot make out; after that, you can go on again." + +"Very well," replied he, "I don't care how long it takes me to +answer your questions, for I am not very anxious to tell all about +your father and myself." + + + + +Chapter VI + + +I can hardly describe to the reader the effect which these +conversations with Jackson had upon me at first. If a prisoner were +removed from a dark cell, and all at once introduced into a garden +full of fruit and flowers, which he never before had an idea were in +existence, he could not have been more filled with wonder, surprise, +and pleasure. All was novelty and excitement, but, at the same time, +to a great degree, above my comprehension. I had neither language nor +ideas to meet it, and yet, I did, to a certain degree, comprehend. I +saw not clearly, but sometimes as through a mist, at others through a +dark fog, and I could discern little. Every day, however, my +increased knowledge of language and terms gave me an increased +knowledge of ideas. I gained more by context than I did by any other +means, and as I was by degrees enlightened, so my thirst for +information and knowledge became every day more insatiable. + +That much that I considered I understood was erroneous, is certain, +for mine was a knowledge, as yet, of theory only. I could imagine to +myself, as far as the explanation I received, what such an object +might be, and, having made up my ideas on the matter, I was content; +further knowledge, would however incline me to think, and +occasionally to decide, that the idea I had formed was incorrect, and +I would alter it. Thus did I flounder about in a sea of uncertainty, +but still of exciting interest. + +If any one who has been educated, and has used his eyes in a +civilised country, reads an account of people and things hitherto +unknown to him, he can, from the description and from his own general +knowledge, form a very correct idea of what the country contains. But +then he has used his eyes--he has seen those objects, between which +the parallel or the difference has been pointed out. Now I had not +that advantage. I had seen nothing but the sea, rocks, and sea-birds, +and had but one companion. Here was my great difficulty, which, I may +say, was never surmounted, until I had visited and mixed with +civilisation and men. The difficulty, however, only increased my +ardour. I was naturally of an ingenious mind, I had a remarkable +memory, and every increase of knowledge was to me a source of +delight. In fact, I had now something to live for, before I had not; +and I verily believe, that if Jackson had been by any chance removed +from me at this particular time, I should soon have become a lunatic, +from the sudden drying up of the well which supplied my inordinate +thirst for knowledge. + +Some days passed before I asked Jackson to continue his narrative, +during which we lived in great harmony. Whether it was that he was +deceiving me, and commanding his temper till he had an opportunity of +revenge, or whether it was that his forlorn and helpless condition +had softened him down, I could not say, but he appeared gradually to +be forming an attachment to me; I was however on my guard at all +times. His wounded wrist had now healed up, but his hand was quite +useless, as all the tendons had been severed. I had therefore less to +fear from him than before. At my request that he would continue his +history, Jackson related as follows:-- + +"After sailing in vessel after vessel, and generally dismissed after +the voyage for my failing of intemperance, I embarked on board a ship +bound to Chili, and after having been on the coast for nearly a year, +we were about to proceed home with a cargo, when we anchored at +Valdivia, previous to our homeward voyage, as we had some few +articles to ship at that port. We were again ready for sea, when we +heard from the captain, that he had agreed to take two passengers, a +gentleman and his wife, who wished to proceed to England. The cabin +was cleared out, and every preparation made to receive them on board, +and in the evening the boat was sent on shore for the luggage. I went +in the boat, as I thought it likely that the gentleman would give the +boat's crew something to drink; nor was I wrong--he gave us four +dollars, which we spent immediately in one of the ventas, and were +all more or less intoxicated. It had been arranged that the luggage +should first be carried on board, and after that, we were to return +for the passengers, as we were to sail early in the morning. We +pulled off with the luggage, but on our arrival on board, I was so +drunk, that the captain would not allow me to return in the boat, and +I knew nothing of what had passed until I was roused up the next +morning to assist in getting the ship under weigh. We had been under +weigh two or three hours, and were clearing the land fast, when the +gentleman passenger came on neck; I was then coiling down a rope on +the quarter-deck, and as he passed by me, I looked at him, and I +recognised him immediately as your father. Years had passed--from a +stripling he had grown a man, but his face was not to be mistaken. +There he was, apparently a gentlemen of property and consideration; +and I, what was I? a drunken sailor. All I hoped was, that he would +not recognise me. Shortly afterwards he went down again, and returned +escorting his wife on deck. Again I took a furtive curious glance, +and perceived at once that she was that Miss Evelyn whom I had once +so loved, and by my folly had lost. This was madness. As they stood +on the deck enjoying the cool sea breeze, for the weather was +delightfully fine, the captain came up and joined them. I was so +confused at my discovery, that I knew not what I was about, and I +presume was doing something very awkwardly; for the captain said to +me--'Jackson, what are you about, you drunken hound? I suppose you +are not sober yet.' At the mention of my name, your father and mother +looked at me, and as I lifted up my head to reply to the captain, +they eyed me earnestly, and then spoke to each other in a low tone; +after which they interrogated the captain. I could not hear what they +said, but I was certain they were talking about me, and that they had +suspected, if they had not recognised me. I was ready to sink to the +deck, and, at the same time, I felt a hatred of your father enter my +heart, of which, during his life, I never could divest myself. It was +as I supposed; your father had recognised me, and the following +morning he came up to me as I was leaning over the gunwale +amidships, and addressed me,--'Jackson,' said he, 'I am sorry to +find you in this situation. You must have been very unfortunate to +have become so reduced. If you will confide your history to me, +perhaps I may, when we arrive in England, be able to assist you, and +it really will give me great pleasure.' I cannot say that I replied +very cordially. 'Mr Henniker,' said I, 'you have been fortunate by +all appearances, and can therefore afford compassion to those who +have not been so; but, sir, in our positions, I feel as if pity was +in reality a sort of triumph, and an offer of assistance an insult. I +am content with my present position, and will at all events not +change it by your interference. I earn my bread honestly. You can do +no more. Times may change yet. It's a long road that has no turning +to it. I wish you a good morning.' So saying, I turned from him, and +walked away forward, with my heart full of bitterness and anger. From +that hour he never spoke to me or noticed me again, but the captain +was more severe upon me, and I ascribed his severity most unjustly to +your father. We were about to go round Cape Horn, when the gale from +the S.E. came on, which ended in the loss of the vessel. For several +days we strove up against it, but at last the vessel, which was old, +leaked so much from straining, that we were obliged to bear up and +run before it, which we did for several days, the wind and sea +continuing without intermission. At last we found ourselves among +these islands, and were compelled occasionally to haul to the wind to +clear them. This made her leak more and more, until at last she +became water logged, and we were forced to abandon her in haste +during the night, having no time to take anything with us; we left +three men on board, who were down below. By the mercy of Heaven we +ran the boat into the opening below, which was the only spot where we +could have landed. I think I had better stop now, as I have a good +deal to tell you yet." + +"Do then," replied I; "and now I think of it, I will bring up the +chest and all the things which were in it, and you shall tell me what +they are." + +I went down and returned with the clothes and linen. There were +eight pair of trousers, nine shirts, besides the one I had torn up to +bandage his wounds with, two pair of blue trousers, and two jackets, +four white duck frocks, some shoes, and stockings. Jackson felt them +one by one with his hands, and told me what they were, and how worn. + +"Why don't you wear some of them?" inquired I. + +"If you will give me leave, I will," replied he. "Let me have a duck +frock and a pair of trousers." + +I handed the articles to him, and then went back for the rest which +I had left on the rocks. + +When I returned, with my arms full, I found that he had put them on, +and his other clothes were beside him. "I feel more like a Christian +now," said he. + +"A Christian," said I, "what is that?" + +"I will tell you by-and-bye. It is what I have not been for a long, +long while," replied he. "Now, what have you brought this time?" + +"Here," said I, "what is this?" + +"This is a roll of duck, to make into frocks and trousers," replied +he. "That is bees'-wax." He then explained to me all the tools, +sailing-needles, fish-hooks, and fishing-lines, some sheets of +writing-paper, and two pens, I had brought up with me. "All these are +very valuable," said he, after a pause, "and would have added much to +our comfort, if I had not been blind." + +"There are more things yet," said I; "I will go and fetch them." + +This time I replaced the remaining articles, and brought up the +chest. It was a heavy load to carry up the rocks, and I was out of +breath when I arrived and set it down on the cabin-floor. + +"Now, I have the whole of them," said I. "Now, what is this?" + +"That is a spy-glass--but, alas! I am blind--but I will show you how +to use it, at all events." + +"Here are two books," said I. + +"Give them to me," said he, "and let me feel them. This one is a +Bible, I am quite sure by its shape, and the other is, I think, a +Prayer-book." + +"What is a Bible, and what is a Prayer-book?" replied I. + +"The Bible is the Word of God, and the Prayer-book teaches us how to +pray to him." + +"But who is God? I have often heard you say, 'O God!' and 'God damn' +--but who is he?" + +"I will tell you to-night before we go to sleep," replied Jackson, +gravely. + +"Very well, I shall remind you. I have found a little box inside the +chest, and it is full of all manner of little things--strings and +sinews." + +"Let me feel them?" + +I put a bundle into his hand. + +"These are needles and thread for making and mending clothes--they +will be useful bye-and-bye." + +At last the whole contents of the chest were overhauled and +explained: I could not well comprehend the glass bottles, or how they +were made, but I put them with the pannikins, and everything else, +very carefully into the chest again, and hauled the chest to the +farther end of the cabin, out of the way. Before we went to bed that +night, Jackson had to explain to me who God was, but as it was only +the commencement of several conversations on the subject, I shall not +at present trouble the reader with what passed between us. Jackson +appeared to be very melancholy after the conversation we had had on +religious matters, and was frequently agitated and muttering to +himself. + + + + +Chapter VII + + +I did not on the following day ask him to resume his narrative +relative to my father and mother, as I perceived that he avoided it, +and I already had so far changed as to have consideration for his +feelings. Another point had now taken possession of my mind, which +was, whether it were possible to learn to read those books which I +had found in the chest, and this was the first question that I put to +Jackson when we arose on that morning. + +"How is it possible?" replied he. "Am I not blind--how can I teach +you?" + +"Is there no way?" replied I, mournfully. + +"Let me think.--Yes, perhaps there is a way--at all events we will +try. You know which book I told you was the Prayer-book?" + +"Oh yes! the small, thin one." + +"Yes--fetch it here. Now," said he, when I put it into his hand, +"tell me; is there a straight line down the middle of the page of the +book, so that the words and letters are on both sides of it?" + +"Yes, there is," replied I; "in every page, as you call it, there is +a black line down the middle, and words and letters (I suppose they +are) on both sides." + +"And among the letters, there are some larger than others, +especially at the side nearest to the margin." + +"I don't know what margin is." + +"I mean here," replied he, pointing to the margin of the page. + +"Yes, there are." + +"Well then, I will open the book as near as I can guess at the +Morning service, and you tell me if you can find any part of the +writing which appears to begin with a large round letter, like--what +shall I say?--the bottom of a pannikin." + +"There is one on this leaf, quite round." + +"Very well--now get me a small piece of stick, and make a point to +it." + +I did so, and Jackson swept away a small place on the floor of the +cabin. + +"Now," said he, "there are many other prayers which begin with a +round O, as the letter is called; so I must first ascertain if this +one is the one I require. If it is, I know it by heart, and by that +shall be able to teach you all the letters of the alphabet." + +"What's an alphabet?" + +"The alphabet is the number of letters invented to enable us to read +and write. There are twenty-six of them. Now look, Frank; is the next +letter to O the shape of this?" and he drew with the pointed stick +the letter U on the ground. + +"Yes, it is," replied I. + +"And the next is like this," continued he, drawing the letter R, +after he had smoothed the ground and effaced the U. + +"Yes," replied I. + +"Well then, to make sure, I had better go on. OUR is one word, and +then there is a little space between; and next you come to an F." + +"Yes," replied I, looking at what he had drawn and comparing it with +the letter in the book. + +"Then I believe that we are all right, but to make sure, we will go +on for a little longer." + +Jackson then completed the word "Father," and "which art," that +followed it, and then he was satisfied. + +"Now," said he, "out of that prayer I can teach you all the letters, +and if you pay attention, you will learn to read." + +The whole morning was passed in my telling him the different +letters, and I very soon knew them all. During the day, the Lord's +Prayer was gone through, and as I learnt the words as well as the +letters, I could repeat it before night; I read it over to him twenty +or thirty times, spelling every word, letter by letter, until I was +perfect. This was my first lesson. + +"Why is it called the Lord's Prayer?" said I. + +"Because, when our Lord Jesus Christ was asked by His followers in +what way they ought to address God, He gave them this prayer to +repeat, as being the most proper that they could use." + +"But who was Jesus Christ?" + +"He was the Son of God, as I told you yesterday, and at the same +time equal with God." + +"How could he be equal with God, if, as you said yesterday, God sent +him down to be killed?" + +"It was with his own consent that he suffered death; but all this is +a mystery which you cannot understand at present." + +"What's a mystery?" + +"That which you cannot understand." + +"Do you understand it yourself?" + +"No, I do not; I only know that such is the fact, but it is above +not only mine, but all men's comprehension. But I tell you honestly +that, on these points, I am but a bad teacher; I have paid little +attention to them during my life, and as far as religion is +concerned, I can only give you the outlines, for I know no more." + +"But I thought you said, that people were to be punished or rewarded +when they died, according as they had lived a bad or good life; and +that to live a good life, people must be religious, and obey God's +commands." + +"I did tell you so, and I told you the truth; but I did not tell you +that I had led a bad life, as I have done, and that I have neglected +to pay obedience to God's word and command." + +"Then you will be punished when you die, will you not?" + +"Alas! I fear so, child," replied Jackson, putting his hands up to +his forehead and hiding his face. "But there is still time," +continued he, after a pause, and "O God of mercy!" exclaimed he, "how +shall I escape?" + +I was about to continue the conversation, but Jackson requested that +I would leave him alone for a time. I went out and sat on a rock, +watching the stars. + +"And those, he says, were all made by God,"--"and God made +everything," thought I, "and God lives up beyond those stars." I +thought for a long while, and was much perplexed. I had never heard +anything of God till the night before, and what Jackson had told me +was just enough to make me more anxious and curious; but he evidently +did not like to talk on the subject. I tried after a time, if I could +repeat the Lord's Prayer, and I found that I could, so I knelt down +on the rock, and looking up to a bright star, as if I would imagine +it was God, I repeated the Lord's Prayer to it, and then I rose up +and went to bed. + +This was the first time that I had ever prayed. + +I had learnt so much from Jackson, latterly, that I could hardly +retain what I had learnt; at all events, I had a very confused +recollection in my brain, and my thoughts turned from one subject to +another, till there was, for a time, a perfect chaos; by degrees +things unravelled themselves, and my ideas became more clear; but +still I laboured under that half-comprehension of things, which, in +my position, was unavoidable. + +But now my mind was occupied with one leading object and wish, which +was to learn to read. I thought no more of Jackson's history and the +account he might give me of my father and mother, and was as willing +as he was that it should be deferred for a time. What I required now +was to be able to read the books, and to this object my whole mind +and attention were given. Three or four hours in the earlier portion +of the day, and the same time in the latter, were dedicated to this +pursuit, and my attention never tired or flagged. In the course of, I +think, about six weeks, I could read, without hesitation, almost any +portion of the Bible or Prayer-Book. I required no more teaching from +Jackson, who now became an attentive hearer, as I read to him every +morning and evening a portion of the Gospel or Liturgy. But I cannot +say that I understood many portions which I read, and the questions +which I put to Jackson puzzled him not a little, and very often he +acknowledged that he could not answer them. As I afterwards +discovered this arose from his own imperfect knowledge of the nature +of the Christian religion, which, according to his statement to me, +might be considered to have been comprised in the following sentence: +"If you do good on earth, you will go to heaven and be happy; if you +do ill, you will go to hell and be tormented. Christ came down from +heaven to teach us what to do, and how to follow his example; and all +that we read in the Bible we must believe." This may be considered as +the creed imparted to me at that time. I believe that Jackson, like +many others, knew no better, and candidly told me what he himself had +been taught to believe. + +But the season for the return of the birds arrived, and our stock of +provender was getting low. I was therefore soon obliged to leave my +books, and work hard for Jackson and myself. As soon as the young +birds were old enough, I set to my task. And now I found how valuable +were the knives which I had obtained from the seaman's chest; indeed, +in many points I could work much faster. By tying the neck and +sleeves of a duck frock, I made a bag, which enabled me to carry the +birds more conveniently, and in greater quantities at a time, and +with the knives I could skin and prepare a bird in one quarter of the +time. With my fishing-lines also, I could hang up more to dry at one +time, so that, though without assistance, I had more birds cured in +the same time than when Jackson and I were both employed in the +labour. The whole affair, however, occupied me from morning to +evening for more than three weeks, by which time the major portion of +my provender was piled up at the back of the cabin. I did not, +however, lose what I had gained in reading, as Jackson would not let +me go away in the morning, or retire to my bed in the evening, +without my reading to him a portion of the Bible. Indeed, he appeared +to be uncomfortable if I did not do so. + +At last, the work was ended, and then I felt a strong desire return +to hear that portion of Jackson's history connected with my father +and mother, and I told him so. He did not appear to be pleased with +my communication, or at all willing to proceed, but as I pressed him +hard and showed some symptoms of resolution and rebellion, he +reluctantly resumed his narrative. + + + + +Chapter VIII + + +"I wish you to understand," said he, "that my unwillingness to go on +with my history, proceeds from my being obliged to make known to you +the hatred that subsisted between your father and me; but if you will +recollect, that we both had, in our early days, been striving to gain +the same object--I mean your mother--and also that he had taken, as +it were, what I considered to have been my place, in other points-- +that he had been successful in life, and I had been unfortunate, you +must not then be surprised at my hating him as I did." + +"I understand nothing about your feelings," replied I; "and why he +injured you by marrying my mother, I cannot see." + +"Why I loved her." + +"Well, suppose you did, I don't know what love is, and therefore +cannot understand it, so tell me the story." + +"Well then, when I left off, I told you that we had ventured to land +upon this island by running the boat into the bathing-pond, but in so +doing, the boat was beaten to pieces, and was of no use afterwards. +We landed, eight persons in all--that is, the captain, your father, +the carpenter, mate, and three seamen, besides your mother. We had +literally nothing in the boat except three axes, two kids, and the +two pannikins, which we have indeed now, but as for provisions or +even water we had none of either. Our first object, therefore, was to +search the island to obtain water, and this we soon found at the rill +which now runs down by the side of the cabin. It was very fortunate +for us that we arrived exactly at the time that the birds had come on +the island, and had just laid their eggs; if not, we must have +perished with hunger, for we had not a fish-hook with us or even a +fathom of line. + +"We collected a quantity of eggs, and made a good meal, although we +devoured them raw. While we were running about, or rather climbing +about, over the rocks, to find out what chance of subsistence we +might have on the island, the captain and your father remained with +your mother, who sat down in a sheltered spot near to the bathing-pool. +On our return in the evening, the captain called us all together +that he might speak to us, and he said that if we would do well we +must all act in concert; that it also would be necessary that one +should have the command and control of the others; that without +such was the case, nothing would go on well;--and he asked us if we +did not consider that what he said was true. We all agreed, although +I, for one, felt little inclination to do so, but as all the rest +said so, I raised no objections. The captain then told us that as we +were all of one opinion, the next point, was to decide as to who +should have the command--he said, that if it had been on ship-board, +he of course would have taken it himself, but now we were on shore he +thought that Mr Henniker was a much more competent person than he +was, and he therefore proposed that the command should be given to +him, and he, for one, would willingly be under his orders. To this +proposal, the carpenter and mate immediately agreed, and at last two +of the seamen. I was left alone, but I resisted, saying, that I was +not going to be ordered about by a landsman, and that if I were to +obey orders, it must be from a thorough-bred seaman. The other two +sailors were of my way of thinking, I was sure, although they had +given their consent, and I hoped that they would join me, which they +appeared very much inclined to do. Your father spoke very coolly, +modestly, and prudently. He pointed out that he had no wish to take +the command, and that he would cheerfully serve under the captain of +the vessel, if it would be more satisfactory to all parties that such +should be the case. But the captain and the others were positive, +saying that they would not have their choice disputed by such a +drunken vagabond as I was, and that if I did not like to remain with +them, I might go to any part of the island that I chose. This +conference ended by my getting in a passion, and saying that I would +not be under your father's orders; and I was seizing one of the axes +to go off with it, when the captain caught my arm and wrested it from +me, stating that the axe was his property, and then telling me that I +was welcome to go where I pleased. + +"I left them, therefore, and went away by myself to where the birds +were hatching, as I wished to secure a supply of eggs. When the night +closed in, I lay down upon the guano, and felt no cold, for the gale +was now over, and the weather was very mild. + +"The next morning, when I awoke, I found that the sun had been up +some time. I looked for the rest of my companions whom I had quitted, +and perceived that they were all busily at work. The sea was quite +calm; and, when the vessel went down after we left, many articles had +floated, and had been washed to the island. Some of the men were busy +collecting spars and planks, which were near the rocks, and pushing +them along with the boat-hooks to the direction of the bathing pond, +where they hauled them over the ridge, and secured them. Your father +and mother, with the carpenter, were on this ledge where we now are, +having selected it as a proper place for building a shelter, and were +apparently very busy. The captain and one of the seamen were carrying +up what spars and timber could be collected to where your father was +standing with the carpenter. All appeared to be active, and working +into each others hands; and I confess that, as I looked on, I envied +them, and wished that I had been along with them; but I could not +bear the idea of obeying any orders given by your father; and this +alone prevented my joining them, and making my excuses for what I had +done and said the previous night. I therefore swallowed some more +birds' eggs raw, and sat down in the sun, looking at them as they +worked. + +"I soon perceived that the carpenter had commenced operations. The +frame of this cabin was, with the assistance of your father, before +it was noon, quite complete and put up; and then they all went down +to the bathing place, where the boat was lying with her bottom beaten +out. They commenced taking her to pieces and saving all the nails; +the other men carried up the portions of the boat as they were ripped +off, to where the frame of the cabin had been raised. I saw your +mother go up with a load in her hand, which I believed to be the +nails taken from the boat. In a couple of hours the boat was in +pieces and carried up, and then your father and most of the men went +up to assist the carpenter. I hardly need tell what they did, as you +have the cabin before you. The roof, you see, is mostly built out of +the timbers of the boat; and the lower part out of heavier wood; and +a very good job they made of it. Before the morning closed in, one of +the sides of the cabin was finished; and I saw them light a fire with +the chips that had been cut off with the axes, and they then dressed +the eggs and birds which they had collected the first day. + +"There was one thing which I had quite forgotten when I mutinied and +left my companions, which was, the necessity of water to drink; and I +now perceived that they had taken possession of the spot where the +only water had as yet been found. I was suffering very much from +thirst towards the close of the day, and I set off up the ravine to +ascertain if there was none to be found in that direction. Before +night I succeeded in finding some, as you know, for you have often +drunk from the spring when you have gone up for firewood. This gave +me great encouragement, for I was afraid that the want of water would +have driven me to submission. By way of bravado, I tore off, and cut +with my knife, as many boughs of the underwood on the ravine as I +well could carry, and the next morning I built a sort of wigwam for +myself on the guano, to show them that I had a house over my head as +well as they had; but I built it farther up to the edge of the cliff, +above the guano plain, so that I need not have any communication with +those who I knew would come for eggs and birds for their daily +sustenance. + +"Before the night of the following day set in, the cabin was quite +finished. + +"The weather became warmer every day, and I found it very fatiguing +to have to climb the ravine two or three times a day to procure a +drink of water, for I had nothing to hold water in, and I thought +that it would be better that I should take up my quarters in the +ravine, and build myself a wigwam among the brushwood close to the +water, instead of having to make so many journeys for so necessary an +article. I knew that I could carry eggs in my hat and pocket-handkerchief +sufficient for two or three days at one trip; so I determined that +I would do so; and the next morning I went up the ravine, loaded +with eggs, to take up my residence there. In a day or two I had built +my hut of boughs, and made it very comfortable. I returned for a +fresh supply of eggs on the third day, with a basket I had constructed +out of young boughs, and which enabled me to carry a whole week's +sustenance. Then I felt quite satisfied, and made up my mind that +I would live as a hermit during my sojourn on the island, however +long it might be; for I preferred anything to obeying the orders of +one whom I detested as I did your father. + +"It soon was evident, however, how well they had done in selecting +your father as their leader. They had fancied that the birds would +remain on the island, and that thus they would always be able to +procure a supply. Your father, who had lived so long in Chili, knew +better, and that in a few weeks they would quit their nesting place. +He pointed this out to them, showing them what a mercy it was that +they had been cast away just at this time, and how necessary it was +to make a provision for the year. But this they could not imagine +that it was possible to do without salt to cure the birds with; but +he knew how beef was preserved without salt on the continent, and +showed them how to dry the birds in the sun. While therefore I was up +in the ravine, they were busy collecting and drying them in large +quantities, and before the time of the birds leaving they had laid up +a sufficient supply. It was he also that invented the fishing lines +out of the sinews of the legs of the birds, and your mother who +knotted them together. At first, they caught fish with some hooks +made of nails, but your father showed them the way to take them +without a hook, as you have learnt from me, and which he had been +shown by some of the Indians on the continent. Owing to your father, +they were well prepared when the birds flew away with their young +ones, while I was destitute. Previous to the flight, I had fared but +badly, for the eggs contained the young birds half formed, and +latterly so completely formed that I could not eat them, and as I had +no fire and did not understand drying them, I had no alternative but +eating the young birds raw, which was anything but pleasant. I +consoled myself, however, with the idea that your father and mother +and the rest were faring just as badly as myself, and I looked +forward to the time when the birds would begin to lay eggs again, +when I resolved to hoard up a much larger supply while they were +fresh. But my schemes were all put an end to, for in two days, after +a great deal of noise and flying about in circles, all the birds, +young and old, took wing, and left me without any means of future +subsistence. + +"This was a horrid discovery, and I was put to my wits' ends. I +wandered over the guano place, and, after the third day of their +departure, was glad to pick up even a dead bird with which to appease +my hunger. At the same time, I wondered how my former companions got +on, for I considered that they must be as badly off as I was. I +watched them from behind the rocks, but I could perceive no signs of +uneasiness. There was your mother sitting quietly on the level by the +cabin, and your father or the captain talking with her. I perceived, +however, that two of the party were employed fishing off the rocks, +and I wondered where they got their fishing-lines, and at last I +concluded that it was by catching fish that they supported +themselves. This, however, did not help me--I was starving, and +starvation will bring down the pride of any man. On the fifth day, I +walked down to the rocks, to where one of the seamen was fishing, and +having greeted him, I told him that I was starving, and asked for +something to eat. + +"'I cannot help you,' replied he; 'I have no power to give anything +away; it is more than I dare do. You must apply to Mr Henniker, who +is the governor now. What a foolish fellow you were to mutiny, as you +did; see what it has brought you to.' + +"'Why,' replied I, 'if it were not for fishing, you would not be +better off than I am.' + +"'Oh yes we should be; but we have to thank him for that--without +him, I grant, we should not have been. We have plenty of provisions, +although we fish to help them out.' + +"This puzzled me amazingly, but there was no help for it. I could +starve no longer, so up I went to the level where your father was +standing with the captain, and in a swaggering sort of tone, said +that I had come back, and wanted to join my comrades. The captain +looked at me, and referred me to your father, who said that he would +consult with the rest when they came to dinner, as without their +permission he could do nothing, and then they both turned away. In +the meantime I was ravenous with hunger, and was made more so by +perceiving that two large fish were slowly baking on the embers of +the fire, and that your mother was watching them; however, there was +no help for it, and I sat down at some little distance, anxiously +waiting for the return of the rest of the party, when my fate would +be decided. My pride was now brought down so low that I could have +submitted to any terms which might have been dictated. In about two +hours they were all assembled to dinner, and I remained envying every +morsel that they ate, until the repast was finished; when after some +consultation, I was ordered to approach--which I did--and your father +addressed me: 'Jackson, you deserted us when you might have been very +useful, and when our labour was severe; now that we have worked hard, +and made ourselves tolerably comfortable, you request to join us, and +partake with us of the fruits of our labour and foresight. You have +provided nothing, we have--the consequence is that we are in +comparative plenty, while you are starving. Now I have taken the +opinion of my companions, and they are all agreed, that as you have +not assisted when you are wanted, should we now allow you to join us, +you will have to work more than the others to make up an equivalent. +It is therefore proposed that you shall join us on one condition, +which is, that during the year till the birds again visit the island, +it will be your task to go up to the ravine every day, and procure +the firewood which is required. If you choose to accept these terms, +you are permitted to join, always supposing that to all the other +rules and regulations which we have laid down for our guidance, you +will be subject as well as we are. These are our terms, and you may +decide as you think proper.' I hardly need say, that I gladly +accepted them, and was still more glad when the remnants of the +dinner were placed before me; I was nearly choked, I devoured with +such haste until my appetite was appeased. + +"When this was done, I thought over the conditions which I had +accepted, and my blood boiled at the idea that I was to be in a +manner the slave to the rest, as I should have to work hard every +day. I forgot that it was but justice, and that I was only earning my +share of the years' provisions, which I had not assisted to collect. +My heart was still more bitter against your father, and I vowed +vengeance if ever I had an opportunity, but there was no help for it. +Every day I went up with a piece of cord and an axe, cut a large +faggot of wood, and brought it down to the cabin. It was hard work, +and occupied me from breakfast to dinner-time, and I had no time to +lose if I wanted to be back for dinner. The captain always examined +the faggot, and ascertained that I had brought down a sufficient +supply for the day's consumption." + + + + +Chapter IX + + +"A year passed away, during which I was thus employed. At last, the +birds made their appearance, and after we had laid up our annual +provision, I was freed from my task, and had only to share the labour +with others. It was now a great source of speculation how long we +were likely to remain on the island; every day did we anxiously look +out for a vessel, but we could see none, or if seen, they were too +far off from the island to permit us to make signals to them. At last +we began to give up all hope, and, as hope was abandoned, a settled +gloom was perceptible on most of our faces. I believe that others +would have now mutinied as well as myself, if they had known what to +mutiny about. Your father and mother were the life and soul of the +party, inventing amusements, or narrating a touching story in the +evenings, so as to beguile the weary time; great respect was paid to +your mother, which she certainly deserved; I seldom approached her; +she had taken a decided dislike to me, arising, I presume, from my +behaviour towards her husband, for now that I was again on a footing +with the others, I was as insolent to him as I dared to be, without +incurring the penalty attached to insubordination, and I opposed him +as much as I could in every proposal that he brought forward--but +your father kept his temper, although I lost mine but too often. The +first incident which occurred of any consequence, was the loss of two +of the men, who had, with your father's permission, taken a week's +provisions, with the intention of making a tour round the island, and +ascertaining whether any valuable information could be brought back; +they were the carpenter and one of the seamen. It appears that during +their return, as they were crossing the highest ridge, they, feeling +very thirsty, and not finding water, attempted to refresh themselves +by eating some berries which they found on a plant. These berries +proved to be strong poison, and they returned very ill--after +languishing a few days, they both died. + +"This was an event which roused us up, and broke the monotony of our +life; but it was one which was not very agreeable to dwell upon, and +yet, at the same time, I felt rather pleasure than annoyance at it--I +felt that I was of more consequence, and many other thoughts entered +my mind which I shall not now dwell upon. We buried them in the +guano, under the first high rock, where, indeed, the others were all +subsequently buried. Three more months passed away, when the other +seaman was missing. After a search, his trousers were found at the +edge of the rock. He had evidently been bathing in the sea, for the +day on which he was missed, the water was as smooth as glass. Whether +he had seen something floating, which he wished to bring to land, or +whether he had ventured for his own amusement, for he was an +excellent swimmer, could never be ascertained--any more than whether +he had sunk with the cramp, or had been taken down by a shark. He +never appeared again, and his real fate is a mystery to this day, and +must ever remain so. Thus were we reduced to four men--your father, +the captain, the mate, and me. But you must be tired--I will stop +now, and tell you the remainder some other time." + +Although I was not tired, yet, as Jackson appeared to be so, I made +no objection to his proposal, and we both went to sleep. + +While I had read the Bible to Jackson, I had often been puzzled by +numbers being mentioned, and never could understand what was meant, +that is, I could form no of the quantity represented by seventy or +sixty, or whatever it might be. Jackson's answer was, "Oh! it means a +great many; I'll explain to you bye-and-bye, but we have nothing to +count with, and as I am blind, I must have something in my hand to +teach you." I recollected that at the bathing pool there were a great +many small shells on the rocks, about the size of a pea; there were +live fish in them, and they appeared to crawl on the rocks. I +collected a great quantity of these, and brought them up to the +cabin, and requested Jackson would teach me to count. This he did, +until he came to a thousand, which he said was sufficient. For many +days I continued to count up to a hundred, until I was quite perfect, +and then Jackson taught me addition and subtraction to a certain +degree, by making me add and take away from the shells, and count the +accumulation, or the remainder. At last, I could remember what I had +gained by manipulation, if I may use the term, but further, I could +not go, although addition had, to a degree, made me master of +multiplication, and subtraction gave me a good idea of division. + +This was a new delight to me, and occupied me for three or four +weeks. At last I had, as I thought, learned all that he could teach +me in his blind state, and I threw away the shells, and sighed for +something more. + +Of a sudden it occurred to me, that I had never looked into the book +which still lay upon the shelf in the cabin, and I saw no reason now +that I should not; so I mentioned it to Jackson, and asked him why I +might not have that book? + +"To be sure you may," replied he; "but you never asked for it, and I +quite forgot it." + +"But when I asked you before, you were so particular that I should +not open it. What was your reason then?" + +Jackson replied--"I had no reason except that I then disliked you, +and I thought that looking into the book would give you pleasure. It +belonged to that poor fellow that was drowned; he had left it in the +stern-sheets of the boat when we were at Valdivia, and had forgotten +it, and we found it there when we landed on the island. Take it down, +it will amuse you." + +I took down the book, and opened it. It was, if I recollect right, +called "Mavor's Natural History." At all events, it was a Natural +History of Beasts and Birds, with a plate representing each, and a +description annexed. It would be impossible for me to convey to the +reader my astonishment and delight. I had never seen a picture or +drawing in my life. I did not know that such things existed. I was in +an ecstasy of delight as I turned over the pages, hardly taking +sufficient time to see one object before I hastened on to another. +For two or three hours did I thus turn over leaves, without settling +upon any one animal; at last my pulse beat more regularly, and I +commenced with the Lion. But now what a source of amusement, and what +a multitude of questions had to be answered by my companion. He had +to tell me all about the countries in which the animals were found; +and the description of the animals, with the anecdotes, were a source +of much conversation; and, what was more, the foregrounds and +backgrounds of the landscapes with which the animals were surrounded +produced new ideas. There was a palm-tree, which I explained to +Jackson, and inquired about it. This led to more inquiries. The lion +himself occupied him and me for a whole afternoon, and it was getting +dark when I lay down, with my new treasure by my side. I had read of +the lion in the Scriptures, and now I recalled all the passages; and +before I slept I thought of the bear which destroyed the children who +had mocked Elisha the prophet, and I determined that the first animal +I would read about the next morning should be the bear. + +I think that this book lasted me nearly two months, during which +time, except reading a portion every night and morning to Jackson, +the Bible and Prayer-book were neglected. Sometimes I thought that +the book could not be true; but when I came to the birds, I found +those which frequented the island so correctly described, that I had +no longer any doubt on the subject. Perhaps what interested me most +were the plates in which the barn-door fowls and the peacock were +described, as in the background of the first were a cottage and +figures, representing the rural scenery of England, my own country; +and in the second there was a splendid mansion, and a carriage and +four horses driving up to the door. In short, it is impossible to +convey to the reader the new ideas which I received from these slight +efforts of the draftsman to give effect to his drawing. The engraving +was also a matter of much wonder, and required a great deal of +explanation from Jackson. This book became my treasure, and it was +not till I had read it through and through, so as almost to know it +by heart, that at length I returned to my Bible. All this time I had +never asked Jackson to go on with his narrative; but now that my +curiosity was appeased, I made the request. He appeared, as before, +very unwilling; but I was pertinacious, and he was worried into it. + +"There were but four of us left and your mother, and the mate was in +a very bad state of health; he fretted very much, poor fellow, for he +had left a young wife in England, and what he appeared to fear most +was, that she would be married again before he could get home. It +ended in a confirmed liver complaint, which carried him off nine +months afterwards; and thus was one more of our companions disposed +of. He died very quietly, and gave me his sleeve-buttons and watch to +deliver to his wife, if ever I should escape from the island. I fear +there is little chance of her ever receiving them." + +"Where are they?" said I, recollecting how I had seen him lift up +the board under his bed-place. + +"I have them safe," replied Jackson, "and if necessary, will tell +you where to find them." + +This reply satisfied me, and I allowed him to proceed. + +"We buried him in the guano, by the side of the two others, and now +we were but three. It was at this time that your mother was confined +and you were born; that is about three months after the death of the +mate. We had just finished laying in our stock of birds for the year +when she was taken ill, sooner than was expected, and it was supposed +that it was occasioned by over-exertion at the time. However, she got +up very well without any medical assistance, and your father was much +pleased at having a son, for he had been married five years without +any prospect of a family. I ought to observe that the loss of our +companions, one after another, had had the effect of bringing those +that remained much closer together; I was treated with more kindness +by both your father and mother, and the captain, and I returned it as +well as my feelings would permit me, for I could not altogether get +rid of my animosity to your father. However, we became much more +confidential, that is certain, and I was now treated as an equal. + +"Six months passed away and you had become a thriving child, when a +melancholy occurrence"--here Jackson covered up his face with his +hands and remained for some time silent. + +"Go on," said I, "Jackson, I know that they all died somehow or +another." + +"Very true," replied he, recovering himself. "Well, your father +disappeared. He had gone to the rocks to fish, and when I was sent to +bring him home to dinner, he was nowhere to be found. It was supposed +that a larger fish than usual had been fast to his line, and that he +had been jerked off the rocks into the water and the sharks had taken +him. It was a dreadful affair," continued Jackson, again covering his +face. + +"I think," replied I, "that any man in his senses would have allowed +the fish to have taken the line rather than have been dragged into +the water. I don't think that the supposed manner of his death is at +all satisfactory." + +"Perhaps not," replied Jackson; "his foot may have slipped, who +knows? we only could guess; the line was gone as well as he, which +made us think what I said. Still we searched everywhere, but without +hope; and our search--that is the captain's and mine, for your poor +mother remained with you in her arms distracted--was the cause of +another disaster--no less than the death of the captain. They say +misfortunes never come single, and surely this was an instance of the +truth of the proverb." + +"How did he die?" replied I, gravely, for somehow or other I felt +doubts as to the truth of what he was saying. Jackson did not reply +till after a pause, when he said-- + +"He was out with me up the ravine collecting firewood, and he fell +over the high cliff. He was so injured that he died in half an hour." + +"What did you do?" + +"What did I do--what could I do but go back and break the news to +your mother, who was distracted when she heard it; for the captain +was her friend, and she could not bear me." + +"Well go on, pray," said I. + +"I did all that I could to make your mother comfortable, as there +now were but her, you, and I, left on the island. You were then about +three years old; but your mother always hated me, and appeared now to +hate me more and more. She never recovered the loss of your father to +whom she was devotedly attached; she pined away, and after six months +she died, leaving you and me only on the island. Now you know the +whole history, and pray do not ask me any more about it." + + + + +Chapter X + + +Jackson threw himself back in his bed-place and was silent. So was +I, for I was recalling all that he had told me, and my doubts were +raised as to the truth of it. I did not like his hurrying over the +latter portion of his narrative in the way which he had done. What he +had said about my mother was not satisfactory. I had for some time +been gradually drawing towards him, not only shewing, but feeling, +for him a great increase of goodwill; but suspicion had entered my +mind, and I now began to feel my former animosity towards him +renewed. A night's sleep, however, and more reflection, induced me to +think that possibly I was judging him too harshly, and as I could not +afford to quarrel with him, our intercourse remained as amicable as +before, particularly as he became more and more amiable towards me +and did everything in his power to interest and amuse me. + +I was one day reading to him the account of a monkey given in the +book of Natural History, in which it is said that that animal is fond +of spirits and will intoxicate itself, and Jackson was telling me +many anecdotes of monkeys on board of the vessel he had sailed in, +when it occurred to me that I had never thought of mentioning to him +or of ascertaining the contents of the cask which had been thrown +into the bathing-pool with the seaman's chest, and I did so then to +Jackson, wondering at its contents and how they were to be got at. + +Jackson entered into the question warmly, explaining to me how and +where to bore holes with a gimlet, and making two spiles for me to +stop the holes with. As soon as he had done so, curiosity induced me +to go down to the pool where the cask had been lying so long, in +about a foot-and-half water. By Jackson's directions I took a +pannikin with me, that I might bring him a specimen of the contents +of the cask, if they should prove not to be water. I soon bored the +hole above and below, following Jackson's directions, and the liquor, +which poured out in a small stream into the pannikin, was of a brown +colour and very strong in odour, so strong, indeed, as to make me +reel as I walked back to the rocks with the pannikin full of it. I +then sat down, and after a time tasted it. I thought I had swallowed +fire, for I had taken a good mouthful of it. "This cannot be what +Jackson called spirits," said I. "No one can drink this--what can it +be?" Although I had not swallowed more than a table-spoonful of it, +yet, combined with the fumes of the liquor which I had inhaled when +drawing it off into the pannikin, the effect was to make my head +swim, and I lay down on the rock and shut my eyes to recover myself. +It ended in my falling asleep for many hours, for it was not much +after noon when I went to the cask, and it was near sunset when I +awoke, with an intense pain in my head. It was some time before I +could recollect where I was, or what had passed, but the pannikin +full of liquor by my side first reminded me; and then perceiving how +late it was, and how long I must have slept, I rose up, and taking +the pannikin in my hand, I hastened to return to the cabin. + +As I approached, I heard the voice of Jackson, whose hearing, since +his blindness, I had observed, had become peculiarly acute. + +"Is that you, Frank?" + +"Yes," replied I. + +"And what has kept you so long--how you have frightened me. God +forgive me, but I thought that I was to be left and abandoned to +starvation." + +"Why should you have thought that?" replied I. + +"Because I thought that some way or another you must have been +killed, and then I must have died, of course. I never was so +frightened in my life, the idea of dying here all alone--it was +terrible." + +It occurred to me at the time that the alarm was all for himself, +for he did not say a word about how sorry he should have been at any +accident happening to me, but I made no remark, simply stating what +had occurred, and my conviction that the contents of the cask were +not drinkable. + +"Have you brought any with you?" inquired he, sharply. + +"Yes, here it is," said I, giving him the pannikin. + +He smelt it, and raised it to his lips--took about a wine-glassful +of it, and then drew his breath. + +"This is delightful," said he; "the best of old rum, I never tasted +so good. How big did you say that the cask was?" + +I described it as well as I could. + +"Indeed, then it must be a whole puncheon--that will last a long +while." + +"But do you mean to say that you really like to drink that stuff?" +inquired I. + +"Do I like to drink it? yes, it is good for men, but it's death to +little boys. It will kill you. Don't you get fond of it. Now promise +me that you will never drink a drop of it. You must not get fond of +it, or some sad accident will happen to you." + +"I don't think you need fear my drinking it," replied I. "I have had +one taste, as I told you, and it nearly burnt my mouth. I shan't +touch it again." + +"That's right," replied Jackson, taking another quantity into his +mouth. "You are not old enough for it; bye-and-bye, when you are as +old as I am, you may drink it, then it will do you good. Now, I'll go +to bed, it's time for bed. Bring the pannikin after me and put it by +my side. Take care you don't spill any of it." + +Jackson crawled to his bed, and I followed him with the pannikin, +and put it by his side, as he requested, and I returned to my own +resting-place, without however having the least inclination to sleep, +having slept so long during the day. + +At first Jackson was quiet, but I heard him occasionally applying to +the pannikin, which held, I should say, about three half-pints of +liquor. At last he commenced singing a sea song; I was much +surprised, as I had never heard him sing before; but I was also much +pleased, as it was the first time that I had ever heard anything like +melody, for he had a good voice and sang in good tune. As soon as he +had finished, I begged him to go on. + +"Ah!" replied he, with a gay tone I had never heard from him before. +"You like songs, do you? my little chap. Well, I'll give you plenty +of them. 'Tis a long while since I have sung, but it's a 'poor heart +that never rejoiceth.' The time was when no one in company could sing +a song as I could, and so I can again, now that I have something to +cheer my heart. Yes, here's another for you. I shall rouse them all +out by-and-bye, as I get the grog in--no fear of that--you find the +stuff, and I'll find songs." + +I was surprised at first at this unusual mirth; but recollecting +what Jackson had told me about his intemperance, I presumed that this +mirth which it produced was the cause why he indulged so much in it; +and I felt less inclined to blame him. At all events, I was much +pleased with the songs that he sang to me one after another for three +or four hours, when his voice became thick, and, after some muttering +and swearing, he was quite silent, and soon afterwards snored loudly. +I remained awake some time longer, and then I also sank into +forgetfulness. + +When I awoke the next morning, I found Jackson still fast asleep. I +waited for him for our morning meal; but, as he did not wake, I took +mine by myself, and then I walked out to the rock, where I usually +sat, and looked round the horizon to see if there was anything in +sight. The spy-glass, from having been in sea water, was of no use, +and I did not know what to do with it; nor could Jackson instruct me. +After I had been out about an hour I returned, and found Jackson +still snoring, and I determined to wake him up. I pushed him for some +time without success; but, at last he opened his eyes, and said: + +"My watch already?" + +"No," said I; "but you have slept so long, that I have waked you up." + +He paused, as if he did not know my voice, and then said: + +"But I can't see anything; how's this?" + +"Why, don't you know that you're blind, Jackson?" replied I, with +amazement. + +"Yes, yes; I recollect now. Is there anything in the pannikin?" + +"Not a drop," replied I; "why, you must have drunk it all." + +"Yes, I recollect now. Get me some water, my good boy; for I am +dying with thirst." + +I went for the water; he drank the whole pannikin, and asked for more. + +"Won't you have something to eat?" said I. + +"Eat? oh no; I can't eat anything. Give me drink;" and he held out +his hand for the pannikin. I perceived how it trembled and shook, and +I observed it to him. + +"Yes," replied he, "that's always the case after a carouse, and I +had a good one last night--the first for many a year. But there's +plenty more of it. I wish you would get me a little more now, Frank, +just to steady me; just about two or three mouthfuls, no more; that +is, no more till night-time. Did I make much noise last night?" + +"You sang several songs," replied I, "with which I was much amused." + +"I'm glad that you liked them. I used to be considered a good singer +in my day; indeed, if I had not been such good company, as they term +it, I had not become so fond of drinking. Just go and fetch me about +half an inch high of the pannikin, my good fellow, that's all I want +now." + +I went down to the cask, drew of the quantity that he requested, and +brought it to him. He drank it off; and, in a few moments, appeared +to be quite himself again. He then asked for something to eat, and +commenced telling me a variety of stories relative to what he termed +jolly parties in his former days; so that the day passed very +agreeably. As the night closed in, he said: + +"Now, Frank, I know you want to hear some more songs; so go down and +bring me up a full pannikin, and I will sing you plenty." + +I complied with his request, for I was anxious to be again amused as +I was the night before. The consequence was that this night was, in +the early portion of it, but a repetition of the previous one. +Jackson took the precaution to get into his bed-place before he +commenced drinking; and, as soon as he had taken his second dose, he +asked me what sort of songs I liked. My reply naturally was, that I +had never heard any one sing but him, and therefore could not say. + +"What did I sing to you last night?" said he. + +I replied as well as I could. + +"Ah," said he, "they were all sea songs; but now I will give you +something better." + +After a little thought, he commenced singing a very beautiful and +plaintive one, and certainly much better than he had sung the night +before; for he now was sober. The consequence was, that I was still +more delighted; and, at my request, he sang several others; but at +last his speech became rapid and thick, and he would not sing any +more, using some very coarse expressions to me when I asked him. For +a time he was silent, and I thought that he was going to sleep, and I +was reflecting upon the various effects which the liquor appeared to +have upon him, when I heard him talking and muttering, and I listened. + +"Never mind how I got them," said he; "quite as honestly as other +people, Old Moshes. There they are, do you choose to buy them?" Then +there was a pause, after which he commenced: "They're as pure +diamonds as ever came out of a mine. I know that, so none of your +lies, you old Jew. Where did I come by them? that's no concern of +yours. The question is, will you give me the price, or will you not? +Well, then, I'm off. No, I won't come back, you old thief." Here he +swore terribly, and then was silent. + +After a while he recommenced-- + +"Who can ever prove that they were Henniker's diamonds?" + +I started up at the mention of my father's name; I rested with my +hands on the floor of the cabin, breathless as to what would come next. + +"No, no," continued Jackson, "he's dead, and food for fishes--dead +men tell no tales--and she's dead, and the captain's dead, all dead-- +yes, all;" and he gave a bitter groan and was silent. + +The day was breaking, and I could just see him as he lay; but he +said no more, and appeared to breathe heavily. As the sun rose, I got +out of my bed-place; and, now that it was broad daylight, I looked at +Jackson. He was lying on his back; his brow was covered with large +drops of perspiration, and his hands were clenched together. Although +asleep, he appeared, by the convulsive twitching of the muscles of +his face, to be suffering and in great agony. Occasionally he groaned +deeply, and his lips appeared to move, but no sound proceeded from +them. I perceived that the pannikin of liquor was not finished, one-third +at least having been left. + + + + +Chapter XI + + +I then went out of the cabin and took my usual seat, and began to +reflect upon what I had heard. He had talked about diamonds; now I +knew what diamonds were, so far as they were of great value, for I +had read of them in the Bible, and Jackson had explained the value of +precious stones to me, and had told me of diamonds of very great +value indeed. Then he said that they were Henniker's diamonds--he +must have meant my father, that was positive. And that no one could +prove they were his--this implied that Jackson had no right to them; +indeed how could he have? And then I recalled to mind his having a +secret hiding place under his bed, where I presumed the diamonds were +deposited. I then turned over in my mind what he had told me relative +to the death of my father, the captain, and my mother, how confused +he was, and how glad he was to get rid of the subject, and how +unsatisfactory I thought his account was at the time. After much +cogitation, I made up my mind that Jackson had not told me the truth, +and that there was a mystery yet to be explained; but how was I to +get at it? There was but one way. The liquor made him talk. I would +supply him with liquor, and by degrees I would get the truth out of +him. At the same time I would not allow him to suppose that he had +said anything to commit himself, or that I had any suspicions. + +How naturally do we fall into treachery and deceit, from the evil in +our own hearts, without any assistance or example from the world. How +could I have learnt deceit? Isolated as I had been, must it not have +been innate? + +I returned to the cabin, and woke Jackson without much difficulty, +since he had not drunk so much as on the previous night. + +"How are you this morning?" said I. + +"Not very well; I have had some bad dreams." + +"Well you sang me some beautiful songs," replied I. + +"Yes, I recollect," said he; "but I fell asleep at last." + +"Yes, you refused to sing any more, and went off in a loud snore." + +Jackson got out of his bed-place, and I gave him his meal. We talked +during the whole day about singing, and I hummed the air which had +pleased me most. + +"You have got the air pretty correct," said he; "you must have an +ear for music. Have you ever tried to sing?" + +"No, never; you know I have not." + +"You might have tried when I was not with you. Try now. I will sing +a tune, and then do you repeat it after me." + +He did so, and I repeated it. + +"Very good," said he. "Let's try the compass of your voice." + +He ran up the gamut, and I followed him. + +"I think you can go higher than I can," said he, "however you go +quite high enough, so now I'll give you a singing lesson." + +Thus were we occupied at intervals during the whole day, for Jackson +would not allow me to try my voice too much at first. As the evening +fell, he again asked me to fetch some liquor, and as I had three +quart wine bottles, as I before mentioned, which I had found in the +chest, I took them down to fill, as it would save me many trips, and +be more convenient in every respect. + +I brought them up full, and Jackson stopped them up with some of the +rags which I had torn to bind round his wrist, and put them all three +in his bed-place. + +"That will be a much better arrangement," said he, "as now I can +pour out the liquor into the pannikin as I want it; besides, I mean +to take a little water with it in future. It's not quite so good with +water, but it lasts longer, and one don't go to sleep so soon. Well, +I little thought that I should have such a comfort sent me after all +my sufferings. I don't so much care now about staying here. Go and +fetch some water in the pannikin." + +That night was a repetition of the first. Jackson sang till he was +intoxicated, and then fell fast asleep, not talking or saying a word, +and I was disappointed, for I remained awake to catch anything he +might say. It would be tedious to repeat what took place for about a +month;--suffice it to say it was very rarely, during that time, that +Jackson said anything in his sleep, or drunken state, and what he did +say I could make nothing of. He continued, in the daytime, to give me +lessons in singing, and I could now sing several songs very +correctly. At night, he returned to his usual habit, and was more or +less intoxicated before the night was over. I perceived, however, +that this excess had a great effect upon his constitution, and that +he had become very pale and haggard. Impatient as I felt to find out +the truth, I concealed my feelings towards him (which had certainly +very much changed again since the discovery I had made and the +suspicions I had formed) and I remained on the best of terms with +him, resolving to wait patiently. He had spoken once, and therefore I +argued that he would speak again, nor was I wrong in my calculations. + +One night, after he had finished his usual allowance of liquor, and +had composed himself for sleep, I observed that he was unusually +restless, changing his position in his bed-place every few minutes, +and, at last, he muttered, "Captain James. Well, what of Captain +James, eh?" + +A thought struck me that he might reply to a question. + +"How did he die?" said I, in a low clear voice. + +"Die?" replied Jackson, "he fell down the cliff. Yes, he did. You +can't say I killed him. No--never put my finger on him." + +After that, he was silent for some time, and then he recommenced. + +"She always said that I destroyed them both, but I did not--only one +--yes, one, I grant--but I hated him--no, not for his diamonds--no, +no--if you said his wife indeed--love and hate." + +"Then you killed him for love of his wife, and hate of himself?" + +"Yes, I did. Who are you that have guessed that? Who are you? I'll +have your life." + +As he said this, he started up in his bed-place, awakened by his +dream, and probably by my voice, which he had replied to. + +"Who spoke?" said he. "Frank Henniker, did you speak?" + +I made no reply, but pretended to be sound asleep, as he still sat +up, as if watching me. I feigned a snore. + +"It could not have been him," muttered Jackson, "he's quite fast. +Mercy, what a dream!" + +He then sank down in his bed-place, and I heard the gurgling noise +which told me that he had put the bottle of liquor to his mouth, and +was drinking out of it. From the time that the gurgling lasted, he +must have taken a great deal. At last, all was quiet again. + +"So I have discovered it at last," said I, as my blood boiled at +what I had heard. "He did murder my father. Shall I kill him while he +sleeps?" was the first thought that came into my troubled mind. "No, +I won't do that. What then, shall I tax him with it when he is awake, +and then kill him?" but I thought, that, as he was blind, and unable +to defend himself, it would be cowardly, and I could not do that. +What then was I to do? and as I cooled down, I thought of the words +of the Bible, that we were to return good for evil; for Jackson, of +whom, when I read it, I asked why we were told to do so, had +explained it to me, and afterwards when I came to the part which +said, "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord," he had told me that there +was punishment for the wicked hereafter, and that was the reason why +we were not to obey the Jewish law of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth +for a tooth," which I had referred to. This portion of the Bible he +had well explained, and certain it is that it prevented my raising my +hand against him that night. Still, I remained in a state of great +excitement; I felt that it would be impossible for me to be any +longer on good terms with him, and I revolved the question in my +mind, till at last, worn out by excitement, I fell fast asleep. + +A short time before daylight, I started up at what I thought was a +faint cry, but I listened, and hearing nothing more, I again fell +asleep, and it was broad daylight when I arose; my first thoughts +were naturally of Jackson, and I looked at where he lay, but he was +no longer there--his bed-place was empty. I was astonished, and after +a moment's thought, I recollected the cry I had heard in the night, +and I ran out of the cabin and looked around me, but I could see +nothing of him. I then went to the edge of the flat rock upon which +the cabin was built and looked over it; it was about thirty feet from +this rock to the one below, and nearly perpendicular. I thought that +he must have gone out in the night, when intoxicated with liquor, and +have fallen down the precipice; but I did not see him as I peered +over. "He must have gone for water," thought I, and I ran to the +corner of the rock, where the precipice was much deeper, and looking +over, I perceived him lying down below without motion or apparent +life. I had, then, judged rightly. I sat down by the side of the pool +of water quite overpowered; last night I had been planning how I +should destroy him, and now he lay dead before me without my being +guilty of the crime. "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord," were the +words that first escaped my lips; and I remained many minutes in deep +thought. At last it occurred to me that he might not yet be dead; I +ran down the cliff, and, clambering over the rocks, arrived +breathless at the spot where Jackson lay. He groaned heavily as I +stood by him. + +"Jackson," said I, kneeling down by him, "are you much hurt?" for +all my feelings of animosity had vanished when I perceived his +unhappy condition. His lips moved, but he did not utter any sound. At +last he said, in a low voice, "Water." I hastened back as fast as I +could to the cabin, got a pannikin half full of water, and poured a +little rum in it out of the bottle. This journey and my return to him +occupied some ten minutes. I put it to his lips, and he seemed to +revive. He was a dreadful object to look at. The blood from a cut on +his head had poured over his face and beard, which were clotted with +gore. How to remove him to the cabin I knew not. It would be hardly +possible for me to carry him over the broken rocks which I had +climbed to arrive at where he lay; and there was no other way but +what was longer, and just as difficult. By degrees he appeared to +recover; I gave him more of the contents of the pannikin, and at last +he could speak, although with great pain and difficulty. As he did so +he put his hand to his side. He was indeed a ghastly object, with his +sightless eyeballs, his livid lips, and his face and beard matted +with blood. + +"Do you think you could get to the cabin, if I helped you?" said I. + +"I shall never get there--let me die where I am," said he. + +"But the cut on your head is not very deep," replied I. + +"No, I don't feel it;--but--my side--I bleed inwardly--I am--broken +to pieces," said he, pausing and gasping between each word. + +I looked at his side, and perceived that it was already black and +much swollen. I offered him more drink, which he took eagerly, and I +then returned for a further supply. I filled two of the wine-bottles +with water and a small drop of spirits as before, and went back to +where he lay. I found him more recovered, and I had hopes that he +might still do well, and I told him so. + +"No, no," replied he; "I have but a few hours to live--I feel that. +Let me die here, and die in peace." + +He then sank into a sort of stupor, occasioned, I presume, by what I +had given him to drink, and remained quite quiet, and breathing +heavily. I sat by him waiting till he should rouse up again; for more +than an hour I was in a very confused state of mind, as may well be +imagined, after what had passed in the night. + + + + +Chapter XII + + +What I most thought of was obtaining from him, now that he was +dying, the full truth as to the deaths of my father and mother. + +Jackson remained so long in this state of stupor, I feared that he +would die before I could interrogate him; but this, as it proved, was +not to be the case. I waited another hour, very impatiently I must +acknowledge, and then I went to him and asked him how he felt. He +replied immediately, and without that difficulty which he appeared +before to have experienced. + +"I am better now--the inward bleeding has stopped; but still I +cannot live--my side is broken in, I do not think there is a rib that +is not fractured into pieces, and my spine is injured, for I cannot +move or feel my legs; but I may live many hours yet, and I thank God +for His mercy in allowing me so much time--short indeed to make +reparation for so bad a life, but still nothing is impossible with +God." + +"Well, then," replied I, "if you can speak, I wish you would tell me +the truth relative to my father's death, and also about the death of +others; as for my father I know that you murdered him--for you said +so last night in your sleep." + +After a pause, Jackson replied--"I am glad that I did, and that you +have told me so--I wished to make a full confession even to you, for +confession is a proof of repentance. I know that you must hate me, +and will hate my memory, and I cannot be surprised at it; but look at +me now, Frank, and ask your own heart whether I am not more an object +of pity than of hatred. 'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord!' and has +not His vengeance fallen upon me even in this world? Look at me; here +I am, separated from the world that I loved so much, with no chance +of ever joining it--possessed of wealth which would but a few months +ago have made me happy--now blind, crushed to pieces by an avenging +God, in whose presence I must shortly appear to answer for all my +wickedness--all my expectations overthrown, all my hopes destroyed, +and all my accumulated sins procuring me nothing, but, it may be, +eternal condemnation. I ask you again, am I not an object of pity and +commiseration?" + +I could but assent to this, and he proceeded. + +"I will now tell you the truth. I did tell the truth up to the time +of your father and mother's embarkation on board of the brig, up to +when the gale of wind came on which occasioned eventually the loss of +the ship. Now give me a little drink. + +"The vessel was so tossed by the storm, and the waves broke over her +so continually, that the between-decks were full of water, and as the +hatches were kept down, the heat was most oppressive. When it was not +my watch I remained below, and looked out for another berth to sleep +in. Before the cabin bulkheads on the starboard side, the captain had +fitted up a sort of sail-room to contain the spare sails in case we +should require them. It was about eight feet square, and the sails +were piled up in it, so as to reach within two feet of the deck +overhead; though the lower ones were wetted with the water, above +they were dry, and I took this berth on the top of the sails as my +sleeping place. Now the state-room in which your father and mother +slept was on the other side of the cabin bulkhead, and the straining +and rolling of the vessel had opened the chinks between the planks, +so that I could see a great deal of what was done in the state-room, +and could hear every word almost that was spoken by them. I was not +aware of this when I selected this place as my berth, but I found it +out on the first night, the light of the candle shining through the +chinks into the darkness by which I was surrounded outside. Of +course, it is when a man is alone with his wife that he talks on +confidential subjects; that I knew well, and hoped by listening to be +able to make some discovery;--what, I had no idea of; but, with the +bad feelings which stimulated me, I determined not to lose an +opportunity. It was not till about a week after I had selected this +berth, that I made any discovery. I had had the watch from six to +eight o'clock, and had gone to bed early. About nine o'clock your +father came into the state-room. Your mother was already in bed. As +your father undressed, your mother said, 'Does not that belt worry +you a great deal, my dear?' + +"'No,' replied your father, 'I am used to it now; it did when I +first put it on, but now I have had it on four days, I do not feel +it. I shall keep it on as long as this weather lasts; there is no +saying what may happen, and it will not do to be looking for the belt +at a moment's warning.' + +"'Do you think then that we are in danger?' + +"'No, not particularly so, but the storm is very fierce, and the +vessel is old and weak. We may have fine weather in a day or two, or +we may not; at all events, when property of value is at stake, and +that property not my own, I should feel myself very culpable, if I +did not take every precaution.' + +"'Well--I wish we were safe home again, my dear, and that my father +had his diamonds, but we are in the hands of God.' + +"'Yes, I must trust to Him,' replied your father. + +"This circumstance induced me to look through one of the chinks of +the bulkhead, so that I could see your father, and I perceived that +he was unbuckling a belt which was round his body, and which no doubt +contained the diamonds referred to. It was of soft leather, and about +eight inches wide, sewed lengthways and breadthways in small squares, +in which I presumed the diamonds were deposited. After a time your +mother spoke again. + +"'I really think, Henniker, that I ought to wear the belt.' + +"'Why so, my dear?' + +"'Because it might be the means of my preservation in case of +accident. Suppose now, we were obliged to abandon the vessel and take +to the boats; a husband, in his hurry, might forget his wife, but he +would not forget his diamonds. If I wore the belt, you would be +certain to put me in the boat.' + +"'That observation of yours would have force with some husbands, and +some wives,' retorted your father; 'but as I have a firm belief in +the Scriptures, it does not affect me. What do the Proverbs say? "The +price of a virtuous woman is far above rubies;" and a good ruby is +worth even more in the market than a diamond of the same size.' + +"'Well, I must comfort myself with that idea,' replied your mother, +laughing. + +"'Supposing we be thrown upon some out-of-the-way place,' said your +father, 'I shall then commit the belt to your charge. It might soon +be discovered on my person, whereas, on yours, it would stand every +chance of being long concealed. I say this because, even in a desert, +it would be dangerous to have it known by unscrupulous and +unprincipled men that anyone had so much wealth about him.' + +"'Well,' replied your mother, 'that is also comfortable for me to +hear, for you will not leave me behind, because I shall be necessary +to conceal your treasure.' + +"'Yes,' replied your father, laughing, 'there is another chance for +you, you see.' + +"Your father then extinguished the light, and the conversation was +not renewed; but I had heard enough. Your father carried a great +treasure about his person--wealth, I took it for granted, that if I +once could obtain, and return to England, would save me from my +present position. My avarice was hereby excited, and thus another +passion equally powerful, and equally inciting to evil deeds, was +added to the hate which I already had imbibed for your father. But I +must leave off now." + +Jackson drank a little more, and then remained quiet, and as I had +had no food that day, I took the opportunity of returning to the +cabin, with the promise that I would be back very soon. In half an +hour I returned, bringing with me the Bible and Prayer-book, as I +thought that he would ask me to read to him after he had made his +confession. I found him breathing heavily, and apparently asleep, so +I did not wake him. As I looked at him, and recalled to mind his +words, "Am not I an object of pity?" I confessed that he was, and +then I asked myself the question, Can you forgive him who was the +murderer of your father? After some reflection, I thought that I +could. Was he not already punished? Had not the murder been already +avenged? It was not possible to retain animosity against one so +stricken, so broken to pieces, and my heart smote me when I looked at +his disabled hand, and felt that I, boy as I was, had had a share in +his marring. At last he spoke. + +"Are you there, Frank?" + +"Yes," replied I. + +"I have had a little sleep," said he. + +"Do you feel easier?" inquired I kindly. + +"Yes, I feel my side more numbed, and so it will remain till +mortification takes place. But let me finish my confession; I wish to +relieve my mind, not that I shall die to-night, or perhaps to-morrow, +but still I wish it over. Come nearer to me, that I may speak in a +lower voice, and then I shall be able to speak longer." + +I did so, and he proceeded. + +"You know how we were cast upon this island, and how I behaved at +first. When I afterwards took my place with the others, my evil +thoughts gradually quitted me, and I gave up all idea of any injury +to your father. But this did not last long. The deaths of so many, +and at last the captain your father and your mother being the only +ones left on the island besides myself, once more excited my +cupidity. I thought again of the belt of diamonds, and by what means +I should gain possession of it; and the devil suggested to me the +murders of the captain and of your father. I had ascertained that +your father no longer carried the belt on his person when we all used +to bathe at the bathing-pool; it was, therefore, as your father had +proposed, in your mother's keeping. Having once made up my mind, I +watched every opportunity to put my intentions into execution. It was +the custom for one of us to fish every morning, as your mother would +not eat the dried birds, if fish could be procured, and I considered +that the only chance I had of executing my horrible wish was when +your father went to fish off the rocks. We usually did so off the +ledge of rocks which divide the bathing-pool from the sea, but I +found out another place, where more fish, and of a better quality, +were to be taken, which is off the high wall of rocks just below. You +know where I mean, I have often sent you to fish there, but I never +could go myself since your father's death. Your father took his lines +there, and was hauling in a large fish, when I, who had concealed +myself close to where he stood, watched the opportunity as he looked +over the rock to see if the fish was clear of the water, to come +behind him and throw him off into the sea. He could not swim, I knew, +and after waiting a minute or two, I looked over and saw his body, +just as it sank, after his last struggles. I then hastened away, and +my guilty conscience induced me to ascend the ravine, and collect a +faggot of firewood to bring home, that no suspicions might be +entertained; but my so doing was the very cause of suspicion, as you +will afterwards perceive. I returned with the wood, and the captain +observed, when I came up to the cabin: + +"'Why, it's something new for you to collect wood out of your turn, +Jackson. Wonders will never cease.' + +"'The fact is, that I am becoming very amiable,' replied I, hardly +knowing what to say, and afraid to look either of them in the face, +for your mother, with you on her lap, was standing close by. + +"'Has my husband caught any fish, do you know, Jackson?' said your +mother, 'for it is high time that he came home.' + +"'How can I tell?' replied I. 'I have been up the ravine for wood.' + +"'But you were down on the rock two hours ago,' replied your mother, +'for Captain James saw you coming away.' + +"'That I certainly did,' replied the captain. 'Had he caught any +fish when you were with him?' + +"They must have perceived my confusion when I said, 'Yes, I was on +the rocks, but I never went near Henniker, that I'll swear.' + +"'You must have been near him, even when I saw you,' replied the +captain. + +"'I never looked at him, if I was,' replied I. + +"'Well, then, one of us had better go down and see what he is +about,' said the captain. 'Shall I leave Jackson with you?' + +"'Yes, yes,' replied your mother, much agitated, 'for I have my +forebodings; better leave him here.' + +"The captain hastened down to the rocks, and in a quarter of an hour +returned very much heated, saying, 'He is not there!' + +"'Not there?' replied I, getting up, for I had seated myself in +silence on the rock during the captain's absence: 'that's very odd.' + +"'It is,' replied the captain. 'Jackson, go and try if you see +anything of him, while I attend to Mrs Henniker.' + +"Your mother, on the captain's return, had bowed her head down to +her knees, and covered her face with her hands. I was glad of an +excuse to be away, for my heart smote me as I witnessed her condition. + +"I remained away half-an-hour, and then returned, saying that I +could see nothing of your father. + +"Your mother was in the cabin, and the captain went in to her, while +I remained outside with all the feelings of Cain upon my brow. + +"That was a dreadful day for all parties--no food was taken. Your +mother and the captain remained in the cabin, and I dared not, as +usual, go in to my own bed-place. I lay all night upon the rocks-- +sleep I could not; every moment I saw your father's body sinking, as +I had seen it in the morning. The next morning the captain came out +to me. He was very grave and stern, but he could not accuse me, +whatever his suspicions might have been. It was a week before I saw +your mother again, for I dared not intrude into her presence; but, +finding there was no accusation against me, I recovered my spirits, +and returned to the cabin, and things went on as before." + + + + +Chapter XIII + + +"One thing, however, was evident, that your mother had an aversion--I +may say a horror--of me, which she could not conceal. She said +nothing, but she never could look at me; and to any question I put, +would seldom make reply. Strange to say this treatment of hers +produced quite a different effect from what might have been +anticipated, and I felt my former love for her revive. Her shrinking +from me made me more familiar towards her, and increased her disgust. +I assumed a jocose air with her, and at times Captain James +considered it his duty to interfere and check me. He was a very +powerful man, and in a contest would have proved my master; this I +knew, and this knowledge compelled me to be more respectful to your +mother in his presence, but when his back was turned I became so +disgustingly familiar, that at last your mother requested that +whether fishing or collecting wood, instead of going out by turns we +should both go, and leave her alone. This I could not well refuse, as +Captain James would in all probability have used force if I had not +consented, but my hatred to him was in consequence most unbounded. +However, an event took place which relieved me from the subjection +which I was under, and left me alone with you and your mother. Now I +must rest a little. Wait another hour, and you shall know the rest." + +It was now late in the evening, but there was a bright moon which +shone over head, and the broad light and shadow made the rocks around +us appear peculiarly wild and rugged. They towered up one above the +other till they met the dark blue of the sky in which the stars +twinkled but faintly, while the moon sailed through the ether, +without a cloud to obscure her radiance. And in this majestic scenery +were found but two living beings--a poor boy and a mangled wretch--a +murderer--soon to breathe his last, and be summoned before an +offended God. As I remained motionless by his side, I felt, as I +looked up, a sensation of awe, but not of fear; I thought to myself-- +"And God made all this and all the world besides, and me and him. The +Bible said so:" and my speculation then was as to what God must be, +for although I had read the Bible, I had but a confused idea, and had +it been asked me, as it was of the man in the chariot by Philip, +"Understandest thou what thou readest?" I most certainly should have +answered, No. I remained for nearly two hours in this reverie, and at +last fell asleep with my back against the rock. I was, however, +wakened up by Jackson's voice, when he asked in a low tone for water. + +"There it is," said I, handing it to him. "Have you called long?" + +"No," replied he; "I asked but once." + +"I have been asleep," said I. + +As soon as he had drunk, he said-- + +"I will finish now; my side begins to burn." + +He then proceeded-- + +"It was about four months after your father's death that Captain +James and I went together to the ravine to collect firewood. We +passed under the wall of rock, which you know so well, and went +through the gap, as we call it, when Captain James left the water-course +and walked along the edge of the wall. I followed him; we both +of us had our pieces of rope in our hands with which we tied the +faggots. Of a sudden his foot slipped, and he rolled down to the edge +of the rock, but catching hold of a small bush which had fixed its +roots in the rocks, he saved himself when his body was hanging half +over the precipice. + +"'Give me the end of your rope,' said he to me, perfectly collected, +although in such danger. + +"'Yes,' replied I, and I intended so to do, as I perceived that if I +refused he could still have saved himself by the bush to which he +clung. + +"But the bush began to loosen and give way, and Captain James +perceiving it cried out-- + +"'Quick, quick, the bush is giving way!' + +"This assertion of his determined me not to give him the rope. I +pretended to be in a great hurry to do so, but entangled it about my +legs, and then appeared occupied in clearing it, when he cried again-- + +"'Quick!'--and hardly had he said the word when the root of the bush +snapped, and down he fell below. + +"I heard the crash as he came to the rock beneath. See the judgment +of God--am I not now precisely in his position, lying battered and +crushed as he was? After a time I went down to where he lay, and +found him expiring. He had just strength to say 'God forgive you,' +and then he died. It was murder, for I could have saved him and would +not, and yet he prayed to God to forgive me. How much happier should +I have felt if he had not said that. His 'God forgive you' rang in my +ears for months afterwards. I returned to the cabin, and with a bold +air stated to your mother what had happened, for I felt I could say, +this time, I did not do the deed. She burst out into frantic +exclamations, accusing me of being not only his murderer but the +murderer of her husband. I tried all I could do to appease her, but +in vain. For many weeks she was in a state of melancholy and +despondency, that made me fear for her life; but she had you still to +bestow her affections upon, and for your sake she lived. I soon made +this discovery. She was now wholly in my power, but I was awed by her +looks even, for a time. At last I became bolder, and spoke to her of +our becoming man and wife; she turned from me with abhorrence. I then +resorted to other means. I prevented her from obtaining food; she +would have starved with pleasure, but she could not bear to see you +suffer. I will not detail my cruelty and barbarity towards her; +suffice to say, it was such that she pined away, and about six months +after the death of the captain she died, exhorting me not to injure +you, but if ever I had an opportunity, to take you to your +grandfather. I could not refuse this demand, made by a woman whom I +as certainly killed by slow means as I had your father by a more +sudden death. I buried her in the guano, by the side of the others. +After her death my life was a torture to me for a long while. I dared +not kill you, but I hated you. I had only one consolation, one hope, +which occasionally gave me satisfaction; the consolation, if so it +could be called, was--that I had possession of the diamonds; the hope +--that I should one day see England again. You see me now--are they +not all avenged?" + +I could not but feel the truth of Jackson's last sentence. They were +indeed avenged. + +After a short pause, he said to me-- + +"Now, Frank, I feel that the mortification in my side is making +great progress, and, in a short time I shall be in too great pain to +talk to you. I have made a full confession of my crimes; it is all +the reparation I can make to you. Now, can you forgive me? for I +shall die very miserable if you do not. Just look at me. Can you feel +resentment against one in my wretched state? Recollect that you pray +to be forgiven as you forgive others. Give me your answer." + +"I think--yes, I feel that I can forgive you, Jackson," replied I. +"I shall soon be left alone on this island, and I am sure I should be +much more miserable than I shall be, if I do not forgive you. I do +forgive you." + +"Thanks; you are a good boy, and may God bless you. Is it not nearly +daylight?" + +"Yes, it is. I shall soon be able to read the Bible or Prayer-book +to you. I have them both here." + +"The pain is too severe, and becomes worse every minute. I shall not +be able to listen to you now; but I shall have some moments of quiet +before I die; and then--" + +Jackson groaned heavily, and ceased speaking. + +For many hours he appeared to suffer much agony, which he vented in +low groans; the perspiration hung on his forehead in large beads, and +his breathing became laborious. The sun rose and had nearly set again +before Jackson spoke; at last he asked for some drink. + +"It is over now," said he faintly. "The pain is subsiding, and death +is near at hand. You may read to me now; but, first, while I think of +it, let me tell you where you will find your father's property." + +"I know," replied I; "in your bed-place under the board. I saw you +remove it when you did not see me." + +"True. I have no more to say; it will all be over soon. Read the +burial service over me after I am dead; and now, while still above, +read me what you think I shall like best; for I cannot collect myself +sufficiently to tell you what is most proper. Indeed I hardly know. +But I can pray at times. Read on." + +I did so, and came upon the parable of the prodigal son. + +"That suits me," said Jackson. "Now let me pray. Pray for me, Frank." + +"I don't know how," replied I; "you never taught me." + +"Alas, no!" + +Jackson was then silent. I saw his pale lips move for some time. I +turned away for a few moments; when I came back to him, he was no +more! His jaw had fallen; and this being the first time that I had +ever faced death, I looked upon the corpse with horror and dismay. + +After a few minutes I left the body, and sat down on a rock at some +distance from it, for I was somewhat afraid to be near to it. On this +rock I remained till the sun was sinking below the horizon; when, +alarmed at the idea of being there when it was dark, I took up my +books and hastened back to the cabin. I was giddy from excitement, +and not having tasted food for many hours. As soon as I had eaten, I +lay down in my bed-place, intending to reflect upon what I was to do, +now that I was alone; but I was in a few moments fast asleep, and did +not wake until the sun was high. I arose much refreshed, and, seeing +my Bible and Prayer-book close to my bed-place, I recollected my +promise to Jackson that I would read the burial service over his +body. I found the place in the Prayer-book, for I had read it more +than once before; and, having just looked over it, I went with my +book to where the body lay. It presented a yet more hideous spectacle +than it had the night before. I read the service and closed the book. +"What can I do?" thought I. "I cannot bury him in the guano. It will +be impossible to carry the body over these rocks." Indeed, if it had +been possible, I do not think I could have touched it. I was afraid +of it. At last I determined that I would cover it up with the +fragments of rocks which lay about in all directions, and I did so. +This occupied me about two hours, and then, carrying the bottles with +me, I gladly hastened away from the spot, with a resolution never to +revisit it. I felt quite a relief when I was once more in the cabin. +I was alone, it was true, but I was no longer in contact with the +dead. I could not collect my thoughts or analyse my feelings during +the remainder of the day. I sat with my head resting on my hand, in +the attitude of one thinking; but at the same time my mind was +vacant. I once more lay down to sleep, and the following morning I +found myself invigorated, and capable of acting as well as thinking. +I had a weight upon my spirits which I could not at first account +for; but it arose from the feeling that I was now alone, without a +soul to speak to or communicate with; my lips must now be closed till +I again fell in with some of my fellow-creatures--and was that +likely? We had seen some of them perish not far from us, and that was +all, during a period of many years. + + + + +Chapter XIV + + +I was now, by Jackson's account, nearly fourteen years old. During +fourteen years but one vessel had been seen by us. It might be +fourteen more, or double that time might elapse, before I should +again fall in with any of my fellow-creatures. As these thoughts +saddened me, I felt how much I would have sacrificed if Jackson had +remained alive, were it only for his company; I would have forgiven +him anything. I even then felt as if, in the murderer of my father, I +had lost a friend. + +That day I was so unsettled I could not do anything; I tried to +read, but I could not; I tried to eat, but my appetite was gone, I +sat looking at the ocean as it rolled wave after wave, sometimes +wondering whether it would ever bring a fellow-creature to join me; +at others I sat, and for hours, in perfect vacuity of thought. The +evening closed in; it was dark, and I still remained seated where I +was. At last I returned to my bed, almost brokenhearted; but +fortunately I was soon asleep, and my sorrows were forgotten. + +Another morning was gladdened with a brilliant sun, the dark blue +ocean was scarcely ruffled by the breeze that swept over it, and I +felt my spirits much revived, and my appetite returned. After taking +a meal, I remembered what Jackson had told me about the belt with the +diamonds, and I went up to his bed-place, and turning out the bird's +skins and feathers, I raked up the gravel, which was not more than +two inches deep, and came to the board. I lifted it up, and found +underneath a hole, about a foot deep, full of various articles. There +were the watch and sleeve buttons of the mate, some dollars wrapped +in old rags, a tobacco-box, an old pipe, a brooch with hair forming +initials, some letters which were signed J. Evelyn, and which I +perceived were from my grandfather, and probably taken by Jackson +after my mother's death. I say letters, because they were such, as I +afterwards found out, but I had not then ever seen a letter, and my +first attempt to decipher written hand was useless, although I did +manage to make out the signature. There was in the tobacco-box a +plain gold wedding-ring, probably my mother's; and there was also a +lock of long dark hair, which I presumed was hers also. There were +three or four specimens of what I afterwards found out to be gold and +silver ores, a silver pencil-case, and a pair of small gold ear-rings. +At the bottom of the hole was the belt; it was of soft leather, +and I could feel a hard substance in it sewed in every square, +which of course I presumed were the diamonds, but I did not cut +one of the divisions open to see what was in them. It had on the +upper part of it, in very plain writing, "The property of Mr J. +Evelyn, 33, Minories, London." I examined all these articles one +after another, and having satisfied my curiosity, I replaced them in +the hole for a future survey. I covered the hole with the board, and +put back the gravel and the feathers into the bed-place. This +occupied me about two hours, and then I again took my former position +on the rocks, and remained in a state of listless inactivity of body +and mind the remainder of that day. + +This state of prostration lasted for many days--I may say for weeks, +before it was altogether removed. I could find no pleasure in my +books, which were taken up, and after a few moments laid aside. It +was now within a month of the time that the birds should come to the +island. I was in no want of them for sustenance; there were plenty +left, but I almost loathed the sight of food. The reader may inquire +how it was that I knew the exact time of the arrival of the birds? I +reply that the only reckoning ever kept by Jackson and me was the +arrival of the full moons, and we also made a mark on the rock every +time that the moon was at the full. Thirteen moons were the quantity +which we reckoned from the time of the birds appearing on the island +one year, until their re-appearance the next; and twelve moons had +now passed. At length, tired with everything, tired of myself, and I +may say, almost tired of life, I one day took it into my head that I +would take some provisions with me and a bottle to hold water, and go +up the ravine, and cut firewood which should last me a long while; +and that I would remain up there for several days, for I hated the +sight of the cabin and of all that was near to it. The next day I +acted upon this resolution, and slinging my dry provisions on my +shoulder, I set off for the ravine. In an hour I had gained it; but +not being in a hurry to cut wood, I resolved upon climbing higher up, +to see if I could reach the opposite side of the island; that is, at +least, get over the brow of the hill, to have a good view of it. I +continued to climb until I had gained a smooth grassy spot, which was +clear of brushwood; and as I sat down to rest myself, I observed some +blue flowers which I had never seen before, indeed I did not know +that there was a flower on the island. As I afterwards discovered, +they were one of the varieties of Gentianellas. I looked at them, +admired them, and felt quite an affection for them; they were very +pretty, and they were, as well as myself, alone. Jackson, when I was +pointing out the English cottages in the landscapes of "Mavor's +Natural History," had told me a great deal about gardening in +England, and how wild flowers and trees were transplanted and +improved by culture; how roses and other plants were nailed up the +walls, as I had observed in the engravings, and how they were watered +and kept; and as I sat down looking at the flower, the thought +occurred to me, Why should I not take it with me, and keep it for +myself? I can water it, and take care of it. I resolved that I would +do so, for I already looked upon the plant as a treasure. I took it +up carefully with my American knife, leaving sufficient mould about +the roots, and then I proceeded to ascend the hill; but before I had +gone another hundred yards, I found at least a dozen more of these +plants in flower, all finer than the one I had dug up, and three or +four others very different from these, which were also quite new to +me. I was puzzled what to do; I put down the plants I had dug up and +continued my ascent, not having made up my mind. After half-an-hour's +climbing, I gained the summit, and could perceive the ocean on the +other side, and the other half of the island lying beneath me. It was +very grand from the height I stood on, but I observed little +difference between one side of the island and the other; all was +rugged barren rock as on my side, with the exception of the portion +close to me; this had brushwood in the ravine, which appeared to be a +sort of cleft through the island. All was silent and solitary; not a +bird was to be seen, and nothing that had life could I discover. I +was about to return, when I thought I might as well go down the +ravine facing me for a little way, and see what there was in it. I +did so, and discovered some other plants that I had not seen on my +side of the island. There were also some fern trees, and some twining +plants running up them, and I thought to myself, Why, these plants +are what I saw in the picture of the English cottages, or very like +them. I wonder if they would run up my cabin? and then all at once +the idea came to me that I would plant some of them round the cabin, +and that I would make a garden of flowers, and have plants of my own. +The reader can hardly imagine the pleasure that this idea gave me; I +sat down to ruminate upon it, and felt quite happy for the time. I +now recollected, however, that the cabin was built on the rock, and +that plants would only grow in the earth. At first this idea chilled +me, as it seemed to destroy all my schemes, but I resolved that I +would bring some earth to the rock, and make my garden in that way. I +at first thought of the guano, but Jackson had told me that it was +only used in small proportions to enrich the soil, and would kill +plants if used by itself. After an hour's consideration, during which +I called to mind all that Jackson had told me on the subject, I made +up my mind I would return to the cabin, and on my return ascertain +how low down the ravine I could obtain earth for my garden; I would +then carry the earth to the cabin, make a soil ready for the plants +and flowers, and then, when all was ready, I would go up the ravine, +collect what I could, and make my garden. I did so. I found that I +could get soil about one-third of the way up the ravine, a quarter of +a mile below where the brushwood grew; and having ascertained that, I +returned to the cabin, threw down my provisions which were to have +lasted me a week, and as it was late, I decided that I would not +commence operations until the following day. + +I took out of the chest a duck frock, and tying up the sleeves and +collar, so as to form a bag of the body of the frock, I set off the +next morning to begin my task. That day I contrived to carry to the +cabin ten or twelve bags of mould, which I put round it in a border +about four feet wide, and about a foot deep. It occupied me a whole +week to obtain the quantity of earth necessary to make the bed on +each side of the cabin; it was hard work, but it made me cheerful and +happy to what I had been before. I found that the best cure for +melancholy and solitude was employment, so I thus obtained valuable +knowledge as well as the making of my garden. When I had finished +carrying the mould, I started off for the ravine with two bags to +hold the plants which I might collect, and after a day's toil, I +returned with my bags full of small shrubs, besides a bundle of +creepers to plant against the sides of the cabin. The following day +was occupied in planting everything I had procured. I was sorry to +see that the leaves and flowers hung down, but I watered them all +before I went to bed. The next morning I was delighted to perceive +that they had all recovered and were looking quite fresh. But my +garden was not full enough to please me, and I once more went up the +ravine, selecting other plants which had no flowers on them, and one +or two other shrubs, which I had not before observed. When these were +planted and watered, my garden looked very gay and full of plants, +and then I discovered the mould came down for want of support at the +edges; I therefore went and picked up pieces of rock of sufficient +size to make a border and hold up the mould, and now all was +complete, and I had nothing to do but to go on watering them daily. +This I did, and recollecting what Jackson had said about the guano, I +got a bag of it, and put some to each plant. The good effect of this +was soon observable, and before the birds came, my garden was in a +very flourishing condition. + +I cannot express to the reader the pleasure I derived from this +little garden. I knew every plant and every shrub, and talked to them +as if they were companions, while I watered and tended them, which I +did every night and morning, and their rapid growth was my delight. I +no longer felt my solitude so irksome as I had done. I had something +to look after, to interest me, and to love; they were alive as well +as I was; they grew, and threw out leaves and flowers; they were +grateful for the care I bestowed upon them, and became my companions +and friends. + +I mentioned before that during the latter portion of the time I was +with Jackson, he had taught me to sing several songs. Feeling tired, +in my solitude, of not hearing the human voice, I found myself at +first humming over, and afterwards singing aloud, the various airs I +had collected from him. This afforded me much pleasure, and I used to +sing half the day. I had no one to listen to me, it is true, but as +my fondness for my garden increased, I used to sit down and sing to +the flowers and shrubs, and fancy that they listened to me. But my +stock of songs was not very large, and at last I had repeated them so +often that I became tired of the words. It occurred to me that the +Prayer-book had the Psalms of David at the end of it, set to music. I +got the book, and as far as the airs that I knew would suit, I sang +them all; never were Psalms, probably, sung to such tunes before, but +it amused me, and there was no want of variety of language. + +Every three or four days I would go up the ravine, and search +carefully for any new flower or shrub which I had not yet planted in +my garden, and when I found one, as I often did, it was a source of +great delight. + + + + +Chapter XV + + +At last the birds came, and I procured some of their eggs, which +were a very agreeable change, after living so long upon dried meat. +My want of occupation occasioned me also to employ some of my time in +fishing, which I seldom had done while Jackson was alive; and this +created a variety in my food, to which, for a long while, I had been +a stranger. Jackson did not care for fish, as to cook it we were +obliged to go up the ravine for wood, and he did not like the +trouble. When the birds came, I had recourse to my book on Natural +History, to read over again the accounts of the Man-of-War birds, +Gannets, and other birds mentioned in it; and there was a vignette of +a Chinaman with tame cormorants on a pole, and in the letter-press an +account of how they were trained and employed to catch fish for their +masters. This gave me the idea that I would have some birds tame, as +companions, and, if possible, teach them to catch fish for me; but I +knew that I must wait till the young birds were fit to be taken from +the nest. + +I now resolved that during the time the birds were mating, I would +go to the ravine and remain there several days, to collect bundles of +firewood. The firewood was chiefly cut from a sort of low bush, like +the sallow or willow, fit for making baskets, indeed fit for anything +better than firewood; however, there were some bushes which were of a +harder texture, and which burnt well. It was Jackson who told me that +the former were called willow and used for making baskets, and he +also shewed me how to tie the faggots up by twisting the sallows +together. They were not, however, what Jackson said they were--from +after knowledge, I should say that they were a species of Oleander or +something of the kind. + +Having roasted several dozen of eggs quite hard, by way of +provision, I set off one morning, and went to the ravine. As Jackson +had said before, I had to walk under a wall of rock thirty feet high, +and then pass through a water-course to get up to the ravine, which +increased the distance to where the shrubs grew, at least half a +mile. It was over this wall that the captain fell and was killed, +because Jackson would not assist him. I gained the thicket where the +bushes grew, and for three days I worked very hard, and had cut down +and tied about fifty large faggots, when I thought that I had +collected enough to last me for a long while; but I had still to +carry them down, and this was a heavy task, as I could not carry more +than one at a time. It occurred to me that if I threw my faggots over +the wall opposite to where they had been cut down, I should save +myself nearly a mile of carriage, as otherwise I had to walk all the +way to the water-course which divided the wall of rock, and then walk +back again. Indeed, where I cut down the wood was not more than a +quarter of a mile from the bathing-pool, and all down hill. I was +delighted at this idea, which I wondered had never occurred to +Jackson, and I commenced putting it into execution. The top of the +wall of rock was slippery from the constant trickling of the water +over the surface, but this was only in some places. I carried my +faggots down one by one, and threw them over, being careful not to +lose my footing in so doing. I had carried all but three or four, and +had become careless, when, on heaving one over, my heels were thrown +up, and before I could recover myself I slid down the remainder of +the ledge and was precipitated down below, a distance of more than +thirty feet. I must have remained there many hours insensible, but at +last I recovered and found myself lying on the faggots which I had +thrown down. It was my falling on the faggots, instead of the hard +rock, which had saved my life. I rose as soon as I could collect my +scattered senses. I felt very sore and very much shaken, and the +blood was running out of my mouth, but there were no bones broken. I +was, however, too ill to attempt anything more that day. I walked +home at a very slow pace and went to bed. A sound sleep restored me, +and in a day or two I was quite recovered. I watered my plants, which +I found drooping, as if they had grieved at my being so long away +from them, and then I returned to where my faggots had been left; and +to lighten my labour I resolved to carry them down to the bathing-pool +and stack them up there on the rocks near to it. I mention this +for reasons that the reader will comprehend bye-and-bye. This +occupied me two days, for I was not inclined, after my fall, to work +hard; and very glad was I when the labour was over. + +The young birds were now hatched, but I had to wait four or five +weeks before they were fit to be taken. I began again to find +solitude tedious. The flowers in my garden had all bloomed and +withered, and there was not so much to interest me. I recommenced +reading the Bible, and the narratives in the Old and New Testaments +again afforded me pleasure. I hardly need say to the reader that I +read the Bible as I would have read any other book--for amusement, +and not for instruction. I had learnt little from Jackson--indeed, as +regards the true nature of the Christian religion, I may say, nothing +at all. I do not believe that he knew anything about it himself. It +is true that the precepts in the New Testament struck me, and that I +was more interested about Our Saviour than anybody else; but I could +not comprehend him, or his mission. In short, I read in darkness; and +I may say that I almost knew the Bible by heart without understanding +it.--How could I? How many thousands are there who do the same, +without having an excuse to offer for their blindness! + +At last the time for taking the birds arrived, and I had then +sufficient employment to keep me from being melancholy. I collected +quite as many as we had done when Jackson and I had to be provided +for; and with my new knives my labour was comparatively easy. As soon +as I had completed my provision, I went back to take the young birds +which already I had selected and left for that purpose. It was high +time, for I found that when I went to take them they were ready to +fly. However, after a good battle with the old birds (for I had taken +six young ones--two from each nest, which arrayed a force of six old +ones against me, who fought very valiantly in defence of their +offspring), I succeeded in carrying them off, but followed by the old +birds, who now screamed and darted close to me as they came pursuing +me to the cabin. As soon as I got safe back, I took the young birds +into the cabin, tying each of them by the leg with a piece of fishing +line, and the other end of the line I fastened to some pieces of rock +which I had collected ready on the platform outside of the cabin. The +old birds continued to persecute me till it was dark, and then they +went away, and I, tired with my day's labour, was not sorry to go to +sleep. + +When I woke up the next morning, I found the old birds on the +platform, in company with the young ones, I presume trying to +persuade them to fly away with them; but the lines on their legs +prevented that. They did not leave at my approach for some little +while; at last they all took wing, and went off to sea; but in the +course of a few minutes they returned with some small fish in their +mouths, with which they fed their young ones. They continued to do +this for the two following days, when there was a general break up, +announcing the departure of the main body, which, after much soaring +and wheeling in the air, flew off in a northerly direction. The six +parent birds, who were with their young ones at the cabin, appeared +for some time very uneasy, flying round and round and screaming +wildly; at last they soared in the air with loud shrieks, and flew +away after the main body, which was still in sight--their love for +their young overpowered by their instinctive habits. I was not sorry +when they were gone, as I wanted to have my new family all to myself. +I went down to the rocks and caught a fish, which was large enough to +supply them for three or four days. I fed them with the inside of the +fish, and they ate it very heartily. For several days they appeared +very uneasy; but gradually they settled, and not only appeared to +know me, but to welcome my coming, which was to me a source of great +pleasure. + +I now neglected my flowers for the birds, which were the more +animated of the two; and I sat down for hours on the platform with my +six companions, who I must own were not over-lively and intelligent, +but they were alive, and had eyes. They seldom roused up, unless I +brought them fish, of which they had a supply four times a day, and +then they would stand on their legs and open their beaks far apart, +each waiting for its share. They were a great happiness to me, and I +watched their gradual increase of plumage and of size, which was very +rapid. I gave them all names out of my Natural History book. One was +Lion, then Tiger, Panther, Bear, Horse, and Jackass (at the time that +I named them, the last would have been very appropriate to them all); +and as I always called them by their names as I fed them, I soon +found, to my great joy, that they knew them well enough. This +delighted me. I read my books to them by way of amusement; I sang my +songs to them; I talked to them; I would even narrate the various +histories out of the Bible to them, such as that of Joseph and his +brethren, &c., and the stolid air with which the communications were +received made me almost imagine they were listened to. + +After a time, I took the line off the legs of two of them, with the +precaution of first cutting their wings, and these two became much +more lively, following me into the cabin and generally staying there +during the night. As I found that no attempt was made to escape, I +let them all loose, after having cut their wings, and they all +behaved equally well with the two first to which I had given their +liberty. + +The perfect obedience and good behaviour of my new companions again +gave me leisure that was not altogether desirable, as it left a +vacuum to fill up. But I returned to my garden. I could do no more at +present but water my plants and look at the increased daily growth of +the climbers, as they now boldly ascended the sides of the cabin; but +I thought it was high time to go up into the ravine and about the +island, to see if I could not add to my collection. + +One morning I set off up the ravine. I was not successful, so I +contented myself with carrying, by the long road, those faggots which +I had left behind me on the day when I fell over the precipice. This +labour I finished, and then returned to the cabin, where I was met by +my birds with half-extended wings and open mouths, as if they were +very glad to see me, and very hungry into the bargain. I ought to +observe that my birds appeared now to separate into pairs, male and +female, as their difference of plumage denoted. Lion and Horse were +always side by side, as were Jackass and Bear, and Tiger and Panther. +I now fed them one by one, calling them by name, to which they +immediately responded, and if anyone came who was not called, it was +switched for its trouble. + +The next morning I set off on another voyage of discovery after +plants, and this time I resolved upon trying what I could find among +the crevices of the rocks, for I had seen at a distance what appeared +to me to be a very pretty flower on the ledge of one of the clefts. I +did not go up the ravine this time, but commenced climbing the rocks +behind where the cabin was built. It was hard work, but I was not +easily discouraged, and after a couple of hours I arrived at a level +which I had in view when I commenced my labour, and here I was amply +rewarded, for I found several plants quite new to me, and a variety +of ferns, which I thought very beautiful, although they had no +flowers. The scene, from where I stood, was awful and beautiful. I +looked down upon the rocks below, and the cabin, which appeared very +small, and I thought that I could see my birds like dots upon the +platform. It was a bright day and smooth water, I could clearly +distinguish the other islands in the distance, and I thought that I +saw something like a white speck close to them--perhaps it was a +vessel. This made me melancholy, and I could not help asking myself +whether I was to remain all my life upon the island, alone, or if +there were any chance of my ever being taken off it. As I looked down +upon the cabin, I was surprised at the steepness of the rocks which I +had climbed, and felt alarmed, as if I never should be able to get +back again. But these thoughts were soon chased away. I turned from +the seaward, and looked inland. I found that on one side of me there +was a chasm between the rocks, the bottom of which was so far down +that I could not see it; and on the other side the rock rose up as +straight as a wall. My attention was soon diverted by discovering +another plant, and I now commenced my task of digging them all up. I +obtained, with the ferns, about twenty new varieties, which I made up +in a bundle ready for carrying down slung round my neck, for I knew +that I should require both hands to descend with. Then I sat down to +rest myself a little before I commenced my return, and after I had +been seated a few minutes, I thought I would sing a song by way of +amusement. + + + + +Chapter XVI + + +I have before said that, tired of repeating the words of the songs +which Jackson had taught me, I had taken those of Psalms in metre, at +the end of the Prayer-book, by way of variety; and, as far as metre +went, they answered very well, although people would have been +surprised to have heard Psalms sung to such quick and varied measure. +The Psalm I chose this time was the first--"How blest is he who ne'er +consents;" and I began accordingly; but when I came to the end of the +line, to my astonishment I heard a plaintive voice, at a distance, +repeat after me "con-sents." I looked round. I thought I must have +been deceived, so I continued--"By ill advice to walk." This time I +could not be mistaken--"to walk" was repeated by the same voice as +plainly as possible. I stopped singing, lost in wonder. There must be +somebody on the island as well as myself, thought I; for I never had +heard an echo before, except when it thundered, and such echoes I had +put down as a portion of the thunder. "Who's there?" cried I. "Who's +there?" replied the voice. "It's me!" "It's me!" was the answer. I +did not know what to make of it. I cried out again and again, and +again and again I heard what I said repeated, but no answer to my +questions. I thought I was insulted by somebody, and yet, when I +listened, the voice that spoke came from the face of the rock on the +other side of the chasm, and no one could be there without my seeing +them. This made me think that I was mistaken, and that there could +not be anybody, but still I could not solve the mystery. At last I +became frightened, and as the sun was now setting, I determined to +get back to the cabin. I did so, and went down much faster than I had +gone up, for as it grew dark I became the more alarmed. The only +thing that re-assured me was the softness and plaintiveness of the +voice--not like Jackson's, but as of someone who would not think of +injuring me. + +Although I was, generally speaking, quiet and content with my +isolated position, yet it was only when I was employed or amused with +my favourites. At times, I could not find anything to do, and was +overcome by weariness. I would then throw away my books, and remain +for hours thinking upon the probability of my ever again seeing a +fellow creature; and a fit of melancholy would come over me, which +would last many days. I was in one of these moods, when it occurred +to me, that, although I had seen the other side of the island from +the summit, I had not gone down to the beach to explore it; and I +resolved that I would do so, making a trip of three or four days. +When my knives had become blunt, Jackson had told me how to sharpen +them, by rubbing the blades upon a hard flat piece of rock, wetted +with water. This I had found to answer very well, and I now +determined I would try and sharpen one of the old axes in the same +way, so as to make it serviceable, for I was very much afraid of +breaking my knives in cutting down the brushwood, and I knew how much +more rapidly it could be done with an axe. I picked out a large +stone, suitable for the purpose, and with a kid of water at hand, I +set-to to sharpen the axe. It was a long job, but in a day or two I +had succeeded admirably, and the axe was in good order. I then +thought how I could leave my birds for so many days, as they would +require food. At last, I considered that if I caught two large fish +and cut them up, they would be sufficient for their sustenance. I did +so, and provided with a packet of dried birds for food, tied up in a +duck frock, with my Natural History book for amusement, a pannikin to +get water in, my axe on my shoulder, and my knives by my side--I +first kissed all the birds, and told them to remain quiet and good +till I came back--I set off on a bright clear morning on my tour of +examination. + +In a couple of hours I had gained the summit of the island, and +prepared for my descent, by sitting down and eating my dinner. I +observed that, as before, the water on the other side of the island +was quite smooth, compared to what it was on the side where I +resided. It was, in fact, from the prevailing winds during the year, +the lee side of the island. Having rested myself sufficiently, I +commenced my descent, which I accomplished in little less time than +it took me to ascend from the other side. As I neared the rocks by +the shore, I thought I perceived something occasionally moving about +on them. I was not mistaken, for as I came closer, I found that there +were several large animals lying on the rocks, and occasionally +dropping into the sea close to them. + +The sight of anything living was to me of great interest. I +determined to get nearer, and ascertain what animals they were. At +last, by creeping along from rock to rock, I arrived to within forty +yards of them. I recollected some animals of the same shape in my +book of Natural History, which, fortunately, I had with me in the +duck frock, and sitting down behind the rock, I pulled it out, and +turned over the pages until I came to a print which exactly answered +to their appearance. It was the Seal. Having satisfied myself on that +point, I read the history of the animal, and found that it was easily +tamed, and very affectionate when taken young, and also might be +easily killed by a blow on the nose. These, at least, were for me the +two most important pieces of information. It occurred to me that it +would be very pleasant to have a young seal for a playmate (for the +Gannets, after all, were not very intelligent), and I resolved to +obtain one if I could. I put down my duck frock with my provisions +behind the rock, and taking my axe in my hand, I cautiously advanced +to where the animals lay. There were about twenty of them all +together on one rock, but they were all large, and seemed to be about +five or six feet long. I could not see a small one anywhere, so I +walked in behind the rocks farther to the right, towards another +rock, where I saw another batch of them lying. As I neared them, I +saw by herself a seal with a young one by her side, not more than two +feet long. This was what I wanted. They lay at some distance from the +water, upon a low rock. I watched them for some time, and was much +amused at the prattling which passed between the old and the young +one. I thought that to obtain the young one, I must of course kill +the old one, for I perceived that it had large teeth. I considered it +advisable to get between them and the water, that they might not +escape me, and I contrived so to do before I made my appearance. As +soon as the old one perceived me running to them, it gave a shrill +cry, and then floundered towards the water; as we came close +together, it showed its teeth, and rose upon its flappers to defend +itself and its young one, which kept close to its side; but a blow on +its nose with the axe rendered it motionless, and apparently dead. +Delighted with my success, I seized hold of the young one and took it +in my arms, and was carrying it away, when I found myself confronted +with the male seal, which, alarmed by the cry of the female, had come +to her assistance. It was much larger than the female, with more +shaggy hair about the neck and shoulders, and apparently very fierce. +I could not pass it, as it was in shore of me, and I had just time to +drop the young seal, and leap behind a rock on one side, with my axe +all ready. The animal reared itself on the rock to pass over to me, +when I saluted it with a blow on the head, which staggered it. I had +lost my presence of mind by the creature coming upon me so +unexpectedly, and my blow was not well aimed, but before it could +recover the first blow, another on its nose tumbled it over, to all +appearance lifeless. I then hastened to gain the other side of the +rock, where I had left the young seal, and found that it had crept to +its mother's body, and was fondling it. I took it in my arms, and +retreated to where I had left my duck frock, and throwing everything +else out, I put the animal in, and tied up the end, so that it could +not escape. I then sat down to recover myself from the excitement +occasioned by this first engagement I had ever been in, quite +delighted with my newly-acquired treasure. + +I then thought what I should do. It was now within an hour of dark, +and was too late to return to the other side of the island, or I +would have done so, as I was anxious to get my seal home. At last I +decided that I would go farther from the beach, and take up my +quarters for the night. I collected my provision, and with my seal +under my arm, I walked away about one hundred yards from the water's +edge, and took up a position under a large rock; here I ate my +supper, and then untied the line which closed up the frock, and had a +parting look at my little friend before I went to sleep. He had +struggled a good deal at first, but was now quiet, although he +occasionally made attempts to bite me. I coaxed him and fondled him a +good deal, and then put him into his bag again, and made him secure, +which appeared to annoy him very much, as he was not half as quiet in +a bag as he was when I held him in my lap. I then took my book to +read over again the history of the seal, and I found that their skins +were valuable, and also that they gave a great deal of oil, but I had +no use for oil, though I thought that their skins might be very +comfortable in my bed-place. I shut my book and lay down to sleep, +but I could not obtain any till near daylight, I had been so excited, +and was so anxious about my treasure. The sun shining in my eyes woke +me up; I found my seal was lying very quiet; I touched him to see +that he was not dead, and the cry that he gave assured me to the +contrary. I then walked back to where I had left the bodies of the +parents. I found on examination that they were both dead, and also +that their furs were very beautiful, and I resolved that I would have +their skins. But here was a difficulty. If I took off the skins, I +could not carry them with me, and I was anxious to get the young one +home, lest it should die of hunger, so I decided that I would first +take home the young one, give it food and warm it, and then return +and skin the old ones. + +I therefore made my breakfast, and leaving the remainder of my +provision in a cleft in the rock, that I might not have the trouble +of bringing it again, I set off on my return, and used such diligence +that I was back at the cabin by noon. I found my birds all well, and +apparently quite satisfied with the provision that I had left them, +for they were most of them asleep, and those that were awake did not +notice my arrival. + +"Ah," thought I, "you only like me for what I give you; next time I +go away I will leave you hungry, and then when you see me come back, +you will all flutter your wings with gladness." + +I was puzzled where to put my seal so as to keep him safe: at last I +decided upon opening the seaman's chest and putting him in that. I +did so, and gave him a piece of fish which the birds had not eaten. +The little creature devoured it eagerly, and I took my lines and went +down to catch some fish for a further supply. In half an hour I +returned with two large fish, and I then took the seal out of the +chest and fed him again. He ate very heartily; and I was glad to +perceive that he appeared much tamer already. I threw some of the +insides of the fish to the birds, who were now become of very +inferior interest to me. Having fed my animals, I then thought of +myself, and, as I took my meal, I arranged that the next morning I +would go over to the other side of the island, skin the two seals, +and spread out the skins on the rocks to dry, and would leave them +there till I had a better opportunity of bringing them to the cabin; +at present I could not be away from my new acquaintance, which I +wished to make tame and fond of me. Having fed him again in the +morning, I put down the lid of the chest, and then started for the +lee side of the island. + + + + +Chapter XVII + + +I arrived early, skinned both the seals, and dragged the skins up +from the water-side, though with difficulty, especially that of the +large one, to the rock where I had taken up my quarters the night +before. Here I spread them out to dry, putting large pieces of rock +upon the edges, that they might not be blown away. It was nearly dusk +when I had finished, but I set off, and an hour after dark arrived at +the cabin; for now that I knew my way so well, I got over the ground +twice as fast as I did before. I crawled into my bed-place in the +dark, and slept soundly after my fatigue. I awoke the next morning +with the plaintive cry of my seal in the chest, and I hastened to get +some fish to feed him with. I took him out and fed him; and was +astonished how tame the little animal had become already. He remained +very quietly with me after he had been fed, nestling close to my +side, as if I had been his mother, and even making a half attempt to +follow me when I left him. + +My birds appeared very dull and stupid, and I observed also that +they were very dirty, and always rushed to the kid when it was full +of water, trying to get into it. This made me think that they +required bathing in salt water, and I took one down to the bathing-pool, +with a long line to its leg, and put it in. The manner in which +the poor creature floundered, and dipped and washed itself, for +several minutes, proved my supposition correct; so, after allowing it +half an hour for its recreation, I took it back, and went down with +the others until they had all indulged in the luxury of a bath; and +from that time, as I took them down almost every day, it was +astonishing how much brighter and sleeker their plumage became. + +I remained a week in the cabin, taming my seal, which now was quite +fond of me; and one night, as I was going to bed, he crawled into my +bed-place, and from that time he was my bed-fellow. At the end of a +week I went over to the other side of the island, and contrived to +carry up the two skins to the summit. It was a hard day's work. The +day afterwards I conveyed them to the cabin, and, as they were quite +dry, I put them into my bed-place to lie down upon, as I did not like +the smell of the birds' feathers, although I had so long been +accustomed to them. + +And now, what with my seal, my birds, and my garden, and the +occupation they gave me, the time passed quickly away, until, by my +reckoning, it was nearly the period for the birds to come again. I +observed, as the time drew near, that my birds were uneasy. They had +paired, as I mentioned before, and when their plumage was complete, +it was evident that they had paired male and female, as I had +supposed. They had not been tethered for a long while, and appeared +to me now very much inclined to fly, especially the male birds. At +first I thought that I would cut all their wings, as I was fearful +that they would join the other birds on their arrival, but observing +that they were so fond of their mates, I resolved to cut the wing of +the females only, as I did not think that the male birds would leave +them. I did so, and took my chance; for since I had the seal for a +companion, I did not care so much for the birds as before. At last +the birds came, and took possession of the guano-ground as usual, and +I went for fresh eggs; at the same time I found that my females were +scratching, as if they would make their nests, and a few days +afterwards they began to lay. I then thought that as soon as they had +young ones they would wish to go away, so I took the eggs that were +laid, to prevent them, but I found that as fast as I took away the +eggs they laid more, and this they did for nearly two months, +supplying me with fresh eggs long after the wild birds had hatched, +and left the island. The male birds, at the time that the females +first laid their eggs, tried their wings in short flights in circles, +and then flew away out to sea. I thought that they were gone, but I +was deceived, for they returned in about a quarter of an hour, each +with a fish in its beak, which they laid down before their mates. I +was much pleased at this, and I resolved that in future they should +supply their own food, which they did; and not their own food only, +but enough for the seal and me also when the weather was fine, but +when it was rough, they could not obtain any, and then I was obliged +to feed them. The way I obtained from them the extra supply of fish +was, that when they first went out, I seized, on their return, the +fish which they brought, and as often as I did this they would go for +more, until the females were fed. + +But I had one difficulty to contend with, which was, that at the +time the birds could not obtain fish, which was when the weather was +rough, I could not either, as they would not take the bait. After +some cogitation, I decided that I would divide a portion of the +bathing-pool farthest from the shore, by a wall of loose rock which +the water could flow through, but which the fish could not get out +of, and that I would catch fish in the fine weather to feed the seal +and the birds when the weather was rough and bad. As soon as I had +finished curing my stock of provisions and got it safely housed in +the cabin, I set to work to make this wall, which did not take me a +very long while, as the water was not more than two feet deep, and +the pool about ten yards across. As soon as it was finished, I went +out every day, when it was fine, and caught as many fish as I thought +I might require, and put them into this portion of the bathing-pool. +I found the plan answer well, as the fish lived, but I had great +difficulty in getting them out when I wanted them, for they would not +take the bait. + +As my birds were no longer a trouble to me, but rather, on the +contrary, a profit, I devoted my whole time to my seal. I required a +name for him, and reading in the book of Natural History that a +certain lion was called Nero, I thought it a very good name for a +seal, and bestowed it on him accordingly, although what Nero meant I +had no idea of. The animal was now so tame that he would cry if ever +I left him, and would follow me as far as he could down the rocks, +but there was one part of the path leading to the bathing-pool which +was too difficult for him, and there he would remain crying till I +came back. I had more than once taken him down to the bathing-pool to +wash him, and he was much pleased when I did. I now resolved that I +would clear the path of the rocks, that he might be able to follow me +down the whole way, for he had grown so much that I found him too +heavy to carry. It occupied me a week before I could roll away and +remove the smaller rocks, and knock off others with the axe, but I +finished it at last, and was pleased to find that the animal followed +me right down and plunged into the water. He had not been down since +I had made the wall of rock to keep the fish in, and as soon as he +was in, he dived and came out with one of the fish, which he brought +to land. "So now," thought I, "I shall know how to get the fish when +I want them--I shall bring you down, Nero." I may as well here +observe that Nero very soon obeyed orders as faithfully as a dog. I +had a little switch, and when he did wrong, I would give him a slight +tap on the nose. He would shake his head, show his teeth, and growl, +and then come fondly to me. As he used to follow me every day down to +the pool, I had to break him off going after the fish when I did not +want them taken, and this I accomplished. No one who had not +witnessed it, could imagine the affection and docility of this +animal, and the love I had for him. He was my companion and playmate +during the day, and my bedfellow at night. We were inseparable. + +It was at the latter portion of the second year of my solitude that +a circumstance occurred, that I must now relate. Nero had gone down +to the pool with me, and I was standing fishing off the rocks, when +he came out of the pool and plunged into the sea, playing all sorts +of gambols, and whistling with delight. I did not think anything +about it. He plunged and disappeared for a few minutes, and then +would come up again close to where my line was, but he disturbed the +fish and I could not catch any. To drive him farther off, I pelted +him with pieces of rock, one of which hit him very hard, and he dived +down. After a time I pulled up my line, and whistling to him to +return, although I did not see him, I went away to the cabin, fully +expecting that he would soon follow me, for now he could walk (after +his fashion) from the cabin to the pool as he pleased. This was early +in the morning, and I busied myself with my garden, which was now in +great luxuriance, for I had dressed it with guano; but observing +about noon that he had not returned, I became uneasy, and went down +to the pool to look for him. He was not there, and I looked on the +sea, but could not perceive him anywhere. I called and whistled, but +it was of no use, and I grew very much alarmed at the idea that my +treasure had deserted me. "It could not be because I threw the pieces +of rock at him," thought I; "he would not leave me for that." I +remained for two or three hours, watching for him, but it was all in +vain; there was no seal--no Nero,--my heart sank at the idea of the +animal having deserted me, and for the first time in my life, as far +as I can recollect, I burst into a flood of tears. For the first time +in my life, I may say, I felt truly miserable--my whole heart and +affections were set upon this animal, the companion and friend of my +solitude, and I felt as if existence were a burden without him. After +a while, I retraced my steps to the cabin, but I was miserable, more +so than I can express. I could not rest quiet. Two hours before +sunset, I went down again to the rocks, and called till I was hoarse. +It was all in vain; night closed in, and again I returned to the +cabin, and threw myself down in my bed-place in utter despair. + +"I thought he loved me," said I to myself, "loved me as I loved him; +I would not have left him in that way." And my tears burst out anew +at the idea that I never should see my poor Nero again. + +The reader may think that my grief was inordinate and unwarrantable, +but let him put himself in my position--a lad of sixteen, alone on a +desolate island, with only one companion--true, he was an animal, and +could not speak, but he was affectionate; he replied to all my +caresses; he was my only companion and friend, the only object that I +loved or cared about. He was intelligent, and I thought loved me as +much as I loved him, and now he had deserted me, and I had nothing +else that I cared about or that cared for me. My tears flowed for +more than an hour, till at last I was wearied and fell asleep. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + + +It was early in the morning, and yet dark, when I felt something +touch me. I started up--a low cry of pleasure told me at once that it +was Nero, who was by my side. Yes, it was Nero, who had come back, +having climbed up again the steep path to the cabin, to return to his +master. Need I say that I was overjoyed, that I hugged him as if he +had been a human being, that I wept over him, and that in a few +minutes afterwards we were asleep together in the same bed-place. +Such was the fact, and never was there in my after life, so great a +transition from grief to joy. + +"Oh! now, if you had left me,"--said I to him, the next morning, +when I got up; "you naughty seal, to frighten me and make me so +unhappy as you did!" Nero appeared quite as happy as I was at our +reunion, and was more affectionate than ever. + +I must now pass over many months in very few words, just stating to +the reader what my position was at the end of three years, during +which I was alone upon the island. I had now arrived at the age of +near seventeen, and was tall and strong for my years. I had left off +wearing my dress of the skins of birds, having substituted one of the +seaman's shirts, which I had found in the chest. This, however, was +the whole of my costume, and although, had it been longer it would +have been more correct, still, as I had no other companion but Nero, +it was not necessary to be so very particular, as if I had been in +society. During these three years, I think I had read the Bible and +Prayer-book, and my Natural History book, at least five or six times +quite through, and possessing a retentive memory, could almost repeat +them by heart; but still I read the Bible as a sealed book, for I did +not understand it, having had no one to instruct me, nor any grace +bestowed upon me. I read for amusement, and nothing more. + +My garden was now in a most flourishing condition, the climbing +plants had overrun the cabin, so as to completely cover the whole of +the roof and every portion of it, and they hung in festoons on each +side of the door-way. Many of the plants which I had taken up small, +when I moved them, had proved to be trees, and were now waving to the +breeze, high above the cabin roof; and everything that I had planted, +from continual watering and guano, had grown most luxuriantly. In +fact, my cabin was so covered and sheltered, that its original form +had totally disappeared, it now looked like an arbour in a clump of +trees, and from the rocks by the bathing-pool it had a very +picturesque appearance. + +I had, of course, several times gone up the ravine, and now that my +axe had become useful, I had gradually accumulated a large stock of +wood down by the bathing-pool, more than I could use for a long +while, as I seldom lighted a fire, but the cutting it was employment, +and employment was to me a great source of happiness. I had been +several times to the other side of the island, and had had more +encounters with the seals, of which I killed many, for I found their +skins very comfortable and useful in the cabin. I had collected about +three dozen of the finest skins, which were more than I required, but +I had taken them for the same reason that I had collected the +firewood, for the sake of employment, and in this instance, I may +add, for the sake of the excitement which the combats with the seals +afforded me. + +I have not narrated any of these conflicts, as I thought that they +might weary the reader, I must, however, state what occurred on one +occasion, as although ludicrous, it nearly cost me my life. I had +attacked a large male seal, with a splendid fur, for I always looked +out for the best skinned animals. He was lying on a rock close to the +water, and I had gone into the water to cut him off and prevent his +escape by plunging in, as he would otherwise have done; but as I +aimed the usual blow at his nose, my foot slipped on the wet rock, +and I missed the animal, and at the same time fell down on the rock +with the axe in my hand. The animal, which was a male of the largest +size, seized hold of my shirt (which I then wore) with his teeth, +and, plunging with me into the sea, dived down into the deep water. +It was fortunate that he had seized my shirt instead of my body, and +also that I could swim well. He carried me along with him--the shirt, +for a few seconds, drawn over my head, when, disembarrassing myself +of the garment, by slipping my head and arms out, I left it in his +possession, and regained the surface of the water, almost suffocated. +It was fortunate that I did not wear sleeve-buttons; had I had them, +I could not have disengaged myself, and must have perished. I climbed +the rock again, and turning round, I perceived the seal on the +surface, shaking the shirt in great wrath. This was a sad +discomfiture, as I lost not only my shirt but my axe, which I dropped +when I was dragged into the water; nothing was saved except my knife, +which I carried by a lanyard round my neck. Why I mention this +circumstance particularly, is, that having felt great inconvenience +for want of sleeve-buttons to hold the wristbands of my shirt +together, I had thought of making use of those of the mate, which the +reader may recollect had been given with his watch into Jackson's +care, to take home to his wife; but on second consideration I thought +it very possible I might lose them, and decided that the property was +in trust, and that I had no right to risk it. This correct feeling on +my part, therefore, was probably the saving of my life. + +I have only now to mention my birds, and of them I can merely say +that they went on as before; they bathed constantly, at the right +season they laid eggs, the male birds caught fish and brought them to +the cabin, and they were just as stupid and uninteresting as they +were at first; however, they never left me, nor indeed shewed any +intention to leave me, after the first season of the birds returning +to the island. They were useful but not very ornamental, and not at +all interesting to one who had such an intelligent companion as Nero. + +Having now brought up my history, in a few words, until the time +referred to, I come to the narrative of what occurred to produce a +change in my condition. I have said that in the chest there was a +spy-glass, but it had been wetted with salt-water, and was useless. +Jackson had tried to shew me how to use it, and had shewn me +correctly, but the glasses were dimmed by the wet and subsequent +evaporation from heat. I had taken out all the glasses and cleaned +them, except the field-glass as it is called, but that being composed +of two glasses, the water had penetrated between them, and it still +remained so dull that nothing could be distinguished through it, at +the time that Jackson was shewing me how to use the instrument; it +was therefore put on one side as useless. A year afterwards, I took +it out, from curiosity, and then I discovered that the moisture +between the two glasses had been quite dried up, and that I could see +very clearly through it, and after a little practice I could use it +as well as anybody else. Still I seldom did use it, as my eyesight +was particularly keen, and I did not require it, and as for any +vessel coming off the island, I had gradually given up all thoughts +of it. It was one evening when the weather was very rough and the sea +much agitated, that I thought I saw something unusual on the water, +about four miles distant. I supposed at first it might be a +spermaceti whale, for numbers used to play round the island at +certain seasons, and I used to watch their blowing and their gambols, +if I may use the term, and Jackson often told me long stories about +the whale fisheries; but a ray of the setting sun made the object +appear white, and I ran for the glass, and made out that it was a +boat or a very small vessel, with a sail out, and running before the +gale right down to the island. I watched it till it was dark with +much interest, and with thoughts of various kinds chasing each other; +and then I began to consider what was best to do. I knew that in an +hour the moon would rise, and as the sky was not cloudy, although the +wind and sea were high, I should probably be able to see it again. +"But they never can get on shore on this side of the island," thought +I, "with so much sea. Yes they might, if they ran for the bathing-pool." +After thinking a while, I decided that I would go down to the +bathing-pool, and place lighted faggots on the rocks on each side of +the entrance, as this would shew them where to run for, and how to +get in. I waited a little longer, and then taking my spy-glass and +some tinder with me, I went down to the pool, carried two faggots to +the rocks on each side, and having set them on fire and taken up +others to replace them as soon as they were burnt out, I sat down +with my spy-glass to see if I could make out where the boat might be. + +As the moon rose, I descried her now within a mile of the island, +and her head directed towards the beacon lights made by the burning +faggots. I threw another faggot on each and went down for a further +supply. The gale had increased, and the spray now dashed over the +rocks to where the faggots were burning, and threatened to extinguish +them, but I put on more wood and kept up a fierce blaze. In a quarter +of an hour I could distinguish the boat; it was now close to the +island, perhaps three hundred yards distant, steering not directly +for the lights, but more along shore. The fact was that they had +hauled up, not knowing how they could land until they had observed +the two lights clear of each other, and then they understood why they +had been made; and a moment afterwards they bore up right for the +entrance to the bathing-pool, and came rushing on before the rolling +seas. I still trembled for them, as I knew that if the sea receded at +the time that they came to the ledge of rocks at the entrance, the +boat would be dashed to pieces, although their lives might be saved, +but fortunately for them, it was not so--on the contrary, they came +in borne up on a huge wave which carried them clear over the ledge, +right up to the wall of rock which I had made across the pool, and +then the boat grounded. + +"Hurrah! well done, that," said a voice from the boat. "Lower away +the sail, my lads; all's right." + +The sail was lowered down, and then, by the light of the fire, I +discovered that there were several people in the boat. I had been too +much excited to say anything; indeed, I did not know what to say. I +only felt that I was no more alone, and the reader may imagine my joy +and delight. + + + + +Chapter XIX + + +As soon as the sail was lowered, the men leaped over the sides of +the boat into the water, and waded to the rocks. + +"Who are you?" said one of the men, addressing me, "and how many of +you are there here?" + +"There is no one on the island but myself," replied I; "but I'm so +glad that you have come." + +"Are you? Then perhaps you'll tell us how to get something to eat, +my hearty?" replied he. + +"Oh yes, wait a little, and I'll bring you plenty," replied I. + +"Well, then, look smart, that's a beauty, for we are hungry enough +to eat you, if you can find us nothing better." + +I was about to go up to the cabin for some birds, when another man +called out-- + +"I say--can you get us any water?" + +"Oh yes, plenty," replied I. + +"Well then, I say, Jim, hand us the pail out of the boat." + +The one addressed did so, and the man put it into my hands, saying, +"Bring us that pail, boy, will you?" I hastened up to the cabin, +filled the pail full of water, and then went for a quantity of dried +birds, with which I hastened down again to the bathing-pool; I found +the men had not been idle, they had taken some faggots off the stack +and made a large fire under the rocks, and were then busy making a +sort of tent with the boat's sails. + +"Here's the water, and here's some birds," said I, as I came up to +them. + +"Birds! what birds?" said the man who had first spoken to me, and +appeared to have control over the rest. He took one up and examined +it by the light of the fire, exclaiming, "Queer eating, I expect." + +"Why, you didn't expect a regular hotel when you landed, did you, +mate?" said one of the men. + +"No, if I had, I would have called for a glass of grog," replied he. +"I suspect I might call a long while before I get anyone to bring me +one here." + +As I knew that Jackson called the rum by the name of grog, I said, +"There's plenty of grog, if you want any." + +"Is there, my hearty,--where?" + +"Why, in that cask that's in the water on the other side of your +little ship," replied I. "I can draw you some directly." + +"What! in that cask? Grog floating about in salt water, that's too +bad. Come here all of you--You're in earnest, boy--no joking I hope, +or you may repent it." + +"I'm not joking," said I--"there it is." + +The man, followed by all the rest, excepting one of the party, waded +into the water, and went to the cask of rum. + +"Take care," said I, "the spiles are in." + +"So I see--never fear, my hearty--come now all of us." So saying, +the whole of them laid hold of the cask by the chains, and lifting it +up, they carried it clean out of the water, and placed it on the +rocks by the side of the pool. + +"Hand us the little kid out of the boat, Jim," said the man; "we'll +soon see if it's the right stuff." + +He took out the spiles, drew off some of the liquor, and tasting it, +swore it was excellent. It was then handed round, and all the men +took some. + +"We're in luck to-night; we're fallen upon our legs," said the first +man. "I say, Jim, put them dried chickens into the pitch-kettle along +with some taters out of the bag--they'll make a good mess; and then +with this cask of grog to go to, we shan't do badly." + +"I say, old fellow," said he, turning to me, "you're a regular +trump. Who left you on shore to get all ready for us?" + +"I was born here," replied I. + +"Born here! well, we'll hear all about that to-morrow--just now, +we'll make up for lost time, for we've had nothing to eat or drink +since Wednesday morning. Look alive, my lads! get up the hurricane-house. +Jim, put the pail of water into the kettle, and send the islander +here for another pailful, for grog." + +The pail was handed to me, and I soon returned with it full, and, as +I did not see that they had a pannikin, I brought one down and gave +it to them. + +"You're a fine boy," said the mate; (as I afterwards found out that +he was). "And now, I say, where do you hold out? Have you a hut or a +cave to live in?" + +"Yes," replied I; "I have a cabin, but it is not large enough for +all of you." + +"No, no! we don't want to go there--we are very well where we are, +alongside of the cask of rum, but you see, my lad, we have a woman +here." + +"A woman!" said I; "I never saw a woman. Where is she?" + +"There she is, sitting by the fire." + +I looked round, and perceived that there was one of the party +wrapped up in a blanket, and with a wide straw hat on the head, which +completely concealed the form from me. The fact is, that the woman +looked like a bundle, and remained by the fire quite as inanimate. At +my saying that I never saw a woman, the man burst into a loud laugh. + +"Why, did you not say that you were born on the island, boy?" said +the mate at last. "Were you born without a mother?" + +"I cannot recollect my mother--she died when I was very young; and +therefore I said, that I had never seen a woman." + +"Well, that's explained; but you see, my lad--this is not only a +woman, but a very particular sort of a woman; and it will not do for +her to remain here after we have had our supper--for after supper, +the men may take a drop too much, and not behave themselves; so I +asked you about your cabin, that you might take her there to sleep. +Can you do that?" + +"Yes," replied I; "I will take her there, if she wishes to go." + +"That's all right then, she'll be better there than here, at all +events. I say, boy, where did you leave your trousers?" + +"I never wear any." + +"Well then, if you have any, I advise you to put them on, for you +are quite old enough to be breeched." + +I remained with them while the supper was cooking, asking all manner +of questions, which caused great mirth. The pitch kettle, which was a +large iron pot on three short legs, surprised me a good deal, I had +never seen such a thing before, or anything put on the fire. I asked +what it was, and what it was made of. The potatoes also astonished +me, as I had never yet seen an edible root. + +"Why, where have you been all your life?" said one of the men. + +"On this island," replied I, very naively. + +I waded into the water to examine the boat as well as I could by the +light of the fire, but I could see little, and was obliged to defer +my examination till the next day. Before the supper was cooked and +eaten, I did, however, gain the following information. + +That they were a portion of the crew of a whaler, which had struck +on a reef of rocks about seventy miles off, and that they had been +obliged to leave her immediately, as she fell on her broadside a few +minutes afterwards; that they had left in two boats, but did not know +what had become of the other boat, which parted company during the +night. The captain and six men were in the other boat, and the mate +with six men in the one which had just landed--besides the lady. + +"What's a lady?" said I. + +"I mean the woman who sits there; her husband was killed by some of +the people of the Sandwich Isles, and she was going home to England. +We have a consort, another whaler, who was to have taken our cargo of +oil on board, and to have gone to England with that and her own +cargo, and the missionary's wife was to have been sent home in her." + +"What's a missionary?" inquired I. + +"Well, I don't exactly know; but he is a preacher who goes out to +teach the savages." + +By this time the supper was cooked, and the odour from the pitch +kettle was more savoury than anything that I had ever yet smelt. The +kettle was lifted off the fire, the contents of it poured into a kid, +and after they had given a portion in the small kid to the woman, who +still remained huddled up in the blanket by the fire, they all sat +round the large kid, and commenced their supper. + +"Come, boy, and join us," said the mate, "you can't have had your +supper; and as you've found one for us, it's hard but you should +share it with us." + +I was not sorry to do as he told me, and I must say that I never +enjoyed a repast so much in my life. + +"I say, boy, have you a good stock of them dried chickens of yours?" +said the mate. + +"Yes, I have a great many, but not enough to last long for so many +people." + +"Well, but we can get more, can't we?" + +"No!" replied I, "not until the birds come again, and that will not +be for these next five moons." + +"Five moons! what do you mean?" + +"I mean, five full moons must come, one after another." + +"Oh, I understand; why then we must not remain on the island." + +"No," replied I, "we must all go, or we shall starve; I am so glad +that you are come, and the sooner you go the better. Will you take +Nero with you?" + +"Who is Nero?" + +"Nero--my seal--he's very tame." + +"Well, we'll see about it; at all events," said he, turning to the +other men, "we must decide upon something, and that quickly, for we +shall starve if we remain here any time." + +It appeared that they had left the whaler in such a hurry, that they +had only had time to throw into the boat two breakers of water, four +empty breakers to fill with saltwater for ballast to the boat, and +the iron pitch kettle, with a large sack of potatoes. + +As soon as supper was finished, they went to the cask for the rum, +and then the mate said to me-- + +"Now I'll go and speak to the woman, and you shall take her to sleep +in your cabin." + +During the whole of this time the woman, as the mate called her, had +never spoken a word. She had taken her supper, and eaten it in +silence, still remaining by the fire, huddled up in the blanket. On +the mate speaking to her, she rose up, and I then perceived that she +was much taller than I thought she could have been; but her Panama +hat still concealed her face altogether. + +"Now then, my lad," said the mate, "shew the lady where she is to +sleep, and then you can join us again if you like." + +"Will you come with me?" said I, walking away. + +The woman followed me up the path. When we arrived at the platform +opposite the cabin, I recollected Nero, whom I had ordered to stay +there till my return. + +"You won't be afraid of the seal," said I, "will you? he is very +good-natured. Nero, come here." + +It was rather dark as Nero came shuffling up, and I went forward to +coax him, for he snarled a little at seeing a stranger. + +"Have you no light at hand?" said my companion, speaking for the +first time in a very soft, yet clear voice. + +"No, I have not, but I will get some tinder, and make a fire with +one of the faggots, and then you will be able to see." + +"Do so, then, my good lad," replied she. + +I thought her voice very pleasing. + +I soon lighted the faggot and enabled her to see Nero (who was now +quite quiet) and also the interior of the cabin. + +She examined the cabin and the bed-places, and then said, + +"Where do you sleep?" + +I replied by shewing her my bed-place. "And this," said I, pointing +to the one opposite, "was Jackson's, and you can sleep in that. Nero +sleeps with me. Here are plenty of seal skins to keep you warm if you +are cold. Are your clothes wet?" + +"No, they are quite dry now," replied she; "if you will get me some +seal skins, I will lie down on them, for I am very tired." + +I spread five or six skins one on the other, in Jackson's bed-place, +and then I went out and threw another faggot on the fire, that we +might have more light. + +"Do you want anything else?" said I. + +"Nothing, I thank you. Are you going to bed now?" + +"I was meaning to go down again to the men, but now I think of it, I +do not like to leave you alone with Nero, as he might bite you. Are +you afraid of him?" + +"No, I'm not much afraid, but still I have no wish to be bitten, and +I am not used to sleep with such animals, as you are." + +"Well then, I'll tell you how we'll manage it. I will take some +skins outside, and sleep there. Nero will not leave me, and then you +won't be afraid. The weather is clearing up fast, and there's very +little wind to what there was--besides, it will be daylight in three +or four hours." + +"As you please," was the reply. + +Accordingly I took some seal skins out on the platform, and +spreading them, I lay down upon them, wishing her good-night, and +Nero soon joined me, and we were both fast asleep in a few minutes. + + + + +Chapter XX + + +Nero, who was an early riser, woke me up at day-break, or I should +have slept much longer; for I had been tired out with the fatigue and +excitement of the night before. As soon as I was up, I looked into +the cabin, and found the woman was fast asleep; her straw hat was +off, but she had lain down in her clothes. Her black hair was hanging +about her shoulders. Having only seen Jackson with his bushy beard, I +had been somewhat surprised when I first saw the men on their landing +so comparatively clear of hair on their face; my astonishment at the +clear white skin of a woman--and in this instance, it was peculiarly +white and pallid--was very great. I also perceived how much more +delicate her features were than those of the men; her teeth, too, +were very white, and Jackson's were discoloured and bad; I longed to +see her eyes, but they were closed. Any other difference I could not +perceive, as she had drawn the blanket close up to her chin. + +"This is then a woman," said I to myself: "yes, and it's very like +what I used to see in my dreams." I looked a little longer, and then, +hearing Nero coming into the cabin behind me, and afraid that she +would awake, I made a hasty retreat. + +I remained at this part of the cabin considering what I should do. I +thought I would light a fire, and go down for a fish to broil on the +embers for her breakfast, so I called Nero to come down with me. On +arriving at the pool, I found all the seamen fast asleep under the +tent they had made with the boat's sails; and they appeared to be +much the same as Jackson used to be after he had got drunk the night +before; I presumed therefore, that such was their state, and was not +far wrong. Nero went into the pool and brought out a fish, as I +ordered him, and I then walked to the boat to examine it. This took +me half an hour, and I was sorry that none of the men were awake, +that so I might ask any questions I wished. I examined the pitch-kettle, +and the boat's sails, and the breakers. Breakers are small casks, +holding about six to seven gallons of water, and are very handy +for boats. I remained about an hour, and then went back to the +cabin, carrying a faggot on my shoulder, Nero following with the fish +in his mouth. We were met by the woman, who came out of the cabin; +she no longer had the blanket round her, for it was a beautiful +bright morning, and very warm. + +"Nero is bringing you your breakfast," said I, "so you ought to like +him." + +"I dare say I shall, if we are to be companions in future," replied +she. + +"Do you want anything?" said I. + +"Yes, a little water, if you can get me some." + +I filled the kid from the spring, put it down by her, and then took +out the inside of the fish, and fed the birds, who were crowding +round me. + +The woman washed her face and hands, braided up her hair, and then +sat down on the rock. In the meantime, I had lighted my faggot, +cleaned the fish, and waited till the wood was burnt to ashes before +I put the fish on the fire. Having then nothing to do, I thought that +reading would amuse the woman, and I went in for the Bible. + +"Shall I read to you?" said I. + +"Yes," replied she, with some astonishment in her looks. + +I read to her the history of Joseph and his brethren, which was my +favourite story in the Bible. + +"Who taught you to read?" said she, as I shut the book, and put the +fish on the embers. + +"Jackson," said I. + +"He was a good man, was he not?" replied she. + +I shook my head. "No, not very good," said I, at last. "If you knew +all about him, you would say the same; but he taught me to read." + +"How long have you been on this island?" said she. + +"I was born on it, but my father and mother are both dead, and +Jackson died three years ago--since that I have been quite alone, +only Nero with me." + +She then asked me a great many more questions, and I gave her a +short narration of what had passed, and what Jackson had told me; I +also informed her how it was I procured food, and how we must soon +leave the island, now that we were so many, or the food would not +last out till the birds came again. + +By this time the fish was cooked, and I took it off the fire and put +it into the kid, and we sat down to breakfast; in an hour or so, we +had become very sociable. + +I must however now stop a little to describe her. What the men had +told me was quite true. She had lost her husband, and was intending +to proceed to England. Her name was Reichardt, for her husband was a +German, or of German family. She was, as I have since ascertained, +about thirty-seven years old, and very tall and elegant; she must +have been very handsome when she was younger, but she had suffered +much hardship in following her husband as she had done, through all +the vicissitudes of his travels. + +Her face was oval; eyes black and large; and her hair black as the +raven's wing; her features were small and regular; her teeth white +and good; but her complexion was very pallid, and not a vestige of +colour on her cheeks. As I have since thought, it was more like a +marble statue than anything I can compare her to. There was a degree +of severity in her countenance when she did not smile, and it was +seldom that she did. I certainly looked upon her with more awe than +regard, for some time after I became acquainted with her; and yet her +voice was soft and pleasant, and her manners very amiable; but it +must be remembered I had never before seen a woman. After breakfast +was over, I proposed going down to where the seamen lay, to see if +they were awake, but I told her I thought that they would not be. + +"I will go with you, as I left a basket with some things of mine in +the boat, and it will be as well to bring them up at once." + +We therefore set off together, I having ordered Nero to stay in the +cabin. On our arrival at the pool we found the men still fast asleep; +and by her directions I went into the water to the boat, and brought +out a basket and a small bundle which she pointed out. + +"Shall I wake them?" said I. + +"No, no," replied she; "so long as they sleep, they will be doing no +harm. But," said she, "we may as well take some potatoes up with us; +fill both these handkerchiefs," continued she, taking two out of the +bundle. I did so, and she took one and I the other, and we returned +to the cabin. + +"Are these all the birds that you have for food?" said she, looking +at the pile in the cabin. + +"Yes," replied I. "But what are we to do with the potatoes?" + +"We can roast them by the fire if we like," said she; "but at +present we had better take them into the cabin. Did you plant all +these flowers and creepers which grow over the cabin?" + +"Yes," replied I. "I was alone and had nothing to do, so I thought I +would make a garden." + +"They are very pretty. Now that I am back, you can go down to the +men if you please, and tell them, when they wake up, that I wish to +have the smallest of the boat's sails, to make a screen of. Tell the +mate, he is the most civil." + +"I will," said I. "Is there anything else?" + +"Yes, bring up a few more potatoes; they will let you take them if +you say that I told you." + +"Shall I take Nero with me?" + +"Yes, I do not want his company, for I am a little afraid of him." + +I called Nero, who came after me, and went down to the pool, when I +found that the men had all woke up, and were very busy, some lighting +a fire, some washing potatoes, and some trying to catch the fish in +the pool. + +"Oh, here he is. Come, boy, what have you got for our breakfast? +We've been trying to catch some of these fish, but they're as quick +as eels." + +"Nero will soon catch you what you want," replied I. "Here, Nero, in." + +Nero plunged in, and soon brought out a fish, and I then sent him in +for another. + +"Thanks, lad," said the mate; "that will be enough for our +breakfast. That seal of yours is a handy fellow, and well trained." + +While the other men were getting breakfast, one of them went up to +Nero, I believe with the intention of making friends with him, but +Nero rejected his advances, and showed his sharp teeth, snapping at +him several times. The man became angry, and caught up a piece of +rock to throw at the seal. He aimed at the animal's nose, and +narrowly missed hitting it. Had he done so, he would probably have +killed it. This made me very angry, and I told the man not to do so +again; upon this, he caught up another, and was about to throw it, +when I seized him by the collar with my left hand, and with my right +drawing my American knife, I threatened to stab him with it, if he +attacked the beast. The man started back, and in so doing, fell over +a piece of rock, on his back. This quarrel brought the mate to us, +along with two or three of the men. My knife was still lifted up, +when the mate said-- + +"Come, my hearty, no knives, we don't allow them. That's not +English. Put it up, no one shall hurt the beast, I promise you. Bob, +you fool, why couldn't you leave the animal alone? You forget you are +among savages, here." + +At this, the other men burst out into a laugh. + +"Yes," observed one; "I can swear, when I get back, that the natives +of this island are savages, who eat raw flesh, have seals for +playmates, and don't wear clothes enough for common decency." + +This made them laugh more, and the man who had attacked Nero, and +who had got upon his legs again, joined with the others; so all was +again good-humour. The men sat down to their breakfast, while I +examined the boat again, and afterwards asked many questions, with +which they were much amused, every now and then observing, "Well, he +is a savage!" + +After they had breakfasted, I made Nero catch another fish and sent +him up to the cabin with it, as I was afraid that the man might do +him an injury, and then told the mate that the woman had desired me +to bring up some potatoes. + +"Take them," said he; "but you have nothing to carry them up with. +Here, fill the pail, and I will go to the cabin with you." + +"She told me that I was to ask you for a small boat's sail, to hang +up as a screen." + +"Well, she shall have the boat's mizen. We don't want it. I'll carry +it up." + +The mate threw the sail and yard over his shoulder, and followed me +up to the cabin. On our arrival, we found the missionary's wife +sitting on the platform, Nero lying not far from her, with the fish +beside him. The mate took off his hat, and saluted my new companion, +saying, "That he hoped she was comfortable last night." + +"Yes," replied she, "as much so as I could expect; but I turned this +good lad out of his cabin, which I do not wish to do again, and +therefore I requested the sail for a screen. Now, John Gough, what do +you intend to do?" continued she. + +The mate replied, "I came up here to see what quantity of provisions +the lad might have. By his account, it will not last more than a +month, and it will take some time before we can reach where we are +likely to fall in with any vessel. Stay here we cannot, for we shall +only eat the provision and lose time, therefore, the sooner we are +off the better." + +"If you take all the provision, of course you will take the lad with +you?" replied she. + +"Of course we will." + +"And my chest, and my seal?" inquired I. + +"Yes, your chest, certainly, but as for your seal, I do not know +what to say to that--he will be starved in the boat, and if you give +him his liberty, he will do well enough." + +"What you say is very true," replied the woman. "I am afraid, boy, +that you will have to part with your friend. It will be better for +both of you." + +I made no reply, for it cut me to the heart to think of parting with +Nero; but still I had sense enough to perceive that what they said +was right. + +The mate then went into the cabin, and examined the heap of dried +birds which I had collected, and having made his calculation, said +that there were sufficient for three weeks, but not more. + +"And when do you think of leaving this island?" inquired the woman. + +"The day after to-morrow, if I can persuade the men, madam," replied +he; "but you know they are not very easy to manage, and very +thoughtless, especially now that they have so unexpectedly fallen in +with liquor." + +"That I admit," replied she; "but as they will probably take the +liquor in the boat, that will not make so great a difference." + +"I shall go down and speak to them now they're all sober," replied +the mate, "and will let you know in the evening, or to-morrow +morning, perhaps, will be better." The mate then saluted her by +touching his hat, and left us. + + + + +Chapter XXI + + +There was one thing which had made a great impression on me in the +conversation with the men in the morning. They called me a Savage, +and said that I had not sufficient clothes on; and as I observed that +they were all dressed in jackets and trousers, which covered them +from head to foot, I took it for granted that my shirt, which was all +that I wore, was not a sufficient clothing. This had never occurred +to me before, nor can the reader be surprised at it. I had been like +our first parents in Eden--naked but not ashamed--but now that I had +suddenly come in contact with my fellow-men, I felt as if something +were amiss. The consequence was, that I went to the chest and got out +a pair of white trousers, and put them on. I thought them very +uncomfortable and very unnecessary articles, but others wore them, +and I felt that I must do so also. They were rather long for me, but +I rolled up the bottoms of the legs, as I observed that the seamen +did, and then came out on the platform, where the missionary's wife +was still seated, looking out upon the waves as they lashed the +rocks. She immediately observed the addition that I had made to my +dress, and said, + +"That is a great improvement. Now you look like other people. What +is your name? you have not told me." + +When I had answered the question, I said to her-- + +"I have brought up more of the potatoes, as you call them; what am I +to do with them?" + +"First tell me, have you any spot that you know about the island +where there is mould--that is, earth, like you have in your garden-- +where we can plant them?" + +"Yes," replied I, "there is some up there," and I pointed to one-third +up the ravine. "I brought all this earth from there, and there is +plenty of it; but what is the good of planting them?" + +"Because," said she, "one of the potatoes planted will, in a very +short time, grow, and then it will produce perhaps thirty or forty +potatoes at its roots as large as these; they are excellent things +for food, and where there is nothing else to be had, may be the means +of preserving life." + +"Well, that may be," replied I, "and if we were going to remain on +the island, it would be well to plant them, but as we are going away +the day after to-morrow, what's the use of it? I know that they are +very nice, for I had some for supper last night." + +"But are we only to think of ourselves in this world, and not of +others?" replied she. "Suppose, two or three years hence, another +boat were to be cast away on this island, and not find, as we have, +you here, with provisions ready for them, they would starve +miserably; whereas, if we plant these potatoes, they may find plenty +of food and be saved. Only think how glad your father and mother +would have been to have found potatoes on the island when they were +thrown on it. We must not live only for ourselves, but we must think +and try to do good to others--that is the duty of a Christian." + +"I think you are very right," replied I, "and a very kind person +too. If you wish it I will go and plant the potatoes this day. How am +I to plant them?" + +"They have a shovel in the boat," said she, "for I saw them throwing +the water out with it. Go down and get it, and then I will go with +you and show you." + +I went down and the mate gave me the shovel, which I carried up to +her. I found her cutting the potatoes into pieces, and she showed me +how she cut them, leaving an eye in each piece, and explained the +reason for it. I was soon very busy cutting away alongside of her, +and before long the pail of potatoes was all ready to be planted. + +We then walked to the ravine, and she showed me how to use the +shovel, and I made the holes. Before noon we had planted all that we +had cut, but we had still the two handkerchiefs full that we had at +first brought up with us. We returned to the cabin, and I prepared +the fish for dinner. After it was on the embers, she wished to have +the screen put up beside her bed-place. + +"Go down to the mate," said she, "and ask him for the hammer and +three or four nails. I know they have them in the boat." + +"I may as well take them down some birds for their dinner," replied +I, "for they will want them." + +"Yes, do so; and then come back to me as soon as you can." + +The mate gave me the hammer, an article I had never seen before, and +five or six nails, with which I returned to the cabin, and nailed up +the sail as a screen. + +"Now you will be able to sleep in your own bed-place to-night," said +she. + +I made no reply, but I could not imagine why I could not have done +so the night before, for I had only gone out of the cabin that she +might not be frightened by Nero being so close to her. + +After we had eaten our dinner, she said to me-- + +"How could you contrive to live on this island, if you had no dried +birds?" + +"How?" replied I; "why, very badly. I might catch fish; but there +are times in the year when you can catch no fish, they won't take +bait, neither will they when the weather is rough. Besides, I have +only two lines, and I might lose them both--then what would become of +me? I should starve." + +"Well, then, you see under all circumstances, it was just as well to +plant the potatoes, for other people may come here and be in your +position." + +"Yes, that is true, but we shall not be here long now, and you don't +know how glad I am to go. I want to see all the things that I have +read about in my books. I want to go to England and look for +somebody; but you don't know all that I know; some day I will tell +you all--everything. I am so tired of living here by myself--nothing +to say--no one to talk to--no one to care for, except Nero, and he +can't speak. I can't bear the idea of parting with him though." + +"Would you rather stay on the island with Nero, than go away without +him?" + +"No," replied I; "go I must, but still I do not like to part with +him. He is the only friend that I ever had, that I can remember." + +"When you have lived longer, and mixed more with the world, my poor +boy, you will then find how many sacrifices you will be obliged to +make, much more serious than parting with an animal that you are +attached to. I suppose you expect to be very happy if ever you get +back to England?" + +"Of course I do; why should I not be?" replied I; "I shall be always +happy." + +The Missionary's wife shook her head. "I fear not. Indeed, I think +if you live long enough, you will acknowledge that the happiest of +your days were passed on this barren rock." + +"Jackson said otherwise," replied I. "He was always grieving at +being on the island, and not able to get back to England, and he told +me so many stories about England, and what is done there, and what a +beautiful place it is, that I'm sure I shall like it better than +being here, even if I had somebody with me." + +"Well, you are in the hands of God, and you must put your trust in +him. He will do with you as he thinks best for you--that you know, as +you read your Bible." + +"No, I didn't know that," replied I. "God lives beyond the stars, a +long way off." + +"Is that all you have gained by reading your Bible?" inquired she, +looking me in the face. + +"No, not all," replied I; "but I do not understand a great deal that +I read, I want some one to tell me. I am so glad you came with the +men in the boat, for I never saw a woman before. I used to see +somebody in my dreams, and now I know it was a woman. It was my +mother, but I have not seen her for a long while now, and I have +nobody but Nero." + +"My poor boy, you have a father in heaven." + +"Yes," replied I; "I know he is in heaven, and so is my mother, for +Jackson said that they were both very good." + +"I mean your Heavenly Father, God. Do you not say in the Lord's +Prayer, 'Our Father which art in heaven.' You must love him." + +I was about to reply, when John Gough, the mate, came up, and told +my companion that he had been speaking to the men, and they had +agreed that the day after the next they would, if the weather +permitted, leave the island; that they had examined the boat, and +found it required very little repair, and that all would be ready the +next day. + +"I hope that they will not overload the boat," said she. + +"I fear that they will, but I must do all I can to prevent it. The +cask of rum was rather an unfortunate discovery, and we had been +better without it. Leave it they will not, so we must put out of the +boat all that we can possibly do without, for we shall be nine of us, +and that will be plenty of weight with the addition of the cask." + +"You promised to take my chest, you remember," said I. + +"Yes, I will do so if I possibly can; but recollect, I may not be +able to keep my promise--for now that they have the liquor, the men +do not obey me as they did before, ma'am," said the mate. "Perhaps he +had better take the best of his clothes in a bundle, in case they +should refuse to take in the chest; and I must say that, loaded as +the boat will be, they will be much to blame if they do not refuse, +for the boat is but small for stowage, and there's all the provisions +to put in her, which will take up a deal of room." + +"That is very true," replied the woman. "It will be better to leave +the chest here, for I do not think that the boat will hold it. You +must not mind your chest, my good boy; it is of no great value." + +"They take my rum and all my birds, and they ought to take both me +and my chest." + +"Not if it takes up too much room," replied the woman. "You cannot +expect it. The wishes of one person must give way to the wishes of +many." + +"Why they would have starved if it had not been for me," replied I, +angrily. + +"That's very true, boy," replied the mate; "but you have to learn +yet, that might is right; and recollect that what you did this +morning has not made you any great favourite with them." + +"What was that?" inquired my companion. + +"Only that he nearly drove his knife through one of the men, that's +all," replied the mate; "English sailors ar'n't fond of knives." + +He then touched his hat, and went down again to the pool, desiring +me to follow him with a kid for our share of the supper. I did so, +and on my return she asked me why I had drawn my knife upon the +seaman, and I narrated how it occurred. She pointed out to me the +impropriety of what I had done, asking me whether the Bible did not +tell us we were to forgive injuries. + +"Yes," replied I; "but is it not injuries to ourselves? I did +forgive Jackson; but this was to prevent his hurting another." + +"Another! why you talk of Nero as if the animal was a rational +being, and his life of as much consequence as that of a fellow-creature. +I do not mean to say but that the man was very wrong, and that you +must have felt angry if an animal you were so fond of had been +killed; but there is a great difference between the life of an +animal and that of a fellow-creature. The animal dies, and there is +an end of it; but a man has an immortal soul, which never perishes, +and nothing can excuse your taking the life of a man, except in +self-defence. Does not the commandment say, 'Thou shalt not kill?'" + +She then talked to me a long while upon the subject, and fully made +me understand that I had been very wrong, and I confessed that I had +been so. + + + + +Chapter XXII + + +I now resolved to speak to her relative to the belt which contained +the diamonds; and I was first obliged to narrate to her in a few +words what Jackson had told me. She heard me with great interest, now +and then asking a question. When I had told her all, I said-- + +"Now, as they talk of not taking my chest, what shall I do? Shall I +wear the belt myself, or shall I put it in the bundle? or will you +wear it for me, as my mother would have done, if she had been alive?" + +She did not reply for some time, at last she said, as if talking to +herself, and not to me-- + +"How unsearchable are thy ways, O God!" + +Indeed, although I did not feel it at the time, I have afterwards +thought, and she told me herself, how great her surprise was at +finding in the unshorn little Savage, thus living alone upon a +desolate rock, a lad of good birth, and although he did not know it, +with a fortune in his charge, which would, in all probability, be +ultimately his own. This is certain, that the interest she felt +towards me increased every hour, as by degrees I disclosed my history. + +"Well," replied she, "if you will trust me, I will take charge of +your belt. To-morrow we will select out of the chest what will be +best to take with you, and then we will arrange as you wish." + +After about an hour's more conversation, she went into the cabin, +and retired behind the screen which had been fixed up, telling me +that she did not mind Nero, and that I might go to bed when I +pleased. As I was not much inclined to go down to the seamen, I +followed her advice and went to bed; but I could not sleep for a long +time from the noise which the men made, who were carousing at the +bathing-pool. The idea of parting with Nero also lay heavy upon my +heart, though the woman had almost satisfied me that as soon as I was +gone, the animal would resume its natural habits, and care nothing +for me. + +I was up the next morning early, and went down with Nero to obtain +the fish which we required. I left some on the rocks for the seamen's +breakfast (for they were all sound asleep), and then returned to the +cabin, and prepared for our own. Mrs Reichardt, as I shall now call +her, soon came out to me, and when breakfast was over, proposed that +we should plant the remainder of the potatoes before we packed up the +things in the chest. As soon as they were all cut, we set off to the +ravine, and had finished our task before noon, at which time there +were but few of the seamen stirring, they had remained up so long the +night before, drinking. The mate was one of those who were on their +legs, and he asked me if I thought we should have smooth water to +launch the boat on the following day. I replied in the affirmative, +and went with Mrs Reichardt to the cabin, and putting down the +shovel, I hauled my chest out on the platform to select what articles +I should take. + +While we were thus employed, and talking at times, the men came up +for the dried birds to take down ready for putting them in the boat +on the following day, and in two trips they had cleared out the whole +of them. + +"Have you used all the potatoes you brought up?" said one of the +men; "for we shall be short of provisions." + +Mrs Reichardt replied that we had none left. + +"Well then," said the man, "the mate says you had better bring down +that brute of yours to catch the rest of the fish in the pond, that +we may cook them before we start, as they will make two days' meals +at least." + +"Very well," replied I; "I will come down directly." I did so, and +Nero, in a quarter of an hour, had landed all the fish, and I then +returned with him to the cabin. Mrs R. had selected the best of the +clothes, and made them up in a tight bundle, which she sewed up with +strong thread. My books she had left out, as well as the spy-glass, +and the tools I had, as they might be useful. I asked her whether I +should carry them down to the bathing-pool, but she replied that on +the morning when we embarked would be quite time enough. I then went +to the hole under Jackson's bed-place, and brought out the belt and +the few articles that were with it. Mrs R., after having examined +them, said that she would take care of them all; the watch and other +trinkets she put in her basket, the belt she took to the bed-place, +and secreted it. + +She appeared very silent and thoughtful, and on my asking her +whether I should not take down the shovel, and the pail, and hammer, +she replied, "No, leave all till we are ready to go to the boat. It +will be time enough." + +Shortly afterwards, the mate brought us up some of the fish which +they had cooked for supper, and when we had eaten it we went to bed. + +"This is the last night we shall sleep together, Nero," said I, +kissing my favourite, and the thought brought tears into my eyes. +"But it can't be helped." I was however soon fast asleep with my arm +round the animal. + +When I went out the next morning, I found that the weather was +beautifully fine, the water smooth, and only rippled by a light +breeze. As Mrs R. had not yet made her appearance, I went down to the +bathing-pool, where I found all the men up and in full activity. The +boat had been emptied out, the oars, masts, and sails, were on the +rocks and the men were turning the bows to the seaward in readiness +for launching her over the ledge of rocks. The dried birds lay in a +heap by the side of the cask of rum, and the fish which had been +baked were in a large kid. The six breakers were also piled up +together, and the mate and some of the men were disputing as to how +many of them should be filled with water. The mate wanted them all +filled; the men said that three would be sufficient, as the boat +would be so loaded. At last the mate gained his point, and the men +each took a breaker, and went up to the cabin for the water. I went +with them to fill the breakers, and also to see that they did no +mischief, for they appeared very unruly and out of temper; and I was +afraid that they would hurt Nero, who was at the cabin, if I was not +there to prevent them; but with the exception of examining the cabin, +and forcing themselves in upon Mrs Reichardt, they did nothing. When +the breakers were full, which took at least half an hour, they did +indeed try to catch the birds, and would have wrung their necks, but +the males flew away, and the females I put into the bed-place that +was screened off in the cabin, and near which Mrs Reichardt was +sitting. They all appeared to have a great awe and respect for this +woman, and a look from her was more effectual than were any words of +the mate. + +"We don't want you," said one of the men, as they went down to the +bathing-pool with the breakers on their shoulders. "Why don't you +keep up with the lady? You're quite a lady's man, now you've white +trousers on." + +The others who followed him laughed at this latter remark. + +"I'm of no use up there, at present," said I; "and I may be down +below." + +The men set down the breakers on the rocks by the pool, and then, +under the directions of the mate, prepared to launch the boat over +the ledge. The masts of the boat were placed athwartships, under her +keel, for her to run upon, and being now quite empty, she was very +light. She was what they call a whale-boat, fitted for the whale +fishery, pointed at both ends, and steered by an oar; she was not +very large, but held seven people comfortably, and she was remarkably +well fitted with sails and masts, having two lugs and a mizen. As +soon as they were all ready, the men went to the side of the boat, +and in a minute she was launched into the sea without injury. The +mate said to me, as they brought her broadside to the ledge-- + +"Now, my lad, we don't want you any more; you may go up to the cabin +till we are ready, and then we will send for you and the lady." + +"Oh! but I can be of use here," replied I; "and I am of none up +there." + +The mate did not reply, and the men then went to the rum cask, and +rolled it towards the boat; and when they had it on the ledge, they +parbuckled it, as they term it, into the boat with a whale-line that +they happened to have, and which was of great length. After the cask +of rum was got in amidships, (and it took up a great deal of space, +reaching from one gunnel to the other, and standing high above the +thwarts) they went for the breakers of water, which they put in, +three before and three behind the cask, upon the floor of the boat. + +"She will be too heavy," said one of the men, "with so much water." + +"We can easily get rid of it," replied the mate. "If you had said +she would be too heavy with so much liquor on board, you had better +explained the matter; however, you must have your own ways, I suppose." + +The next articles that they brought to stow away were the +provisions. The kid of fish was put amidships on the breakers, and +the dried birds, which they carried down in their arms, were packed +up neatly in the stern-sheets. They were soon up to the gunnel, and +the mate said, + +"You had better stow away forward now--there will be little room for +the lady as it is." + +"No, no, stow them all aft," replied one of the men, in a surly +tone; "the lady must sit where she can. She's no better than we." + +"Shall this go in?" said I, pointing to the coil of whale-line, and +addressing the mate. + +"No, no; we must leave that," replied one of the men in the boat; +"we shall be wedged enough as it is; and I say, Jim, throw that old +saw and the bag of nails out of the boat--we can have no use for them." + +The masts were then stepped, and the rigging set up to the gunnel of +the boat, the yards and sails handed in, and hooked on the halyards +ready for hoisting. In fact the boat was now all ready for starting; +they had only the iron kettle and two or three other articles to put +in. + +"Shall we have the mizen?" inquired one of the men, pointing to the +mast, which lay on the rocks. + +"No, she steers quite as well without it," replied the mate. "We'll +leave it. And now, lads, hand the oars in." + +They were brought to the boat, but owing to the puncheon of rum in +the centre, they could not lie flat, and after a good deal of arguing +and disputing, four oars and a boat-hook were lashed to the gunnel +outside, and the rest were left on the rocks. + +At this time there was some consultation between the mate and some +of the men--the mate being evidently opposed by the others. I could +not hear what it was about, but the mate appeared very angry and very +much annoyed. At last he dashed his hat down on the rocks in a great +passion, saying, + +"No good will come of it. Mark my words. No good ever did or ever +will. Be it so, you are too many for me; but I tell you again, no +good will come of it." + +The mate then sat down on the rocks by himself, and put his head +down on his knees, covering it with his hands. + +The man with whom he had been disputing went to the others in the +boat, and spoke to them in a low tone, looking round at me, to +ascertain if I was within hearing. + +After a minute or two they all separated, and then one of them said +to me-- + +"Now, my lad, we're all ready. Go up to the cabin and bring down +your bundle and her basket, and tell the lady we are waiting for her." + +"There's the shovel," said I, "and the boat's sail--must I bring +them down?" + +"Oh yes, bring them down, and also two or three sealskins for the +lady to sit upon." + +Off I went on my errand, for I was delighted with the idea of +leaving the island, and my patience had been almost exhausted at the +time they had taken in the stowage of the boat. As I hastened up the +path, I heard loud contention, and the mate's voice speaking very +angrily, and I stopped for a short time to listen, but the noise +ceased, and I went on again. I found Nero on the platform, and I +stopped a minute to caress him. "Good bye, my poor Nero, we shall +never see one another again," said I. "You must go back to the sea, +and catch fish for yourself;" and the tears started in my eyes as I +gave the animal a farewell kiss. + +I then went into the cabin, where I found Mrs Reichardt sitting very +quietly. + +"They are all ready," said I, "and have sent me up for you but I am +to bring down the boat's sail and some seal skins for you to sit +upon. I can carry both if you can carry my bundle. Have you put the +belt on?" + +"Yes," replied she, "I am quite ready. I will carry the bundle, and +the books and spy-glass, as well as my basket; but we must pack them +close," added she, "and roll the sail up round the yard, or you will +not be able to carry it." + +We took the sail down, and got it ready for carrying, and I rolled +up the two best seal skins, and tied them with a piece of fishing +line, and then we were all ready. I shouldered my burden, and Mrs +Reichardt took the other articles, as proposed, and we left the cabin +to go down the path to the bathing-pool. + +"Good bye, Nero--good bye, birds--good bye, cabin--and good bye, +garden," said I, as I went along the platform; and having so done, +and ordered Nero back with a tremulous voice, I turned my head in the +direction of the bathing-pool. I stared and then screamed, dropping +my burden, as I lifted up my hands in amazement-- + +"Look!" cried I to my companion. "Look!" repeated I, breathless. + +She did look, and saw as I did--the boat under all sail, half a mile +from the pool, staggering under a fresh breeze, which carried her +away at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour. + +They had left us--they had deserted us. I cried out, like a madman, +"Stop! stop! stop!" and then, seeing how useless it was, I dashed +myself on the rock, and for a minute or two was insensible. + +"Oh!" groaned I, at last, as I came to my senses. + +"Frank Henniker," said a sweet firm voice. + +I opened my eyes, and saw Mrs Reichardt standing by me. + +"It is the will of Heaven, and you must submit to it patiently," +continued she. + +"But so cruel, so treacherous!" replied I, looking at the fast-receding +boat. + +"I grant, most cruel, and most treacherous, but we must leave them +to the judgment of God. What can they expect from him in the way of +mercy when they have shewn none? I tell you candidly, that I think we +are better in our present forlorn state upon this rock, than if in +that boat. They have taken with them the seeds of discord, of +recklessness, and intemperance, in an attempt which requires the +greatest prudence, calmness, and unanimity, and I fear there is +little chance of their even being rescued from their dangerous +position. It is my opinion, and I thought so when I first knew they +had found the cask, that liquor would prove their ruin, and I say +again, that boat will never arrive at its destination, and they will +all perish miserably. It has pleased God that they should leave us +here, and depend upon it, it has been so decided for the best." + +"But," replied I, looking again at the boat, "I was tired of being +here--I was so anxious to get off--and now to be left! And they have +taken all our provisions, everything, even the fish in the pool. We +shall starve." + +"I hope not," replied she, "and I think not; but we must exert +ourselves, and trust to Heaven." + +But I could not heed her--my heart was bursting. I sobbed, as I sat +with my hands covering up my face. + +"All gone!" cried I. "No one left but you and I." + +"Yes," replied she, "one more." + +"Who?" cried I, looking up. + +"God!--who is with us always." + + + + +Chapter XXIII + + +I heard what she said, but my head was too confused to weigh the +words. I remained silent, where I was. A few seconds elapsed, and she +spoke again: + +"Frank Henniker, rise, and listen to me." + +"We shall starve," muttered I. + +As I said this, one of the male birds returned from the sea with a +large fish, of which Mrs Reichardt took possession, as she had seen +me do, and the gannet flew away again to obtain more. Immediately +afterwards, the other two birds returned with fish, which were in a +like way secured by my companion. + +"See how unjust and ungrateful you are," observed she. "Here are the +birds feeding us, as the ravens did Elijah in the wilderness, at the +very time that you are doubting the goodness and mercy of God. There +is a meal for us provided already." + +"My head! my head!" exclaimed I, "it is bursting, and there is a +heavy weight rolling in it--I cannot see anything." + +And such was the fact: the excitement had brought on a determination +of blood to the head, and my senses were rapidly departing. Mrs +Reichardt knelt by my side, and perceiving that what I had said was +the case, went into the cabin and brought out a cloth, which she +wetted with water from the spring, and laid across my forehead and +temples. I remained motionless and nearly senseless for half an hour, +during which she continued to apply fresh cold water to the cloth, +and by degrees I recovered from my stupor. In the meantime, the +weather being so fine and the water smooth, the gannets continued to +return with the fish they caught, almost all of which were taken from +them by my companion, until she had collected more than a dozen fish, +from half a pound to a pound weight, which she put away, so that the +birds and seal might not devour them. + +I was still in a half dozing state, when the breathing and cold nose +of Nero touched my cheek, and the murmurings of my favourite roused +me up, and I opened my eyes. + +"I am better now," said I to Mrs Reichardt. "How kind you have been!" + +"Yes, you are better, but still, you must remain quiet. Do you think +that you could walk to your bed-place?" + +"I'll try," replied I, and with her assistance I rose up; but, when +I afterwards gained my feet, I should have fallen if she had not +supported me; but, assisted by her, I gained my bed and sank down +again. + +She raised my head higher, and then applied the linen cloth and cold +water as before. + +"Try now," said she, "if you cannot go to sleep. When you awake +again, I will have some dinner ready for you." + +I thanked her and shut my eyes. Nero crawled to my bed-place, and +with my hand upon his head, I fell asleep, and remained so till near +sunset, when I awoke with very little pain in my head, and much +refreshed. I found Mrs Reichardt by my side. + +"You are better now," said she. "Can you eat any dinner? I must make +friends with Nero, for he has been disputing my right to come near +your bedside, and his teeth are rather formidable. However, I gave +him the inside of the fish when I cleaned them, and we are better +friends already. There is your dinner." + +Mrs Reichardt placed before me some of the fish, broiled on the +embers, and I ate very heartily. + +"It is very kind of you," said I, "to be working for me, when I +ought to be working for you--but you must not do it again." + +"Only my share of the work when you are well," replied she; "but my +share I always shall do. I cannot be idle, and I am strong enough to +do a great deal; but we will talk about that to-morrow morning. You +will be quite well by that time, I hope." + +"Oh! I feel well now," replied I, "only I am very weak." + +"You must put your trust in God, my poor boy. Do you ever pray to +him?" + +"Yes, I try a little sometimes--but I don't know how. Jackson never +taught me that." + +"Then I will. Shall I pray now for both of us?" + +"Will God hear you? What was it that you said just before I forgot +everything this morning?" + +"I told you that there was another here besides ourselves, a good +and gracious God, who is always with us and always ready to come to +our assistance if we call upon him." + +"You told me God lived beyond the stars." + +"My poor boy, as if he were a God who was afar off and did not +attend to our prayers! Such is not the case. He is with us always in +spirit, listening to all our prayers, and reading every secret +thought of our hearts." + +I was silent for some time, thinking upon what she had told me; at +last I said-- + +"Then pray to him." + +Mrs Reichardt knelt down and prayed in a clear and fervent voice, +without hesitation or stop. She prayed for protection and support in +our desolate condition, that we might be supplied with all things +needful for our sustenance, and have a happy deliverance from our +present position. She prayed that we might be contented and resigned +until it should please him to rescue us--that we might put our whole +trust and confidence in him, and submit without murmuring to whatever +might be his will. She prayed for health and strength, for an +increase of faith and gratitude towards him for all his mercies. She +thanked him for our having been preserved by being left on the +desolate rock, instead of having left it in the boat with the seamen. +(This surprised me.) And then she prayed for me, entreating that she +might be the humble instrument of leading me to my Heavenly Father, +and that he would be pleased to pour down upon me his Holy Spirit, so +that I might, by faith in Christ, be accepted, and become a child of +God and an inheritor of eternal bliss. + +There was something so novel to me and so beautiful in her fervency +of prayer, that the tears came into my eyes, and about a minute after +she had finished, I said-- + +"I now recollect, at least, I think I do--for the memory of it is +very confused-that my mother used to kneel down by me and pray just +as you have done. Oh, how I wish I had a mother!" + +"My child," replied she, "promise me that you will be a good and +obedient son, and I will be a mother to you." + +"Will you? Oh! how kind of you. Yes, I will be all you wish; I will +work for you day and night if it is necessary. I will do everything, +if you will but be my mother." + +"I will do my duty to you as a mother most strictly," replied she; +"so that is agreed upon. Now, you had better go to sleep, if you can." + +"But I must first ask you a question. Why did you thank God for the +seamen having left us here, instead of taking us with them?" + +"Because the boat was overloaded as it was; because the men, having +liquor, would become careless and desperate, and submit to no +control; and therefore I think there is little or no chance of their +ever arriving anywhere safe, but that they will perish miserably in +some way or another. This, I consider, is the probability, unless the +Almighty in his mercy should be pleased to come to their assistance, +and allow them to fall in with some vessel soon after their departure." + +"Do you think, then, that God prevented our going with them on +purpose that we might not share their fate?" + +"I do! God regulates everything. Had it been better for us that we +should have gone, he would have permitted it; but he willed it +otherwise, and we must bow to his will with a full faith, that he +orders everything for the best." + +"And you say that God will give us all that we ask for in our +prayers?" + +"Yes, if we pray fervently and in faith, and ask it in the name of +Jesus Christ; that is, he will grant all we pray for, that is good +for us, but not what is not good for us; or when we ask anything, we +do not know that we are asking what is proper or not--but he does. We +may ask what would be hurtful to us, and then, in his love for us, he +denies it. For instance, suppose you had been accustomed to pray, you +must have prayed God that he would permit you to leave this island in +the boat, as you are so anxious to go away; but supposing that boat +is lost, as I imagine it will be, surely it would have been a +kindness in God, who knew that it would be lost, not to grant your +prayer. Is it not so?" + +"Yes, I see now, thank you; now I will go to sleep--good-night." + + + + +Chapter XXIV + + +I awoke the next morning quite recovered from my illness of the day +before, and was out of the cabin before Mrs Reichardt, who still +remained behind the screen which she had put up after I had gone to +sleep. It was a beautiful morning, the water was smooth, and merely +rippled with a light breeze, and the sun shone bright. I felt well +and happy. I lighted a fire to broil the fish for breakfast, as there +was a sufficiency left, and then got my fishing-lines ready to catch +some larger fish to reinhabit my pond at the bathing pool. Mrs +Reichardt came out of the cabin and found me playing with Nero. + +"Good morning, dear mother," said I, for I felt most kindly towards +her. + +"Good morning, my dear boy," replied she. "Are you quite well?" + +"Quite well; and I have got my lines all ready, for I have been +thinking that until the birds come, we must live on fish altogether, +and we can only take them in fine weather like this; so we must not +lose such a day." + +"Certainly not. As soon as we have breakfasted, we will go down and +fish. I can fish very well, I am used to it. We must both work now; +but first go for your Bible, that we may read a little." + +I did so, and after she had read a chapter she prayed, and I knelt +by her side; then we breakfasted, and as soon as we had breakfasted, +we set off to the bathing-pool. + +"Do you know if they left anything behind them, Frank?" + +"Yes," replied I, "they left some oars, I believe, and a long line +and we have the shovel, and the hammer, and the boat's small sail, up +at the cabin." + +"Well, we shall see very soon," replied she, as we went down the path. + +When we arrived at the bathing-pool, the first thing that met my +eyes made me leap with joy. "Oh! mother! mother! they've left the +iron pot; I did so long for it; and as I lay awake this morning, I +thought that if I prayed for anything, it would be for the iron pot. +I was tired of dried birds, and they ate so different when they were +boiled up in the pot with potatoes." + +"I am equally glad, Frank, for I do not like victuals uncooked; but +now let us first see what else they have thrown out of the boat." + +"Why they have put on shore three of the little casks of water," +said I; "they took them all on board." + +"They have so, I suppose, because the boat was too heavy, and they +would not part with the liquor. Foolish men, they will now not have +more than six days' water, and will suffer dreadfully." + +We then looked round the rocks and found that they had left the iron +kettle, three breakers, five oars, and a harpoon and staffs; a gang-board, +a whale line of 200 fathoms, an old saw, a bag of broad-headed +nails, and two large pieces of sheet-iron. + +"That saw may be very useful to us," said Mrs Reichardt, "especially +as you have files in your chest. Indeed, if we want them, we may +convert one-half of the saw into knives." + +"Into knives! How?" + +"I will shew you; and these pieces of sheet-iron I could use again. +You see the sheet-iron was put on to repair any hole which might be +made in the boat, and they have thrown it out, as well as the hammer +and nails. I wonder at John Gough permitting it." + +"I heard them quarrelling with him as I came out yesterday to fetch +you down; they would not mind what he said." + +"No, or we should not have been left here," replied she; "John Gough +was too good a man to have allowed it, if he could have prevented it. +That sheet-iron will be very useful. Do you know what for? to broil +fish on, or anything else. We must turn up the corners with the +hammer. But now we must lose no more time, but fish all day long, and +not think of eating till supper time." + +Accordingly we threw out our lines, and the fish taking the bait +freely, we soon hauled in more than a dozen large fish, which I put +into the bathing-pool. + +"What use can we make of that long line which they have left?" + +"A good many; but the best use we can make of it, is to turn it into +fishing-lines, when we require new ones." + +"But how can we do that, it is so thick and heavy?" + +"Yes, but I will show you how to unlay it, and then make it up +again. Recollect, Frank, that I have been the wife of a Missionary, +and have followed my husband wherever he went; sometimes we have been +well off, sometimes as badly off as you and I are now--for a +Missionary has to go through great dangers, and great hardships, as +you would acknowledge if you ever heard my life, or rather that of my +husband." + +"Won't you tell it to me?" + +"Yes, perhaps I will, some day or another; but what I wish to point +out to you now is, that being his wife, and sharing his danger and +privation, I have been often obliged to work hard and to obtain my +living as I could. In England, women do little except in the house, +but a Missionary's wife is obliged to work with the men, and as a man +very often, and therefore learns to do many things of which women in +general are ignorant. You understand now?" + +"Oh yes. I have thought already that you appear to know more than +Jackson did." + +"I should think not; but Jackson was not fond of work I expect, and +I am. And now, Frank, you little thought that when you so tardily +went to work the other day to plant potatoes for the benefit of any +one that might hereafter come to the island, that you were planting +for yourself, and would reap the benefit of your own kind act; for if +you had not assisted, of course I could not have done it by myself: +so true it is, that even in this world you are very often rewarded +for a good action." + +"But are not you always?" + +"No, my child, you must not expect that; but if not rewarded in this +world, you will be rewarded in the next." + +"I don't understand that." + +"I suppose that you hardly can, but I will explain all that to you, +if God spare my life; but it must be at a more seasonable time." + +We continued fishing till late in the afternoon, by which time we +had taken twenty-eight large fish, about seven to nine pounds' +weight; Mrs Reichardt then proposed that we should leave off, as we +had already provision for a fortnight. + +I hauled out one more fish, which she took with her to cook for our +supper, and having coiled up my lines, I then commenced, as she had +told me to do, carrying up the articles left by the boat's crew at +the bathing-pool. The first thing I seized upon was the coveted iron +kettle; I was quite overjoyed at the possession of this article, and +I had good reason to be. In my other hand I carried the saw and the +bag of nails. As soon as I had deposited them at the cabin, I went +down again, and before supper was ready I had brought up everything +except the three breakers of water, which I left where they were, as +we did not want them for present use, whatever we might hereafter. We +were both rather tired, and were glad to go to bed after we had taken +our supper. + + + + +Chapter XXV + + +When we met the following morning, my mother, as I shall in future +call her, said to me, "This will be a busy day, Frank, for we have a +great many arrangements to make in the cabin, so that we may be +comfortable. In future the cabin must be kept much more clean and +tidy than it is--but that is my business more than yours. Let us get +our breakfasts, and then we will begin." + +"I don't know what you want me to do," replied I; "but I will do it +if I can, as soon as you tell me." + +"My dear boy, a woman requires a portion of the cabin to herself, as +it is not the custom for women to live altogether with men. Now, what +I wish is, that the hinder part of the cabin, where you used to stow +away your dried birds, should be made over to me. We have oars with +which we can make a division, and then nail up seal skins, so that I +may have that part of the cabin to myself. Now, do you understand +what I want?" + +"Yes, but the oars are longer than the cabin is wide," observed I. +"How shall we manage it?" + +"We have the old saw, and that will do well enough to cut them off, +without its being sharpened." + +"I never saw one used," replied I, "and I don't understand it." + +"I will soon show you. First, we must measure the width of the +cabin. I shall not take away more than one third of it." + +My mother went into the cabin, and I followed her. With a piece of +fishing-line, she took the width of the cabin, and then the height up +to the rafters for the door posts. We then went out, and with the +saw, which she showed me how to use, and which astonished me very +much, when I perceived its effects, the oars were cut up to the +proper length. Gimlets I had already from the sea-chest, and nails +and hammer we had just obtained from the boat, so that before the +forenoon was over, the framework was all ready for nailing on the +seal skins. The bag of broad-headed short nails, which had been +thrown on the rocks, were excellent for this purpose, and, as I had +plenty of skins, the cabin was soon divided off, with a skin between +the door-jambs hanging down loose, so that any one might enter. I +went inside after it was complete. "But," said I, "you have no light +to see what you are about." + +"Not yet, but I soon will have," replied my mother. "Bring the saw +here, Frank. Observe, you must cut through the side of the cabin +here, a square hole of this size; three of the planks cut through +will be sufficient. Begin here." + +I did as she directed me, and in the course of half an hour, I had +cut out of the south side of the cabin a window about two feet +square, which admitted plenty of light. + +"But won't it make it cold at night?" said I. + +"We will prevent that," replied she, and she took out a piece of +white linen, and with some broad-headed nails, she nailed it up, so +as to prevent the air from coming in, although there was still plenty +of light. "There," said she, "that is but a coarse job, which I will +mend bye-and-bye, but it will do for the present." + +"Well, it is very nice and comfortable now," said I, looking round +it. "Now what shall I bring in?" + +"Nothing for the bed but seal skins," said she. "I do not like the +feathers. The seal skins are stiff at present, but I think we may be +able to soften them bye-and-bye. Now, Frank, your chest had better +come in here, as it is of no use where it is, and we will make a +storeroom of it, to hold all our valuables." + +"What, the diamonds?" replied I. + +"My dear boy, we have articles to put into the chest, which, in our +present position, are more valuable to us than all the diamonds in +the world. Tell me now, yourself, what do you prefer and set most +value upon, your belt of diamonds, or the iron kettle?" + +"The iron kettle, to be sure," replied I. + +"Exactly so; and there are many things in our possession as valuable +as the iron kettle, as you will hereafter acknowledge. Now do you go +and get ready some fire for us, and I will finish here by myself. +Nero, keep out, sir--you are never to come into this cabin." + +I went with Nero for a fish and when I returned, I determined that I +would use the iron kettle. I put it on with water and boiled the +fish, and I thought that it ate better than broiled on the embers, +which made it too dry. + +As we sat at our meal, I said, "Dear mother, what are we to do next?" + +"To-morrow morning we will put the cabin into better order, and put +away all our things instead of leaving them about the platform in +this way. Then I will carefully look over all that we have got, and +put them away in the chest. I have not yet seen the contents of the +chest." + +The next day it was very cloudy and, rough weather, blowing fresh. +After breakfast we set to work. We cleared out the floor of the +cabin, which was strewed with all manner of things, for Jackson and I +had not been very particular. The whale line was coiled up and put +into one corner, and every thing else was brought in and a place +found for it. + +"We must contrive some shelves," said my mother, "that we may put +things on them, or else we never can be tidy; and we have not one +except that which holds the books. I think we can manage it. We have +two oars left besides the boat's yard; we will nail them along the +side of the cabin, about a foot or more from it, and then we will cut +some of the boat's sail, and nail the canvas from the side of the +cabin to the oars, and that will make a sort of shelf which will hold +our things." + +I brought in the oars, they were measured and cut off and nailed up. +The canvas was then stretched from the side of the cabin to the oar, +and nailed with the broad-headed nails, and made two capital shelves +on each side of the cabin, running from one end to the other. + +"There," said my mother, "that is a good job. Now we will examine +the chest and put everything away and in its place." + +My mother took out all the clothes, and folded them up. When she +found the roll of duck which was at the bottom, she said-- + +"I am glad to find this as I can make a dress for myself much better +for this island than this black stuff dress which I now wear, and +which I will put by to wear in case we should be taken off the island +some of these days, for I must dress like other people when I am +again among them. The clothes are sufficient to last you for a long +while, but I shall only alter two shirts and two pair of trousers to +your present size, as you will grow very fast. How old do you think +you are now?" + +I replied, "About sixteen years old, or perhaps more." + +"I should think that was about your age." + +Having examined and folded up every article of clothing in the +chest, the tools, spyglass, &c., were put by me on the shelves, and +then we examined the box containing the thread, needles, fishhooks, +and other articles, such as buttons, &c. + +"These are valuable," said she; "I have some of my own to put along +with them. Go and fetch my basket, I have not yet had time to look +into it since I left the ship." + +"What is there in it?" + +"Except brushes and combs, I can hardly say. When I travelled about, +I always carried my basket, containing those things most requisite +for daily use, and in the basket I put everything that I wished to +preserve, till I had an opportunity to put it away. When I embarked +on board of the whaler, I brought my basket on my arm as usual, but +except opening it for my brushes and combs or scissors, I have not +examined it for months." + +"What are brushes and combs and scissors?" + +"That I will shew you," replied she, opening the lid of the basket. +"These are the brushes and combs for cleaning the hair, and these are +scissors. Now we will take everything out." + +The basket did indeed appear to contain a wonderful quantity of +things, almost all new to me. There were two brushes, twelve combs, +three pair of scissors, a penknife, a little bottle of ink, some +pens, a woman's thimble, a piece of wax, a case of needles, thread +and silk, a piece of India ink, and a camel's-hair brush, sealing-wax, +sticking plaster, a box of pills, some tape and bobbin, paper of +pins, a magnifying glass, silver pencil case, some money in a purse, +black shoe ribbon, and many other articles which I have forgotten. +All I know is that I never was so much interested ever after at any +show as I was with the contents of this basket, all of which were +explained to me by my mother, as to their uses, and how they were +made. There were several little papers at the bottom of the basket +which she said were seeds of plants, which she had collected to take +to England with her, and that we would plant them here. As she shook +the dust out of the basket after it was empty, two or three white +things tumbled out, which she asked me to pick up and give to her. + +"I don't know how they came here," said she, "but three of them are +orange-pips which we will sow to-morrow, and the other is a pea, but +of what kind I know not, we will sow that also--but I fear it will +not come up, as it appears to me to be one of the peas served out to +the sailors on board ship, and will be too old to grow. We can but +try. Now we will put into the chest, with the other things that you +have, what we do not want for present use, and then I can drive a +nail into the side of my bedroom and hang my basket on it." + +"But," said I, "this round glass--what is that for?" + +"Put it on one side," replied she, "and to-morrow, if it is fine, I +will shew you the use of it; but there are some things we have +forgotten, which are your belt and the other articles you gave me to +take for you when you thought we were to leave the island. They are +in the bed-place opposite to yours." + +I brought them, and she put away the mate's watch and sleeve +buttons, and the other trinkets, &c., saying that she would examine +the letters and papers at another time. The belt was examined, +counting how many of the squares had stones in them, and then, with +her scissors, she cut open one of the squares, and took out a white +glittering thing like glass as it appeared to me, and looked at it +carefully. + +"I am no great judge of these things," said she, "but still I have +picked up some little knowledge. This belt, if it contain all stones +like this, must be of considerable value; now I must get out my +needle and thread and sew it up again." She did, and put the belt +away with the other articles in the chest. "And now," said she, "we +have done a good day's work, and it is time to have something to eat." + + + + +Chapter XXVI + + +I must say that I was much better pleased with the appearance of the +cabin, it was so neat and clean to what it had been, and everything +was out of the way. The next day was a calm and clear day, and we +went down to fish. We were fortunate, and procured almost as many as +we had done at the previous fishing--they were all put in the bathing +pool as before. When we went up to the cabin, as soon as the fish was +put on the fire, under the direction of my mother, I turned up the +sides of one of the pieces of sheet iron, so as to make a sort of +dish. The other piece I did the same to, only not so high at the +sides, as one piece was kept for baking the fish on and the other as +a dish to put our dinner upon when cooked. That day we had been too +busy with fishing to think of anything else, but on the following I +recollected the magnifying glass, and brought it to her. She first +showed me the power it had to magnify, with which I was much amused +for a time, and she explained as well as she could to me the cause of +its having that power, but I could not well understand her; I was +more pleased with the effect than cognisant of the cause. Afterwards +she sent me to the cabin for some of the dried moss which I used for +tinder, and placing the glass so as to concentrate the rays of the +sun, to my astonishment I saw the tinder caught fire. It was +amazement more than astonishment, and I looked up to see where the +fire came from. My mother explained to me, and I, to a certain +degree, comprehended, but I was too anxious to have the glass in my +own hands and try experiments. I lighted the tinder again-then I +burnt my hand--then I singed one of the gannet's heads, and lastly, +perceiving that Nero was fast asleep in the sun, I obtained the focus +on his cold nose. He started up with a growl, which made me retreat, +and I was perfectly satisfied with the result of my experiments. From +that time, the fire was, when the sun shone, invariably lighted by +the burning-glass, and very useful did I find it. As it was so +portable, I always carried it with me, and when I had nothing to do, +I magnified, or set fire, according to the humour of the moment. + +Although I have not mentioned it, not a morning rose, but before +breakfast, I read the Scriptures to my mother. + +"There's so much in that book which I cannot understand," said I, +one morning. + +"I suspect that, living as you have, alone on this island, and +having seen nothing of the world," replied my mother, "that there are +not many books that you would understand." + +"But I understand all that is said in the Beast and Bird Book," +replied I. + +"Perhaps you may, or think you do; but, Frank, you must not class +the Bible with other books. The other books are the works of man, but +the Bible is the word of God. There are many portions of that book +which the cleverest men, who have devoted their lives to its study, +cannot understand, and which never will be understood as long as this +world endures. In many parts the Bible is a sealed book." + +"But will it never be understood then by anybody?" + +"There is quite as much of the Bible as is necessary for men to +follow its precepts, and this is so clear that anybody may understand +it--it contains all that is necessary for salvation; but there are +passages, the true meaning of which we cannot explain, and which God, +for his own purposes, will not permit us to. But if we do not know +them now, we shall probably hereafter, when we have left this world, +and our intellects more nearly approach God's." + +"Well, I don't understand why we should not understand it." + +"Frank," replied she, "look at that flower just in bloom. Do you +understand how it is that that plant keeps alive--grows every year +--every year throws out a large blue flower? Why should it do so? why +should the flower always be blue? and whence comes that beautiful +colour? Can you tell me? You see, you know that it does do so; but +can you tell me what makes it do so?" + +"No." + +"Look at that bird. You know it is hatched from an egg. How is it +that the inside of an egg is changed into a bird? How is it that the +bird is covered with feathers, and has the power to fly? Can you +explain to me yourself? You can walk about just as you please--you +have the power of reasoning, and thinking, and of acting; but by what +means is it that you possess that power? Can you tell? You know that +is so, but you know no more. You can't tell why or how or what causes +produce these effects--can you?" + +"No." + +"Well, then, if you are surrounded by all manner of things, living +and dead, and see every day things which you cannot explain, or +understand, why should you be surprised that, as God has not let you +know by what means these effects are produced, that in his written +word he should also keep from you that which for good purposes you +are not permitted to know. Everything here is by God's will, and that +must be sufficient for us. Now do you understand?" + +"Yes, I see now what you mean, but I never thought about these +things before. Tell me some more about the Bible." + +"Not now. Some day I will give you a history of the Bible, and then +you will understand the nature of the book, and why it was written; +but not at present. Suppose, as we have nothing particular to do, you +tell me all you know about yourself from Jackson, and all that +happened while you lived with him. I have heard only part, and I +should like to know all." + +"Very well," replied I. "I will tell you everything, but it will +take a long while." + +"We shall have plenty of time to spare, my dear boy, I fear, before +we leave this place; so, never mind time--tell me everything." + +I commenced my narrative, but I was interrupted. + +"Have you never been able to call your own mother to your memory?" +said she. + +"I think I can now, since I have seen you, but I could not before. I +now can recollect a person dressed like you, kneeling down and +praying by my side; and I said before, the figure has appeared in my +dreams, and much oftener since you have been here." + +"And your father?" + +"I have not the slightest remembrance of him, or anybody else except +my mother." + +I then proceeded, and continued my narrative until it was time to go +to bed; but as I was very circumstantial, and was often interrupted +by questions, I had not told a quarter of what I had to say. + + + + +Chapter XXVII + + +Mrs Reichardt had promised to give me a history of the Bible; and +one day, when the weather kept us both at home, she thus commenced +her narrative:-- + +"The Bible is a history of God's doings for the salvation of man. It +commences with the fall of man by disobedience, and ends with the +sacrifice made for his reinstatement. As by one man, Adam, sin came +into the world, so by one man, Jesus Christ, was sin and death +overcome. If you will refer to the third chapter of Genesis, at the +very commencement of the Bible, you will find that at the same time +that Adam receives his punishment, a promise is made by the Lord, +that the head of the serpent shall hereafter be bruised. The whole of +the Bible, from the very commencement, is an announcement of the +coming of Christ; so that as soon as the fault had been committed, +the Almighty, in his mercy, had provided a remedy. Nothing is unknown +or unforeseen by God. + +"Recollect, Frank, that the Bible contains the history of God's +doings, but it does not often tell us why such things were done. It +must be sufficient for us to know that such was the will of God; when +he thinks proper, he allows us to understand his ways, but to our +limited capacities, most of his doings are inscrutable. But, are we +to suppose that, because we, in our foolishness, cannot comprehend +his reasons, that therefore they must be cavilled at? Do you +understand me, Frank?" + +"Yes," replied I; "I do pretty well." + +"As I pointed out to you the other day, you see the blade of grass +grow, and you see it flower, but how it does so you know not. If then +you are surrounded all your life with innumerable things which you +see but cannot comprehend--when all nature is a mystery to you--even +yourself--how can you expect to understand the dealings of God in +other things? When, therefore, you read the Bible, you must read it +with faith." + +"What is faith? I don't quite understand, mother." + +"Frank, I have often told you of many things that are in England, +where you one day hope to go. Now, if when you arrive in England, you +find that everything that I have told you is quite true, you will be +satisfied that I am worthy of belief." + +"Yes." + +"Well, suppose some one were to tell you something relative to any +other country, which you could not understand, and you came to me and +asked me if such were the case, would you, having found that I told +you truth with regard to England, believe that what you had been told +of this other country was true, if I positively asserted that it was +so?" + +"Of course I should, mother." + +"Well, then, Frank, that would be faith; a belief in things not only +not seen, but which you cannot understand. But to go on, I mention +this because some people are so presumptuous as to ask the why and +the wherefore of God's doings, and attempt to argue upon their +justice, forgetting that the little reason they have is the gift of +God, and that they must be endowed with intellect equal to the +Almighty, to enable them to know and perceive that which he decides +upon. But if God has not permitted us to understand all his ways, +still, wherever we can trace the finger of God, we can always +perceive that everything is directed by an all-wise and beneficent +hand; and that, although the causes appear simple, the effects +produced are extraordinary and wonderful. We shall observe this as we +talk over the history of the Jews, in the Bible. But, I repeat, that +we must study the whole of the Bible with faith, and not be +continually asking ourselves, 'Why was this done?' If you will turn +to the ninth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, you will see what +the Apostle Paul says on the subject: 'Nay but, O man, who art thou +that repliest against God?' Shall the thing formed say to him that +formed it, 'Why hast thou made me thus?' Do you not understand in +what spirit the Bible should be read?" + +"Yes, I do. We must read it as the Word of God, and believe all that +we read in it." + +"Exactly;--now we will proceed. After Adam's fall, the earth became +so wicked that God destroyed it, leaving but Noah and his family to +re-people it; and as soon as this was done, the Almighty prepared for +his original intention for the future salvation of men. He selected +Abraham, who was a good man, and who had faith, to be the father of a +nation chosen for his own people--that was the Jewish nation. He told +him that his seed should multiply as the stars in the heavens, and +that all the nations of the earth should be blessed in him; that is, +that from his descendants should Christ be born, who should be the +salvation of men. Abraham's great-grandchildren were brought into +Egypt, to live apart in the land of Goshen. You have read the history +of Joseph and his brethren?" + +"Oh yes; I know that well." + +"Well, the Almighty wished the Jews should be a nation apart from +others, and for that purpose he brought them into Egypt. But observe, +Frank, by what simple and natural causes this was effected. It was by +a dream of Joseph's, which, when he told them of it, irritated his +brothers against him; they sold him as a slave, and he was sent into +Egypt. There, having explained the dream of Pharaoh, he was made a +ruler over Egypt, and saved that country from the famine which was in +every other land. His brothers come down to buy corn, and he +recognises them. He sends for his father and all the family, and +establishes them in the land of Goshen, as shepherds, apart from the +Egyptians. Here they multiplied fast; but after Joseph's elevation +they were cruelly treated by the Egyptians, who became afraid of +their rapid increase, and eventually the Kings of Egypt gave orders +that all the male children of the Jews should be destroyed. It was at +this time, when they were so oppressed and cruelly treated by the +Egyptians, that God interfered and sent for Moses. Moses, like all +the rest of the Jews, knew nothing of the true God, and was difficult +to persuade, and it was only by miracles that he was convinced." + +"Why did God keep the Jews apart from the Egyptians, and have them +thrown in bondage?" + +"Because he wished to prepare them to become his own peculiar +people. By their being descended from Abraham, and having never +intermarried with other nations, they had become a pure race; by +being in bondage and severely treated, they had suffered and become +united as a people. They knew no Gods but those worshipped by the +Egyptians, and these Gods it was now the intention of the Almighty to +confound, and prove to the Jews as worthless. At the same time he +worked with his own nation in mystery, for when Moses asked him what +God he was to tell his people that he was, the Almighty only replied +by these words--_I am_; having no name like all the false Gods +worshipped by the Egyptians. He was now about to prove, by his +wonderful miracles, the difference between himself and the false Gods." + +"What are miracles?" + +"A miracle is doing that which man has no power of doing, proving +that the party who does it is superior to man: for instance--to +restore a dead man to life is a miracle, as none but God, or those +empowered by God could do. Miracles were necessary, therefore, to +prove to the Jews that the Almighty was the true God, and were +resorted to by him in this instance, as well as in the coming of Our +Saviour, when it was also necessary to prove that he was the Son of +God. When the Almighty sent Moses to Pharaoh to demand that the +Israelites should have permission to sacrifice in the desert, he +purposely hardened the heart of Pharaoh that he might refuse the +request." + +"But why did he so?" + +"Because he wanted to prove to the Israelites that he was the only +true God and had Pharaoh consented to their going away, there would +have been no opportunity of performing those miracles by which the +Israelites were to be delivered, and by which they were to +acknowledge him as their God." + +Mrs Reichardt often renewed this conversation, till I became +acquainted with Scriptural History. + + + + +Chapter XXVIII + + +The following morning, I went with Nero to take a couple of fish out +of the pool. As soon as Nero had caught them, he went into the other +part of the bathing pool to amuse himself, while I cleaned the fish, +which I generally did before I went up to the cabin, giving him the +heads and insides for his share, if I did not require any portion for +the birds. Nero was full of play that morning, and when I threw the +heads to him, as he frolicked in the water, he brought them out to +the rocks, but instead of eating them, as usual, he laid them at my +feet. I threw them in several times, and he continued to bring them +out, and my mother, coming down to me, was watching him. + +"I think," said she, "you must teach Nero to fetch and carry like a +dog--try. Instead of the heads, throw in this piece of wood;" which +she now broke off the boat-hook staff. + +I did so, and Nero brought it out, as he had done the heads of the +fish. I patted and coaxed the animal, and tried him again several +times with success. + +"Now," said my mother, "you must accustom him to certain words when +you send him for anything. Always say, 'Fetch it, Nero!' and point +with your finger." + +"Why am I to do that, mother?" I asked. + +"Because the object to be gained is, not that the animal should +fetch out what you throw in, but what you send it to bring out which +you have not thrown in. Do you understand?" + +"Yes," replied I. "You mean if there were anything floating near on +the sea, I should send him for it." + +"Exactly. Then Nero would be of some use." + +"I will soon teach him," replied I; "to-morrow I will send him into +the sea after the piece of spar. I've no fear that he will go away +now." + +"I was thinking last night, Frank, whether they had taken the pail +with them in the boat." + +"The pail," said I; "I know where it is, but I quite forgot it. We +left it up the ravine the last day we planted the potatoes." + +"We did so, now I recollect. I will go for it while you get the +breakfast ready." + +We had now been for many weeks on a fish diet, and I must confess +that I was tired of it, which was not the case when I lived upon the +dried birds during the whole of the year. Why so I cannot tell, but +I was soon to learn to relish fish, if I could obtain them. + +It was not often that the wind blew direct on the shore, but coming +from the northward and eastward, it was in a slanting direction, but +occasionally, and chiefly about the time of the Equinoxes, the gales +came on very heavy from the eastward, and then the wash of the seas +upon the rocky coast was tremendous. Such was the case about this +time. A fierce gale of wind from the eastward raised a sea which +threw the surf and spray high over the loftiest of the rocks, and the +violence of the wind bore the spray far inland. The gale had come on +in the evening, and my mother and I, when we rose in the morning, +were standing on the platform before the cabin, admiring the grandeur +of the scene, but without the least idea that it was to be productive +of so much misery to ourselves. My mother pointed out to me some +passages in the Psalms and Old Testament bearing strongly upon the +scene before us; after a time I called Nero, and went down with him +to take fish out of the pool for our day's consumption. At that time +we had a large supply in the pool--more than ever, I should say. +When I arrived at the pool, I found the waves several feet in height +rolling in over the ledges, and the pool one mass of foam, the water +in it being at least two or three feet higher than usual; still it +never occurred to me that there was any mischief done, until I had +sent Nero in for the fish, and found that, after floundering and +diving for some time, he did not bring out one. My mind misgave me, +and I ordered him in again. He remained some time and then returned +without a fish, and I was then satisfied that from the rolling in of +the waves, and the unusual quantity of the water in the pool, the +whole of the fish had escaped, and that we were now without any +provisions or means of subsistence, until the weather should settle, +and enable us to catch some more. + +Aghast at the discovery, I ran up to the cabin, and called to my +mother, who was in her bedroom. + +"Oh, mother, all the fish have got out of the pool, and we have +nothing to eat. I told you we should be starved." + +"Take time, Frank, and take breath," replied she, "and then tell me +what has happened, to cause this alarm and dismay, that you appear to +be in." + +I explained to her what had happened, and that Nero could not find +one fish. + +"I fear that what you say must be correct," replied she; "but we +must put our trust in God. It is his will, and whatever he wills +must be right." + +I cannot say I was Christian enough at the time to acknowledge the +truth of her reply, and I answered, "If God is as good and as +gracious as you say, will he allow us to starve? Does he know that +we are starving?" continued I. + +"Does he know, Frank?" replied my mother; "what does the Bible say-- +that not a sparrow falls to the ground without his knowledge; and of +how much more worth are you than many sparrows? Shame upon you, +Frank!" + +I was abashed but not satisfied, I therefore replied quietly, "We +have nothing to eat, mother." + +"Granted that we have lost all our fish, Frank, still we are not yet +starving; the weather may moderate tomorrow, and we may catch some +more, or even if it should not till the day afterwards, we can bear +to be two days without food. Let us hope for the best and put our +trust in God--let us pray to him and ask him for his assistance. He +can rebuke these stormy waters--he can always find means of helping +those who put confidence in him, and will send us aid when all hope +appears gone. Pray, Frank, as I will do, fervently, and believing +that your prayer is heard--pray with faith, and your prayer will be +answered." + +"It is not always so," replied I; "you have told me of many people +who have died of starvation." + +"I grant it, and for all wise purposes they were permitted so to do, +but the Almighty had reasons for permitting it, unknown to us, but +which you may depend upon it, were good. We cannot fathom his +decrees. He may even now decide that such is to be our fate; but if +so, depend upon it, Frank, all is right, and what appears to you now +as cruel and neglectful of you, would, if the future could be looked +into by us, prove to have been an act of mercy." + +"Do you think, then, that we shall starve?" + +"I do not--I have too much faith in God's mercy, and I do not think +that he would have preserved our lives by preventing the men from +taking us into the boat, if we were now to starve. God is not +inconsistent; and I feel assured that, forlorn as our present +position appears to be, and tried as our faith in him may be, we +shall still be preserved, and live to be monuments of his gracious +love and kindness." + +These words of my mother and the implicit confidence which she +appeared to have, much revived me. "Well," said I, "I hope you are +right, my dear mother, and now I think of it," continued I, +brightening up at the idea, "if the worst come to the worst, we can +eat the birds; I don't care much for them now, and if I did, you +should not starve, mother." + +"I believe you would not hesitate to sacrifice the birds, Frank, but +a greater sacrifice may be demanded of you." + +"What?" inquired I; and then after a little thought, I said, "You +don't mean Nero, mother?" + +"To tell the truth, I did mean Nero, Frank, for the birds will not +be a support for more than a day or two." + +"I never could kill Nero, mother," replied I gloomily, and walking +away into the cabin, I sat down very melancholy at the idea of my +favourite being sacrificed; to me it appeared quite horrible, and my +mother having referred to it, made her fall very much in my good +opinion. Alas! I was indeed young and foolish, and little thought +what a change would take place in my feelings. As for the birds, as I +really did not care for them, I resolved to kill two of them for our +day's meal, and returning to the platform I had laid hold of the two +that were there and had seized both by the neck, when my mother asked +me what I was going to do. + +"Kill them, and put them in the pot for our dinner," replied I. + +"Nay, Frank! you are too hasty. Let us make some little sacrifice, +even for the poor birds. We surely can fast one day without very +great suffering. To-morrow will be time enough." + +I dropped the birds from my hand, tacitly consenting to her +proposal. It was not, however, for the sake of the birds that I did +so, but because one day's respite for the birds would be a day's +respite for Nero. + +"Come," said my mother, "let us go into the cabin and get some work. +I will alter some of the clothes for you. What will you do?" + +"I don't know," replied I, "but I will do whatever you tell me." + +"Well, then, I perceive that the two fishing-lines are much worn, +and they may break very soon, and then we shall be without the means +of taking fish, even if the weather is fine, so now we will cut off +some of the whale line, and when it is unravelled, I will show you +how to lay it up again into fishing line; and, perhaps, instead of +altering the clothes, I had better help you, as fishing-lines are now +of more consequence to us than anything else." + +This was an arrangement which I gladly consented to. In a short time +the whale line was unravelled, and my mother showed me how to lay it +up in three yarns, so as to make a stout fishing line. She assisted, +and the time passed away more rapidly than I had expected it would. + +"You are very clever, mother," said I. + +"No, my child, I am not, but I certainly do know many things which +women in general are not acquainted with; but the reason of this is, +I have lived a life of wandering, and occasional hardships. Often +left to our own resources, when my husband and I were among +strangers, we found the necessity of learning to do many things for +ourselves, which those who have money usually employ others to do for +them; but I have been in situations where even money was of no use, +and had to trust entirely to myself. I have therefore always made it +a rule to learn everything that I could; and as I have passed much of +my life in sailing over the deep waters, I obtained much useful +knowledge from the seamen, and this of laying up fishing lines is one +of the arts which they communicated to me. Now, you see, I reap the +advantage of it." + +"Yes," replied I; "and so do I. How lucky it was that you came to +this island!" + +"Lucky for me, do you mean, Frank?" + +"No, mother! I mean how lucky for me." + +"I trust that I have been sent here to be useful, Frank, and with +that feeling I cheerfully submit to the will of God. He has sent me +that I may be useful to you, I do not doubt; and if by my means you +are drawn towards him, and, eventually, become one of his children, I +shall have fulfilled my mission." + +"I do not understand you quite, mother." + +"No, you cannot as yet, but everything in season," replied she, +slowly musing; "'First the blade, then the ear, and then the full +corn in the ear,'" + +"Mother," said I, "I should like to hear the whole story of your +life. You know I have told you all that I know about myself. Now +suppose you tell me your history, and that of your husband. You did +say that perhaps, one day you would. Do you recollect?" + +"Yes, I do recollect that I did make a sort of promise, Frank, and I +promise you now that some day I will fulfil it; but I am not sure +that you will understand or profit by the history now, so much as you +may bye-and-bye." + +"Well, but mother, you can tell me the story twice, and I shall be glad +to hear it again, so tell it to me now, to amuse me, and bye-and-bye +that I may profit by it." + +My mother smiled, which she very seldom did, and said-- + +"Well, Frank, as I know you would at any time give up your dinner to +listen to a story, and as you will have no dinner to-day, I think it +is but fair that I should consent to your wish. Who shall I begin +with--with my husband or with myself?" + +"Pray begin with your own history," replied I. + + + + +Chapter XXIX + + +"I am the daughter of a parish clerk in a small market town near the +southern coast of England, within a few miles of a large seaport." + +"What is a parish clerk?" I asked, interrupting my mother at the +commencement of her promised narrative. + +"A parish clerk," she replied, "is a man who is employed in the +parish or place to which he belongs, to fulfil certain humble duties +in connection with the church or place of worship where the people +meet together to worship God." + +"What does he do there?" I inquired. + +"He gives out the psalms that are to be sung, leads the congregation +in making their responses to the minister appointed to perform the +services of the church; has the custody of the registry of births, +deaths, and burials of the inhabitants, and the care of the church +monuments, and of other property belonging to the building. In some +places he also fulfils the duties of bell-ringer and grave-digger; +that is to say, by ringing a large bell at the top of the church, he +summons the people to their devotions, during their lives, and digs a +hole in consecrated ground, surrounding the sacred building, to +receive their bodies when dead." + +I mused on this strange combination of offices, and entertained a +notion of the importance of such a functionary, which I afterwards +found was completely at variance with the real state of the case. + +"My father," she resumed, "not only fulfilled all these duties, but +contrived to perform the functions of schoolmaster to the parish +children." + +"What are parish children?" I asked eagerly. "I know what children +are, as Jackson represented to me that I was the child of my father +and mother, but what makes children, parish children?" + +"They are the children of the poor," Mrs Reichardt replied, "who, +not being able to afford them instruction, willingly allow them to be +taught at the expense of the people of the parish generally." + +I thought this a praiseworthy arrangement. I knew nothing of poors-rates, +and the system of giving relief to the poor of the parish, so long +used in England, afterwards explained to me, but the kindness and +wisdom of this plan of instruction became evident to my understanding. +I was proceeding to ask other questions, when my mother stopped them +by saying, that if I expected her to get through her story, I must +let her proceed without further interruption; for many things would +be mentioned by her which demanded explanation, for one so completely +unaware of their existence as myself, and that it would be impossible +to make me thoroughly acquainted with such things within any reasonable +time; the proper explanations, she promised, should follow. She then +proceeded. + +"My father, it may be thought, had enough on his hands, but in an +obscure country town, it is not unusual for one man to unite the +occupations of several, and this was particularly the case with my +father, who, in addition to the offices I have enumerated, was the +best cattle-doctor and bone-setter within ten miles; and often earned +his bread at different kinds of farmer's work, such as thatching, +hedging, ditching and the like. Nevertheless, he found time to read +his Bible, and bring up his only daughter religiously. This daughter +was myself." + +"What had become of your mother?" I asked, as I thought it strange +Mrs Reichardt should only mention one parent. + +"She had died very soon after my birth," she answered, "and I was +left at first to the care of a poor woman, who nursed me; as soon, +however, as I could run about, and had exhibited some signs of +intelligence, my father began to get so partial to me, that he very +reluctantly allowed me to go out of his sight. He took great pains in +teaching me what he knew, and though the extent of his acquirements +was by no means great, it was sufficient to lay a good foundation, +and establish a desire for more comprehensive information, which I +sought every available means to obtain. + +"I remember that at a very early age I exhibited an extraordinary +curiosity for a child; constantly asking questions, not only of my +father, but of all his friends and visitors, and, as they seemed to +consider me a quick and lively child, they took pleasure in +satisfying my inquisitive spirit. In this way I gained a great deal +of knowledge, and, by observation of what passed around me, a great +deal more. + +"It soon became a source of pride and gratification with my father, +to ask me to read the Bible to him. This naturally led to a good many +inquiries on my part, and numerous explanations on his. In course of +time, I became familiar with all the sacred writings, and knew their +spirit and meaning much better than many persons who were more than +double my age. + +"My fondness for such studies, and consequent reputation, attracted +the attention of Dr Brightwell, the clergyman of our parish, who had +the kindness to let me share the instructions of his children, and +still further advanced my education, and still more increased my +natural predilection for religious information. By the time I was +thirteen, I became quite a prodigy in Christian learning, and was +often sent for to the parsonage, to astonish the great people of the +neighbourhood, by the facility with which I answered the most +puzzling questions that were put to me, respecting the great +mysteries of Christianity." + + + + +Chapter XXX + + +It was about this time that I first became acquainted with an orphan +boy, an inmate of the workhouse, who had been left to the care of the +parish by the sudden death of his parents, a German clock-maker and +his wife, from a malignant fever which had visited the neighbourhood, +and taken off a considerable portion of the labouring population. I +had been sent on errands from my father, to the master of the +workhouse, a severe, sullen man, of whom I had a great dread, and I +noticed this child, in consequence of his pale and melancholy +countenance, and apparently miserable condition. I observed that no +one took any notice of him; and that he was allowed to wander about +the great straggling workhouse, among the insane, the idiotic, and +the imbecile, without the slightest attention being paid to his going +and coming; in short, he lived the wretched life of a workhouse boy. + +"I see that you are eager to ask what is a workhouse boy," said my +mother, "so I will anticipate your question. There is, in the various +parishes of the country to which we both belong, a building expressly +set apart for the accommodation and support of the destitute and +disabled poor. It usually contains inmates of all ages, from the +infant just born, to the very aged, whose infirmities shew them to be +on the verge of the grave. They are all known to be in a state of +helpless poverty, and quite unable to earn a subsistence for +themselves. In this building they are clothed and fed; the younger +provided with instruction necessary to put them in the way of earning +a livelihood; the elders of the community enjoying the consolations +of religion, accorded to them by the regular visits of the chaplain." + +"I suppose," I here observed, "that the people who lived there, were +deeply impressed with their good fortune in finding such an asylum?" + +"As far as I could ever ascertain," Mrs Reichardt replied, "it was +exactly the reverse. It was always thought so degrading to enter a +workhouse, that the industrious labourer would endure any and every +privation rather than live there. An honest hard-working man must be +sorely driven indeed, to seek such a shelter in his distress." + +"That seems strange," I observed. "Why should he object to receive +what he so much stands in need of?" + +"When he thus comes upon the funds of the parish," answered my +mother, "he becomes what is called a pauper, and among the English +peasantry of the better sort, there is the greatest possible aversion +to be ranked with this degraded class. Consequently, the inmates of +the workhouses are either those whose infirmities prevent their +earning a subsistence, or the idle and the dissolute, who feel none +of the honest prejudices of self-dependence, and care only to live +from day to day on the coarse and meagre fare afforded them by the +charity of their wealthier and more industrious fellow-creatures. + +"The case of this poor boy I thought very pitiable. I found out that +his name was Heinrich Reichardt. He could speak no language but his +own, and therefore his wants remained unknown, and his feelings +unregarded. He had been brought up with a certain sense of comfort +and decency, which was cruelly outraged by the position in which he +found himself placed by the sudden death of his parents. I observed +that he was often in tears, and his fair features and light hair +contrasted remarkably with the squalid faces and matted locks of his +companions. His wretchedness never failed to make a deep impression +on me. + +"I brought him little presents, and strove to express my sympathy +for his sufferings. He seemed, at first, more surprised than +grateful, but I shortly discovered that my attentions gave him +unusual pleasure, and he looked upon my visits as his only solace and +gratification. + +"Even at this period I exercised considerable influence over my +father, and I managed to interest him in the case of the poor foreign +boy to such an extent, that he was induced to take him out of the +workhouse, and find him a home under his own roof. He was at first +reluctant to burden himself with the bringing up of a child, who, +from his foreign language and habits, could be of little use to him +in his avocations; but I promised to teach him English, and all other +learning of which he stood most in need, and assured my father that +in a prodigious short time I would make him a much abler assistant +than he was likely to find among the boys of the town. + +"My father's desire to please me, rather than any faith he reposed +in my assertions, led him to allow me to do as I pleased in this +affair. I lost no time, therefore, in beginning my course of +instruction, and in a few weeks ascertained that I had an apt pupil, +who was determined to proceed with his education as fast as +circumstances would admit. We were soon able to express our ideas to +each other, and in a few months read together the book out of which I +had received so many invaluable lessons. + +"In a short time, I became not less proud of, than partial to, my +pupil. I took him through the same studies which I had pursued under +the auspices of our clergyman, and was secretly pleased to find, not +only that he was singularly quick in imbibing my instructions, but +displayed a strong natural taste for those investigations towards +which I had shown so marked a bias. + +"Day after day have we sat together discoursing of the great events +recorded in Holy Writ: going over every chapter of its marvellous +records, page by page, till the whole was so firmly fixed upon our +minds, that we had no necessity during our conversations for +referring to the Sacred Book. We found examples we held up to +ourselves for imitation; we found incidents we regarded as promises +of Divine protection; we found consolation and comfort, as well as +exhortation and advice; and, moreover, we found a sort of instruction +that led us to select for ourselves duties that apparently tended to +bring us nearer to the Great Being whose goodness we had so +diligently studied. + +"My father seemed as much pleased with my successful teaching, as he +had been with my successful learning; and when young Reichardt turned +out a remarkably handy and intelligent lad, to whose assistance in +some of his avocations he could have recourse with perfect confidence +in his cleverness and discretion, he grew extremely partial to him. +Dr Brightwell also proved his friend, and in a few years, the +condition of the friendless workhouse boy was so changed, he could +not have been taken for the same person. + +"He was a boy of a very grateful spirit, and always regarded me with +the devotion of a most thankful heart. Often would he contrast the +wretchedness of his previous condition, with the happiness he now +enjoyed, and express in the warmest terms his obligations to me for +the important service I had rendered him in rescuing him from the +abject misery of the workhouse. Under these circumstances, it is not +extraordinary, that we should learn to regard each other with the +liveliest feelings of affection, and while we were still children, +endured all the transports and torments which make up the existence +of more experienced lovers." + +"I do not like interrupting you," I here observed, "but I certainly +should like to know what is meant by the word lovers?" + +"I can scarcely explain it to you satisfactorily at present," said +Mrs Reichardt, with a smile; "but I have no doubt, before many years +have passed over your head--always provided that you escape from this +island--you will understand it without requiring any explanation. But +I must now leave my story, as many things of much consequence to our +future welfare now demand my careful attention." + +I could not then ascertain from her what was meant by the word whose +meaning I had asked. It had very much excited my curiosity, but she +left me to attend to her domestic duties, of which she was extremely +regardful, and I had no opportunity at that time of eliciting from +her the explanation I desired. + + + + +Chapter XXXI + + +It is impossible for me to overrate the value of Mrs Reichardt's +assistance. Indeed had it not been for her, circumstanced as I was at +this particular period, I should in all probability have perished. +Her exhortations saved me from despair, when our position seemed to +have grown quite desperate. But example did more, even, than precept. +Her ingenuity in devising expedients, her activity in putting them in +force, her unfailing cheerfulness under disappointment, and Christian +resignation under privation, produced the best results. I was enabled +to bear up against the ill effects of our crippled resources, +consequent upon the ill conduct of the sailors of the whaler, and the +failure of our fish-pond. + +She manufactured strong lines for deep sea fishing, and having +discovered a shelf of rock, little more than two feet above the sea, +to which with a good deal of difficulty I could descend, I took my +stand one day on the rock with my lines baited with a piece of one of +my feathered favourites, whom dire necessity had at last forced me to +destroy. I waited with all the patience of a veteran angler. I knew +the water to be very deep, and it lay in a sheltered nook or corner +of the rocks about ten feet across; I allowed the line to drop some +three or four yards, and not having any float, could only tell I had +a bite by feeling a pull at the line, which was wound round my arm. + +After some time having been passed in this way, my attention was +withdrawn from the line, and given to the narrative I had so lately +heard--that is to say, though my eyes were still fixed upon the line, +I had completely given up my thoughts to the story of the poor German +boy, who had been snatched from poverty by the interference of the +parish clerk's daughter, and I contrived to speculate on what I +should have done under such circumstances, imagining all sorts of +extravagances in which I should have indulged, to testify my +gratitude to so amiable and benevolent a friend. + +A singular course of ideal scenes followed each other in quick +succession in my mind--as I fancied myself the hero of a similar +adventure. I regarded my imaginary benefactress with feelings of such +intensity as I had never before experienced; and it seemed that I was +to her the exciting object of sentiments of a like nature, the +knowledge of which awoke in our hearts the most agreeable sensations. + +I was rudely disturbed out of this day-dream by finding myself +suddenly plunged into the deep water beneath me. The shock was so +startling, that some seconds elapsed before I could comprehend my +situation; and then it became clear that I must have hooked a fish, +that had not only succeeded in pulling me off my balance, but the +line by which he was held being round my arm, cutting painfully into +the flesh, threatened drowning by keeping me under water. With great +difficulty I managed to rise to the surface, and loosened the +windings of the line from my limb; then, anxious to retain possession +of what from its force must have been a fish well worth some trouble +in catching, I held on with both hands, and pulled with all my +strength. + +At first, by main force I was drawn through the water; then when I +found the strain slacken, I drew in the line. This manoeuvre was +repeated several times, till I succeeded in obtaining a view of what +I had caught; or, more properly speaking, of what had caught me. It +was merely a glimpse; for the fish, which was a very large one, +getting a sight of me within a few yards of him, made some desperate +plunges, and again darted off, dragging me along with him, sometimes +under the water, and sometimes on the surface. + +His body was nearly round, and about seven or eight feet long--rather +a formidable antagonist for close quarters; nevertheless, I was most +eager to get at him, the more so, when I ascertained that his resistance +was evidently decreasing. I continued to approach, and at last got +near enough to plunge my knife up to the haft in his head, which at +once put an end to the struggle. + +But now another difficulty presented itself. In the ardour of the +chase I had been drawn nearly a mile from the island, and I found it +impossible to carry back the produce of my sport, exhausted as I was +by the efforts I had made in capturing him. I knew I could not swim +with such a burthen for the most inconsiderable portion of the +distance. My fish therefore must be abandoned. Here was a bountiful +supply of food, as soon as placed within reach, rendered totally +unavailable. + +I thought of Mrs Reichardt. I thought how gratified she would have +been, could I have brought to her such an excellent addition to our +scanty stock of food. Then I thought of her steadfast reliance upon +Providence, and what valuable lessons of piety and wisdom she would +read me, if she found me depressed by my disappointment. + + + + +Chapter XXXII + + +As soon as I could disconnect my tackle from the dead fish, I turned +my face homewards, and struck out manfully for the shore; luckily I +did not observe any sharks. I landed safely without further +adventure, and immediately sought my kind friend and companion, whom +I found, as usual, industriously employed in endeavouring to secure +me additional comforts. If she was not engaged in ordinary women's +work, making, mending, cleaning, or improving, in our habitation, she +was sure to be found doing something in the immediate neighbourhood, +which, though less feminine, shewed no less forethought, prudence, +and sagacity. + +Our garden had prospered wonderfully under her hands. The ground +seemed now stocked with various kinds of vegetation, of which I +neither knew the value, nor the proper mode of cultivation; and we +seemed about to be surrounded with shrubs and plants--many of very +pleasing appearance--that must in a short time entirely change the +aspect of the place. + +She heard my adventure with a good deal of interest, only +remonstrating with me upon my want of caution, and dwelling upon the +fatal consequences that must have ensued to herself, had I been +drowned or disabled by falling from the rock, or devoured by the +sharks. + +"You may consider yourself, my dear son," she observed, with serious +earnestness, "to have been under the Divine care. Nothing can be +clearer than that a wise and kind Providence is continually watching +over his creatures when placed in unusual or perilous circumstances. +He occasionally affords them manifestations of his favour, to +encourage them when engaged in good works. This shews the +comprehensive eye of the master of many workmen, who overlooks the +labours of his more industrious servants, and indicates to them his +regard for their welfare and appreciation of their labours." + +"But surely," I interposed, "if I had been under the superintendence +of the Providence of which you speak, I should not have been obliged +to abandon so capital a fish, when I had endured such trouble to +capture it, and when its possession was so necessary to our comfort, +nay, even to our existence." + +"The very abandonment of so unwieldy a creature," she replied, "is +unanswerable evidence of a Divine interposition in your favour; for +had you persisted in your intention of carrying it to the shore, +there is but little doubt that its weight would have overpowered you, +and that you would have been drowned; and then what would have become +of me? A woman left in this desolate spot to her own resources, must +soon be forced to give up the struggle for existence, from want of +physical strength. Nevertheless, there are numerous instances on +record, of women having surmounted hardships which few men could +endure. Supported by our Heavenly Father, who is so powerful a +protector of the weak, and friend of the helpless, the weakest of our +weak sex may triumph over the most intolerable sufferings. I, +however, am not over confident of being so supported, and therefore, +I think it would be but shewing a proper consideration for your +fellow exile, to act in every emergency with as much circumspection +and prudence as possible." + +I promised that for the future I would run no such risks, and added +many professions of regard for her safety. They had the desired +effect; I pretended to think no more of my disappointment, +nevertheless, I found myself constantly dwelling on the size of my +lost fish, and lamenting my being obliged to abandon him to his more +voracious brethren of the deep. These thoughts so filled my mind that +at night I continued to dream over again the whole incident, +beginning with my patient angling from the rock, and concluding with +my disconsolate swim to shore--and pursued my scaly antagonist quite +as determinedly in my sleep as I had done in the deep waters. + +I rose early after having passed so disturbed a night, and soon made +my way to the usual haunt of Nero, whom I discovered in the sea near +the rocks making all sorts of strange tumblings and divings, +apparently after some dark object that was floating in the water. I +called him away, to examine what it was that had so attracted his +attention, and my surprise may be imagined when I made out the huge +form of my enemy of the preceding day. My shouts and exclamations of +joy soon brought Mrs Reichardt to the scene, and when she discovered +the shape of this prodigious fish, her surprise seemed scarcely less +than my own. + +How to land him was our first consideration; and after some debate +on the ways and means, I got a rope and leaped into the water with +it, fastened a noose round his gills, and then swimming back and +climbing the rock; we jointly tried to pull him up on to the shore. +We hauled and tugged with all our force for a considerable time, but +to very little effect; he was too heavy to pull up perpendicularly. +At last we managed to drag him to a low piece of rock, and there I +divided him into several pieces, which Mrs Reichardt carried away to +dry and preserve in some way that she said would make the fish +capital eating all the year round. + +It was very palatable when dressed by her, and as she changed the +manner of cooking several times, I never got tired of it. By its +flavour, as far as I could judge from subsequent knowledge, the +creature was something of the sturgeon kind of fish, but its proper +name I never could learn; nor was I ever able to catch another, +therefore, I must presume that it was a stranger in those seas. +Nevertheless, he proved most acceptable to us both, for we should +have fared but ill for some time, had it not been for his +providential capture. + +It was one afternoon, when we had been enjoying a capital meal at +the expense of our great friend, that I led the subject to Mrs +Reichardt's adventures, subsequently to where she broke off in the +story of herself and the poor German boy; and though not without +considerable reluctance, I induced her to proceed with her narrative. + + + + +Chapter XXXIII + + +"Our good minister Dr Brightwell," she commenced, "was a man of +considerable scholastic attainments, and he delighted in making a +display of them. At one time, he had been master of an extensive +grammar school, and now he employed a good deal of his leisure in +teaching those boys and girls of the town, who indicated the +possession of anything like talent. The overseers used to talk +jestingly to my father of the Doctor teaching plough-boys Greek and +Latin; and wenches, whose chief employment was stone-picking in the +fields, geography and the use of the globes. Even the churchwardens +shook their heads, and privately thought the Rector a little out of +his seven senses for wasting his learning upon such unprofitable +scholars. Nevertheless, he continued his self-imposed task, without +meeting any reward beyond the satisfaction of his own conscience. It +was not till he added to his pupils myself and young Reichardt, that +he felt he was doing his duty with some prospect of advantage. + +"The spirit of emulation roused both of us to make extraordinary +efforts to second our worthy master's endeavours: and this did not, +as is usually the case, proceed from rivalry--it arose entirely from +a desire of the one to stand well in the estimation of the other. In +this way we learned the French and Latin languages, geography, and +the usual branches of a superior education: but our bias was more +particularly for religious knowledge, and our preceptor encouraged +this, till we were almost as good theologians as himself. + +"While this information was being carefully arranged and digested, +there sprung up in our hearts so deep a devotion for each other, that +we were miserable when absent and enjoyed no gratification so much as +being in each other's society. We knew not then the full power and +meaning of this preference, but, as we changed from boy and girl-hood +to adult life, our feelings developed themselves into that attachment +between the sexes, which from time immemorial has received the name +of love." + +"I think I know what that means, now," said I, as my day-dream, +which was so rudely disturbed by my fall into the sea occurred to me. + +"It would be strange if you did," she replied, "considering that it +is quite impossible you should have become acquainted with it." + +"Yes, I am certain I understand it very well," I rejoined, more +confidently, and then added, not without some embarrassment, "If I +were placed in the position of Heinrich Reichardt, I am quite sure I +should feel towards any young female, who was so kind to me, the +deepest regard and affection. I should like to be constantly near +her, and should always desire that she should like me better than +anyone else." + +"That is quite as good an explanation of the matter, as I could +expect from you," she observed, smiling. "But to return to my story. +Our mutual attachment attracted general attention, and was the +subject of much observation. But we had no enemies: and when we were +met strolling together in the shady lanes, gathering wild flowers, or +wandering through the woods in search of wild strawberries, no one +thought it necessary to make any remark if we had our arms round each +other's waist. My father, if he heard anything about it, did not +interfere. Young Reichardt had made himself so useful to him, and +shewed himself so remarkably clever in everything he undertook, that +the old man loved him as his own son. + +"It was a settled thing between us, that we were to become man and +wife, as soon as we should be permitted. And many were our plans and +schemes for the future. Heinrich considered himself to be in the +position of Jacob, who served such a long and patient apprenticeship +for Rachel; and though he confessed he should not like to wait so +long for his wife as the patriarch had been made to do, he +acknowledged he would rather serve my father to the full period, than +give up all hope of possessing me. + +"This happy state of things was, however, suddenly put an end to, by +Dr Brightwell one day sending for my father. It was a long time +before he came back, and when he did, he looked unusually grave and +reserved. In an hour or so he communicated to me the result of his +long interview with the Rector. The Doctor had resolved to send young +Reichardt to a distant place, where many learned men lived together +in colleges, for the purpose of further advancing his education, and +fitting him for a religious teacher, to which vocation he had long +expressed a desire to devote himself. The idea of separation seemed +very terrible, but I at last got reconciled to it, in the belief that +it would be greatly for Heinrich's advantage, and we parted at last +with many tears, many protestations, some fears, but a great many +more hopes. + +"For some days after he had left me, everything seemed so strange, +every one seemed so dull, every place seemed so desolate, that I felt +as if I had been transported into some dismal scene, where I knew no +one, and where there was no one likely to care about me in the +slightest degree. My father went about his avocations in a different +spirit to what he had so long been used to exhibit; it was evident he +missed Heinrich as much as I did, and the villagers stared whenever I +passed them--as though my ever going about without Heinrich, was +something which they had never anticipated. + +"In course of time, however, to all appearance, everything and every +one went on in their daily course, as though no Heinrich had ever +been heard of. My father would sometimes, when overpressed by +business, refer to the able assistant he had lost, and now and then I +heard a conjecture hazarded by some one or other of his most +confidential friends, as to what young Reichardt was doing with +himself. My conjectures, and my references to him, were far from +being so occasional; there was scarce an hour of the day I did not +think of him; but, believing that I should please him most by +endeavouring to improve as much as possible during his absence, I did +not give myself up to idle reflections respecting the past, or +anticipations, equally idle, respecting the future. + +"My great delight was in hearing from him. At first, his letters +expressed only his feelings for me; then he dwelt more largely on his +own exertions for preparing himself for the profession he desired to +adopt; and after a time, his correspondence was almost entirely +composed of expositions of his views of a religious life, and +dissertations on various points of doctrine. He evidently was growing +more enthusiastic in religion, and less regardful of our attachment. + +"Yet I entertained no apprehensions or misgivings. I did not think +it necessary to consider myself slighted because the thoughts of my +future husband were evidently raised more and more above me; the +knowledge of this only made me more anxious to raise myself more and +more towards the elevation to which his thoughts were so intently +directed. + +"Things went on in this way for two or three years. I never saw him +all this time; I heard from him but seldom. He excused his limited +correspondence on the plea that his studies left him no time for +writing. I never blamed him for this apparent neglect--indeed I +rather encouraged it, for my exhortations were always that he should +address his time and energies towards the attainment of the object I +knew him to have so much at heart--his becoming a minister of our +Lord's Gospel. + +"One day my father came home from the rectory with a troubled +countenance. Dr Brightwell was very indignant because Heinrich had +joined a religious community that dissented from the Articles of the +Church of England. The Doctor had offered to get him employment in +the Church, if he would give up his new connections: but the more +earnest character of his new faith exerted so much influence over his +enthusiastic nature, that he willingly abandoned his bright prospects +to become a more humble labourer in a less productive vineyard. + +"My father, as the clerk of the parish, seemed to think himself +bound to share in the indignation of his pastor for this desertion, +and Heinrich was severely condemned by him for displaying such +ingratitude to his benefactor: I was commanded to think no more of him. + +"This, however, was not so easy a matter, although our correspondence +appeared to have entirely ceased. I knew not where to address a letter +to him and was quite unaware of what his future career was now to be." + + + + +Chapter XXXIV + + +"Time passed on. With all, except myself, Heinrich Reichardt +appeared to be forgotten; in the opinion of all, except myself, he +had forgotten our house, and all the friends he had once made there. +Our good Rector had been removed by death from the post he had so +ably filled; and my father being incapacitated by age and infirmity +from attending his duties in the church, had his place filled by +another. He had saved sufficient to live upon, and had built himself +a small cottage at the end of the village, where we lived together in +perfect peace, if not in perfect happiness. + +"I had long grown up to womanhood, and having some abilities, had +been employed as one of the teachers of the girls' school, of which I +had raised myself to be mistress. I conducted myself so as to win the +respect of the chief parochial officers, from more than one of whom I +received proposals of marriage: but I never could reconcile myself to +the idea of becoming the wife of any man but the long-absent +Heinrich, and the new clerk and the overseer were fain to be content +with my grateful rejection of their proposals. + +"I determined to wait patiently till I could learn from Heinrich's +own lips that he had abandoned his early friend. I could never get +myself to believe in the possibility of his unfaithfulness; and the +remembrances of our mutual studies in the Book of Truth seemed always +to suggest the impossibility of his acting so completely at variance +with the impressions he had thence received. + +"I was aware that if I had mentioned my hopes of his one day coming +to claim me, I should be laughed at by everyone who knew anything of +our story--so I said nothing; but continued the more devotedly in my +heart to cherish that faith which had so long afforded me support +against the overwhelming evidence of prolonged silence and neglect. + +"There was a congregation of Dissenters in the town, and I had been +once or twice prevailed on to join their devotions. One day I heard +that proceedings of extraordinary interest would take place at the +meeting-house. A minister of great reputation had accepted the +situation of Missionary to preach the Gospel to the heathen, and he +was visiting the different congregations that lay in his route to the +seaport whence he was to embark to the Sandwich Islands. He was +expected to address a discourse to the Dissenters of our parish, and +I was induced to go and hear him. + +"The meeting-house was very much crowded, but I contrived to get a +seat within a short distance of the speakers, and waited with much +interest to behold the man, who, like some of the first preachers, +had chosen the perilous task of endeavouring to convert a nation of +savage idolaters to the faith of the true Christ. + +"After a short delay he appeared on a raised platform, and was +introduced to this congregation by their minister. I heard nothing of +this introduction, though it seemed a long one; I saw nothing of the +speaker, though his was a figure which always attracted an attentive +audience. I saw only the stranger. In those pale, grave, and serious +features then presented to me, I recognised Heinrich Reichardt." + +"He had come back to you at last," I exclaimed; "I thought he would. +After all you had done for the poor German boy, it was impossible +that he should grow up to manhood and forget you." + +"You shall hear," she replied. "For some time my heart beat wildly, +and I thought I should be obliged to leave the place, my sensations +became so overpowering; but the fear of disturbing the congregation, +and of attracting attention towards myself, had such influence over +me, that I managed to retain sufficient control over my feelings to +remain quiet. Nevertheless, my eyes were upon Heinrich, and my whole +heart and soul were exclusively engrossed by him while he continued +before me. + +"Presently he began to speak. As I have just said, I paid no +attention to the preliminary proceedings. I know nothing of the +manner in which he was introduced to his audience; but when he became +the speaker, every word fell upon my ear with a distinctness that +seemed quite marvellous to me. + +"And how could it be otherwise? His tall figure, his melancholy yet +expressive features, his earnest manner, and clear and sonorous +voice, invested him with all the power and dignity of an Apostle, and +when with these attributes were joined those associations of the past +with which he was so intimately connected, it is impossible to +exaggerate the influence he exercised over me. + +"He began with a fervent blessing on all who had sought the sanctity +of that roof, and his hearers, impressed with the thrilling earnestness +of his delivery, became at once hushed into a kind of awe-struck +attention. They knelt down, and bowed their heads in prayer. + +"I appeared to have no power to follow the general example, but +remained the only sitter in the entire congregation with my eyes, +nay, all my senses, fixed, rivetted upon the preacher. This, of +course, attracted his attention. I saw him look towards me with +surprise, then he started, his voice hesitated for a moment, but he +almost immediately continued his benediction, and, as it seemed to +me, with a voice tremulous with emotion. + +"Then followed a discourse on the object of the preacher in +presenting himself there. He described the wonderful goodness of the +Creator in continually raising up the most humble instruments of his +will to perform the most important offices; in illustration of which +he referred to the numerous instances in the Old and New Testaments, +where God's preference in this way is so clearly manifested. + +"He then stated that 'a case had arisen for Divine interposition, +equal in necessity to any which had occurred since the first +commencement of Christianity.' He explained that 'there were nations +still existing in a distant portion of the globe in a state of the +wildest barbarism. Ignorant savages were they, with many cruel and +idolatrous customs, who were cannibals and murderers, and given up to +the worst vices of the heathen. Their abject and pitiable state, he +told us, the Lord God had witnessed with Divine commiseration, and +had determined that the light of Christian love should shine upon +their darkness, and that Almighty wisdom should dissipate their +besotted ignorance. + +"'But who' he asked, 'was to be the ambassador from so stupendous a +Power to these barbarous states? Who would venture to be a messenger +of peace and comfort to a cruel and savage nation? Was there no man,' +he again asked, 'great enough and bold enough to undertake a mission +of such vast importance, attended by such terrible risks? + +"'The Almighty Ruler seeks not for his ministers among the great and +bold,' he added, 'as it is written, He hath put down the mighty from +their seats, and hath exalted the humble and meek. And it will be +peculiarly so on this occasion, for the exaltation is from the +humblest origin; so humble it is scarcely possible to imagine so +miserable a beginning, in the end attaining distinction so honorable. + +"'Imagine, if you can, my brethren,' he said, 'in the building set +apart in your town for the reception of your destitute poor, a child +parentless, friendless, and moneyless, condemned, as it seemed, to +perpetual raggedness and intolerable suffering. A ministering angel, +under the direction of the Supreme Goodness, took that child by the +hand and led it out of the pauper walls that enclosed it, and under +its auspices the child grew and flourished, and learned all that was +excellent in faith and admirable in practice. + +"'It was ordained that he should lose sight of his angelic teacher. +A dire necessity compelled him to withdraw from that pure and +gracious influence. He had to learn in a different school, and +prepare himself for heavier tasks. Manhood, with all its severe +responsibilities, came upon him. He sought first to render himself +competent for some holy undertaking, before he could consider himself +worthy again to claim that notice which had made him what he was. +Earnestly he strove for the Divine assistance and encouragement; and +as his qualifications increased, his estimate of the worthiness +necessary for the object he had in view, became more and more exalted. + +"'At last,' he continued, 'it became known to him that a Missionary +was required to explain to the savage people to whom I have already +alluded, the principles of Christianity. He was appointed to this +sacred trust: and he then determined, before he left this country for +the distant one of his ministry, to present himself before that +beneficent being who had poured out before him so abundant a measure +of Christian virtue; that they might be joined together in the same +great vocation, and support each other in the same important trust.' + +"I heard enough," continued Mrs Reichardt. "All was explained, and I +was fully satisfied. The discourse proceeded to identify the speaker +with the poor boy who had been preserved for such onerous duties. +Then came an appeal to the congregation for their prayers, and such +assistance as they could afford, to advance so holy a work as the +conversion of the heathen. + +"I was in such a tumult of pleasant feelings that I retained but a +confused recollection of the subsequent events. I only remember that +as I was walking home from the meeting, I heard footsteps quickly +following; in a few minutes more the voice that had so lately filled +my heart to overflowing with happiness, again addressed me. I was too +much excited to remain unconcerned on suddenly discovering that +Heinrich was so near, and I fell fainting into his arms. + +"I was carried into a neighbouring cottage, but in a short time was +enabled to proceed home. In a week afterwards we were married: a few +days more sufficed for the preparations that were required for my +destination, and then we proceeded to the port, and embarked on board +the ship that was to take us over many thousand miles of sea, to the +wild, unknown country that was to be the scene of our mission." + + + + +Chapter XXXV + + +Mrs Reichardt was obliged to break off her narrative, where it +concluded at the end of the last chapter. As I have said, her +household duties, being very numerous, and requiring a great deal of +attention, took up nearly the whole of her time. + +The garden now presented a most agreeable appearance, possessing +several different kinds of vegetables, and various plants that had +been raised from seed. We had succeeded in raising several young +orange trees from the pips she had brought in her basket; and they +promised to supply us with plenty of their luscious fruit. Even the +peas we thought so dry and useless had germinated, and provided us +with a welcome addition to our table. I shall never forget the first +day she added to our scanty meal of dried fish a dish of smoking +potatoes fresh out of the moist earth. After enjoying sufficiently my +wonder at their appearance, and delight at their agreeable taste, she +informed me of their first introduction into Europe, and their +gradual diffusion over the more civilised portions of the globe. + +I speak of Europe now, because I had learned from my companion, not +only a good deal of geography, but had obtained some insight into +several other branches of knowledge. In particular, she had told me +much interesting information about England, much more than I had +learned from Jackson; dwelling upon its leading features, and the +most remarkable portions of its history; and I must acknowledge that +I felt a secret pride in belonging to so great a country. + +I considered that I belonged to it, for my father and mother were +English, and though I might be called The Little Savage, and be fixed +to an obscure island in the great ocean, I felt that my real home was +in this great country my mother talked about so glowingly, and that +my chief object ought to be to return into the hands of my +grandfather the belt that had in so singular a manner come into my +possession. + +I often thought of this great England whose glory had been so widely +spread and so durably established, and longed for some means of +leaving our present abode, and going in search of its time-honoured +shores. But I asked myself how was this desirable object to be +effected? We had no means of transporting ourselves from the prison +into which we had been accidentally cast. We had nothing resembling a +boat on the island, and we had no tools for making one; and even had +we been put in possession of such a treasure, we had no means of +launching it. The rocky character of the coast made the placing of a +boat on the water almost impossible. + +The expectation of a vessel appearing off the island appeared quite +as unreasonable. We had seen no ships for a long time, and those we +had observed were a great deal too far off to heed our signals. + +We had no help for it, but to trust to Providence and bear our +present evil patiently. Nevertheless, I took my glass and swept the +sea far and wide in search of a ship, but failed to discover anything +but a spermaceti whale blowing in the distance, or a shoal of +porpoises tumbling over each other nearer the shore, or a colony of +seals basking in the sun on the rocks nearest the sea. My +disappointment was shared by Nero, who seemed to regard my vexation +with a sympathising glance, and even the gannets turned their dull +stupid gaze upon me, with an expression as if they deeply +commiserated my distress. + +I had for a long time employed myself in making a shelving descent +to the sea, on the most secure part of the rock, intending that it +should be a landing place for a boat, in case any ship should come +near enough to send one to our rescue. It was a work of great labour, +and hatchet and spade equally suffered in my endeavours to effect my +object; but at last I contrived to take advantage of a natural +fracture in the rock, and a subsequent fall of the cliff, to make a +rude kind of inclined plane, rather too steep, and too rough for bad +climbers, but extremely convenient for my mother and me, whenever we +should be prepared to embark for our distant home. + +My thoughts were now often directed to the possibility of making on the +island some kind of boat that would hold ourselves and sufficient +provisions for a voyage to the nearest of the larger islands. I spoke +to Mrs Reichardt on the subject, but she dwelt upon the impossibility +without either proper tools, or the slightest knowledge of boat-building, +of producing a vessel to which we could trust ourselves with any +confidence, neither of us knowing anything about its management in +the open sea; and then she spoke of the dangers a small boat would +meet with, if the water should be rough, or if we should not be able +to make the island in any reasonable time. + +Yet I was not daunted by difficulties, nor dissuaded by discouraging +representations. I thought at first of fastening all the loose timber +together that had drifted against the rocks, as much in the shape of +a boat as I could get it, but on looking over my stock of nails, I +found they fell very far short of the proper quantity; consequently +that mode of effecting my purpose was abandoned. + +I then thought of felling a tree and hollowing it out by charring +the timber. As yet I had discovered nothing on the island but shrubs. +I was quite certain that no tree grew near enough to the sea to be +available, and if I should succeed in cutting down a large one and +fashioning it as I desired, I had no means of transport. + +I might possibly make a boat capable of carrying all I wanted to put +into it, but as I could neither move the water up to the boat, nor +the boat down to the water, for all the service I wanted of it, even +if the island contained a tree large enough, I might just as well +leave it untouched. + +Still I would not altogether abandon my favourite project. I thought +of the willows that grew on the island, and fancied I could make a +framework by twisting them strongly together, and stretching seal +skins over them. I laboured at this for several weeks,--exercising +all my ingenuity and no slight stock of patience, to create an object +with which I was but imperfectly acquainted. + +I did succeed at last in putting together something in a remote +degree resembling the boat that brought part of the whaler's crew to +the island and had taken them away, but it was not a quarter the +size, and was so light that I could carry it without much difficulty +to the landing I had constructed on the cliff. When I came to try its +capabilities, I found it terribly lop-sided--it soon began to leak, +and in fact it exhibited so many faults, that I was forced to drag it +again on shore, and take it to pieces. + +I called in Mrs Reichardt to my assistance, and though at first she +seemed averse to the experiment, she gave me a great deal of +information respecting the structure of small boats, and the method +of waterproofing leather and other fabrics. I attended carefully to +all she said, and commenced re-building with more pretensions to art. + +I now made a strong frame-work, tolerably sharp at each end, and as +nearly as possible resembling a keel at the bottom. I covered this on +both sides with pieces of strong cloth saturated with grease from the +carcases of birds, and then covered the whole with well-dried seal +skins, which I had made impervious to wet. The inside of the boat +nearest the water I neatly covered with pieces of dry bark, over +which I fixed some boards, which had floated to the island from +wrecked ships. Finally I put in some benches to sit on, and then +fancied I had done everything that was necessary. + +I soon got her into the fishing-pool, and was delighted to find that +she floated capitally--but I still had a great deal to do. I had made +neither oars to propel her through the water, nor sail to carry her +through the waves, when rowing was impossible. I remembered the +whaler's spare oars and mizen, but they were too large; nevertheless, +they served me as models to work upon, and in time I made a rough +pair of paddles or oars, which, though rudely fashioned, I hoped +would answer the purpose pretty well. + +The next difficulty was how to use the oars, and I made many awkward +attempts before I ascertained the proper method of proceeding. Again +my companion, on whom nothing which had once passed before her eyes +had passed in vain, shewed me how the boat should be managed. + +In a short time I could row about the pool with sufficient dexterity +to turn the boat in any direction I required, and I then took Nero as +a passenger, and he seemed to enjoy the new gratification with a +praiseworthy decorum; till, when I was trying to turn the boat round, +the movement caused him to attempt to shift his quarters, which he +did with so little attention to the build of our vessel, that in one +moment she was capsized, and in the next we were swimming about in +the pool with our vessel bottom upwards. + +As she was so light, I soon righted her, and found that she had +received no injury, and appeared to be perfectly water-tight. + + + + +Chapter XXXVI + + +I could not prevail upon Mrs Reichardt to embark in my craft, the +fate of my first passenger which she had witnessed from the shore, +had deterred her from attempting a voyage under such unpromising +circumstances. + +As soon as I had dried my clothes, I was for making another +experiment, and one too of a more hazardous nature. I would not be +parted from Nero, but I made him lie at the bottom of the boat, where +I could have him under strict control. With him I also took my little +flock of gannets, who perched themselves round me, gazing about them +with an air of such singular stupidity as they were being propelled +through the water, that I could not help bursting out laughing. + +"Indeed," said Mrs Reichardt, "such a boat's crew and such a boat +has never been seen in those seas before. A young savage as captain, +a tame seal as boatswain, and a flock of gannets as sailors, +certainly made up as curious a set of adventurers as ever floated +upon the wide ocean." + +I was not the least remarkable of the strange group, for I had +nothing on but a pair of duck trousers, patched in several places; +and my hair, which had grown very long, hung in black wavy masses to +my shoulders. My skin was tanned by the sun to a light brown, very +different from the complexion of Mrs Reichardt, which had ever been +remarkable for its paleness. Indeed she told me I should find some +difficulty in establishing my claim to the title of European, but +none at all to that of Little Savage, which she often playfully +called me. + +Nevertheless, in this trim, and with these companions, I passed out +of the fishing-pool into the sea, with the intention of rowing round +the island. Mrs Reichardt waved her hand as I departed on my voyage, +having exhorted me to be very careful, as long as I was in hearing; +she then turned away, as I thought, to return to the hut. + +The day was remarkably fine. There was not so much as a cloud on the +horizon, and scarcely a ripple on the water: therefore, everything +seemed to favour my project, for if there had been anything of a +breeze, the beating of the waves against the rock would have been a +great obstacle to my pursuing my voyage with either comfort or +safety. The water too was so clear, that although it was of great +depth, I could distinguish the shells that lay on the sand, and +observe various kinds of fish, some of most curious shape, that +rushed rapidly beneath the boat as it was urged along. + +I was delighted with the motion, and with the agreeable appearance +of the different novelties that met my gaze. The light boat glided +almost imperceptibly through the water at every stroke of the oar. +Nero lay as still as if his former lesson had taught him the +necessity of remaining motionless; and the gannets now and then +expressed their satisfaction by a shrill cry or a rapid fluttering of +their wings. + +In this way, we passed on without any adventure, till I found it +necessary for me to row some distance out to sea, to round a +projecting rock that stood like a mighty wall before me. I pulled +accordingly, and then had a better opportunity of seeing the island +than I had ever obtained. I recognised all the favourite places, the +ravine, the wood, the hut covered with beautiful creepers, and the +garden, full of flowers, looked very agreeable to the eye: but every +part seemed to look pleasant, except the great savage rocks which +enclosed the island on every side: but even these I thought had an +air of grandeur that gave additional effect to the scene. + +Much to my surprise, I recognised Mrs Reichardt walking rapidly +towards a part of the shore, near which I should be obliged to pass. +From this I saw that she was intent on watching me from point to +point, to know the worst, if any accident should befall me, and be at +hand should there be a necessity for rendering assistance. I shouted +to her, and she waved her hand in reply. + +On rounding the headland, my astonishment was extreme on finding my +little bark in the midst of a shoal of enormous sharks. If I came in +contact with one of them I was lost, for the frail boat would +certainly be upset and as Jackson had assured me, if ever I allowed +these monsters to come near enough, one snap of their jaws, and there +would be an end of the Little Savage. I thought of the warning of Mrs +Reichardt, and was inclined to think I had better have taken her +advice, and remained in the fishing-pool; nevertheless, I went on as +quietly and deliberately as possible, exercising all my skill to keep +clear of my unexpected enemies. + +It was not till I had got into the middle of the shoal that the +sharks seemed to be aware there was anything unusual in their +neighbourhood, but as soon as they were fully aware of the presence +of an intruder, they exhibited the most extraordinary excitement, +rushing together in groups, with such rapid motion, that the water +became so agitated, I was obliged to exercise all my skill to keep +the boat steady on her course. + +They dived, and rushed to and fro, and jostled each other, as I +thought, in anything but an amicable spirit; still, however, keeping +at a respectful distance from the boat, for which I was extremely +thankful. I urged her on with all my strength, for the purpose of +getting away from such unpleasant neighbours; but they were not to be +so easily disposed of. They came swimming after the boat, then when +within a few yards dived, and in a moment they were before it, as if +to bar any further progress. + +I however pushed on, and they disappeared, but immediately +afterwards rose on all sides of me. They were evidently getting more +confidence; a fact I ascertained with no slight apprehension, for +they began to approach nearer, and their gambols threatened every +minute to overwhelm my poor craft, that, light as a cork, bounced up +and down the agitated waves, as if quite as much alarmed for our +safety as ourselves. + +The captain was not the only one who began to fear evil; the gannets +were very restless, and it was only by strong admonitions I could +prevail on Nero to retain his recumbent attitude at my feet; their +instinct warned them of approaching danger, and I felt the +comfortable assurance that my own rashness had brought me into my +present critical position, and that if the menaced destruction did +arrive, there was no sort of assistance at hand on which I could rely. + +Every moment the sharks became more violent in their demonstrations, +and more bold in their approaches, and I could scarcely keep the boat +going, or prevent the water rushing over her sides. The gannets, +having shewn themselves for some minutes uneasy, had at last flown +away to the neighbouring rock, and Nero began to growl and snap, as +though meditating a forcible release from his prostrate position, to +see what mischief was brewing. + +As I was coaxing him to be quiet, I felt a tremendous blow given to +the boat, evidently from beneath, and she rose into the air several +yards, scattering Nero and myself, and the oars, in different +directions. + +The noise we made in falling appeared for the instant to have +scattered the creatures, for I had struck out for the rock and nearly +reached it before a shark made its appearance. + +Just then I saw a large monster rushing towards me. I thought all +was over. He turned to open his great jaws, and in another instant I +should have been devoured. + +At that critical period I saw a second object dart in between me and +the shark, and attack the latter fiercely. It was Nero, and it was +the last I ever saw of my faithful friend. His timely interposition +enabled me to reach a ledge in the cliff, where I was in perfect +safety, hanging by some strong seaweed, although my feet nearly +touched the water, and I could retain my position only with the +greatest difficulty. + +The whole shoal were presently around me. They a first paid their +attentions to the boat and the oars, which they buffeted about till +they were driven close to the rock, at a little distance from the +place where I had found temporary safety. They left these things +unharmed as soon as they caught sight of me, and then their eagerness +and violence returned with tenfold fury. They darted towards me in a +body, and I was obliged to lift my legs, or I should have had them +snapped off by one or other of the twenty gaping jaws that were +thrust over each other, in their eagerness to make a mouthful of my +limbs. + +This game was carried on for some minutes of horrible anxiety to me. +I fancied that my struggles had loosened the seaweed, and that in a +few minutes it must give way, and I should then be fought for and +torn to pieces by the ravenous crew beneath. I shouted with all the +strength of my lungs to scare them away; but as if they were as well +aware that I could not escape them as I was myself, they merely left +off their violent efforts to reach my projecting legs, and forming a +semi-circle round me, watched with upturned eyes, that seemed to +possess a fiendish expression that fascinated and bewildered me, the +snapping of the frail hold that supported me upon the rock. + +In my despair I prayed heartily, but it was rather to commend my +soul to my Maker, than with any prospect of being rescued from so +imminent and horrible a peril. The eyes of the ravenous monsters +below seemed to mock my devotion. I felt the roots of the seaweed +giving way: the slightest struggle on my part would I knew only +hasten my dissolution, and I resigned myself to my fate. + +In this awful moment I heard a voice calling out my name. It was Mrs +Reichardt on the cliff high above me. I answered with all the +eagerness of despair. Then there came a heavy splash into the water, +and I heard her implore me to endeavour to make for a small shrub +that grew in a hollow of the rock, at a very short distance from the +tuft of seaweed that had become so serviceable. + +I looked down. The sharks had all disappeared; I knew, however, that +they would shortly return, and lost not a moment in making an effort +to better my position in the manner I had been directed. Mrs +Reichardt had thrown a heavy stone into the water among the sharks, +the loud splash of which had driven them away. Before they again made +their appearance, I had caught a firm hold of the twig, and flung +myself up into a position of perfect safety. + +"Thank God he's safe!" I heard Mrs Reichardt exclaim. + +The sharks did return, but when they found their anticipated prey +had escaped, they swam lazily out to sea. + +"Are you much hurt, Frank Henniker?" she presently cried out to me. + +"I have not a scratch," I replied. + +"Then thank God for your deliverance," she added. + +I did thank God, and Mrs Reichardt joined with me in prayer, and a +more fervent thanksgiving than was ours, it is scarcely possible to +imagine. + + + + +Chapter XXXVII + + +I had several times pressed Mrs Reichardt for the conclusion of her +story, but she had always seemed reluctant to resume the subject. It +was evidently full of painful incidents, and she shrunk from dwelling +upon them. At last, one evening we were sitting together, she working +with her needle and I employed upon a net she had taught me how to +manufacture, and I again led the conversation to the narrative my +companion had left unfinished. She sighed heavily and looked +distressed. + +"It is but natural you should expect this of me, my son," she said; +"but you little know the suffering caused by my recalling the +melancholy events that I have to detail. However, I have led you to +expect the entire relation, and, therefore, I will endeavour to +realise your anticipations." + +I assured her I was ready to wait, whenever it might be agreeable +for her to narrate the termination of her interesting history. + +"It will never be agreeable to me," she replied mournfully; "indeed +I would forget it, if I could; but that is impossible. The struggle +may as well be made now, as at any time. I will therefore commence by +informing you, that during our long voyage to the Sandwich Islands, I +found ample opportunity for studying the disposition of my husband. +He was much changed since he first left me, but his was still the +same grateful nature, full of truth and purity, that had won me +towards him when a child. A holy enthusiasm seemed now to exalt him +above ordinary humanity. I could scarcely ever get him to talk upon +any but religious subjects, and those he treated in so earnest and +exalted a manner, that it was impossible to avoid being carried away +with his eloquence. + +"He seemed to feel the greatness of his destination, as though it +had raised him to an equality with the adventurous Saints, who +established the banner of Christ among the Pagan nations of Europe. +He was fond of dilating upon the importance of his mission, and of +dwelling on the favour that had been vouchsafed him, in causing him +to be selected for so high and responsible a duty. + +"It was evident that he would rather have been sent to associate +with the barbarous people whom he expected to make his converts, than +have been raised to the richest Bishopric in England. And yet, with +this exultation, there was a spirit of deep melancholy pervading his +countenance, as well as his discourses, that seemed to imply a sense +of danger. The nimbus of the saint in his eyes was associated with +the crown of martyrdom. He seemed to look forward to a fatal +termination of his ministry, as the most and proper conclusion of his +labours. + +"His conversation often filled me with dread. His intimations of +danger seemed at first very shocking, but, at last, I got more +familiar with these terrible suggestions, and regarded them as the +distempered fancies of an overworked mind. + +"In this way our long voyage passed, and we arrived at last at our +place of destination. When we had disembarked, the scene that +presented itself to me was so strange, that I could almost believe I +had passed into a new world. The most luxurious vegetation, of a +character I had never seen before--the curious buildings--the +singular forms of the natives, and their peculiar costume--excited my +wonder to an intense degree. + +"My husband applied himself diligently to learn the language of the +people, whilst I as intently studied their habits and customs. We +both made rapid progress. + +"As soon as I could make myself understood, I endeavoured to make +friends with the women, particularly with the wives of the great men, +and although I was at first the object of more curiosity than regard, +I persisted in my endeavours, and succeeded in establishing with many +a good understanding. + +"I found them ignorant of everything that in civilised countries is +considered knowledge--their minds being enveloped in the most +deplorable darkness--the only semblance of religion in use amongst +them, being a brutal and absurd idolatry. + +"I often tried to lead them to the consideration of more humanising +truths, for the purpose of preparing the way for the inculcation of +the great mysteries of our holy religion: but the greater portion of +my hearers were incompetent to understand what I seemed so desirous +of teaching, and my making them comprehend the principles of +Christianity appeared to be a hopeless task. + +"Yet I continued my pious labours, without allowing my exertions to +flag--making myself useful to them and their families in every way I +could--attending them when sick--giving them presents when well--and +showing them every kindness likely to make a favourable impression on +their savage natures. In this way I proceeded doing good, till I +found an opportunity of being of service to a young girl, about +twelve years of age, who was a younger sister of one of the wives of +a great chief. She had sprained her ankle and was in great pain, when +I applied the proper remedies and gave her speedy relief. Hooloo, for +that was her name, from that moment became warmly attached to me, and +finding her of an affectionate and ingenuous disposition, I became +extremely desirous of improving upon the good impression I had made. + +"At the same time my husband sought, by his knowledge of the +mechanical arts, and some acquaintance with medicine, to recommend +himself to the men. He also met with much difficulty at first, in +making his information properly appreciated. He sought to increase +their comforts--to introduce agricultural implements of a more +useful description, and to lead them generally towards the +conveniences and decencies of civilisation. He built himself a house, +and planted a garden, and cultivated some land, in which he shewed +the superior advantages of what he knew, to what they practised. They +seemed to marvel much, but continued to go on in their own way. + +"He also went amongst them as a physician, and having acquired +considerable knowledge of medicine and simple surgery, he was enabled +to work some cures in fevers and spear wounds, that in course of time +made for him so great a reputation, that many of the leading chiefs +sent for him when anything ailed them or their families, and they +were so well satisfied with what he did for them, that he began to be +looked upon as one who was to be treated with particular respect and +honour, by all classes of the natives, from the highest to the lowest. + +"On one occasion the king required his services. He was suffering +from a sort of cholic, for which the native doctors could give him no +relief. My husband administered some medicines, and stayed with his +Majesty until they had the desired effect, and the result being a +complete recovery, seemed so astonishing to all the members of his +Sandwich Majesty's court, that the doctor was required to administer +the same medicine to every one, from the queen to the humblest of her +attendants, though all were apparently in good health. He managed to +satisfy them with a small portion only of the mixture, which he was +quite certain could do them no harm: and they professed to be +wonderfully the better for it." + + + + +Chapter XXXVIII + + +"His reputation had now grown so great, that whatever he required +was readily granted. He first desired to have some children sent him; +to learn those things which had enabled him to do so much good, and +this having been readily sanctioned, we opened a school for girls and +boys, in which we taught the first elements of a civilised education. + +"Finding we made fair progress in this way, we commenced developing +our real object, the inculcation of Christian sentiments. This +meeting with no opposition, and Reichardt having established a +powerful influence over the entire community, he next proceeded with +the parents, and earnestly strove to induce them to embrace the +profession of Christianity. + +"His labours were not entirely unproductive. There began to prevail +amongst the islanders, a disposition to hear the wondrous discourses +of this stranger, and he was employed, day after day, in explaining +to large and attentive audiences, the history of the Christian world, +and the observances and doctrine of that faith which had been +cemented by the blood of the Redeemer. The new and startling subjects +of his discourse, as well as the impressive character of his +eloquence, frequently deeply moved his hearers; and at his +revelations they would often burst forth into piercing shouts and +loud expressions of amazement. + +"In truth it was a moving scene. The noble figure of the Missionary, +with his fine features lighted up with the fire of holy enthusiasm, +surrounded by a crowd of dusky savages, armed with spears and war +clubs, and partly clothed with feathers, in their features shewing +traces of unusual excitement, and every now and then joining in a +wild chorus, expressive of their wonder, could not have been +witnessed by any Christian, without emotion. + +"But when the ceremony of Baptism was first performed before them, +their amazement was increased a thousandfold. The first member of our +flock was Hooloo, whom I had instructed so far, in the principles of +our faith, and I had acquired such an influence over her mind, that +she readily consented to abandon her idolatrous customs and become a +Christian. + +"After a suitable address to the natives, who had assembled in some +thousands to witness the spectacle, in which he explained to them the +motive and object of baptism, my husband assisted the girl down a +sloping green bank which led to a beautiful stream, and walked with +her into the water till he was up to his waist; then, after offering +up a long and fervent prayer that this first victory over the false +worship of the Devil, might be the forerunner of the entire +extirpation of idolatry from the land, he, plunging her into the +water, baptised her in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy +Ghost. + +"All the people were awed to silence while the ceremony proceeded, +but when it was over they burst forth into a loud cry, and came down +to meet the new Christian and my husband as they came out of the +water, and waved over them boughs of trees, and danced and shouted as +though in an ecstasy. + +"We however had not proceeded to this extent, without exciting +considerable opposition; our disrespect towards their idols had given +great offence to those who were identified with the superstitions of +the people, and flourished according as these were supported. +Complaints were made too of our teaching a new religion, in +opposition to the gods they and their fathers had worshipped, and a +powerful party was got together for the purpose of pursuing us to +destruction. + +"My husband was summoned before a council of the great chiefs, to +hear the accusations that had been brought against him: and the old +idolaters got up and abused him, and threatened him with the +punishment of their monstrous gods, for telling lies to the people, +and deceiving them with forged tales and strange customs. + +"They sought all they could, to move the judges against him, by +painting the terrible fate that would befall them if they failed to +kill the white stranger, who had insulted their gods; and they +predicted hosts of calamities that were to happen, in consequence of +their having allowed the teller of lies to work so much mischief +against them. + +"My husband then being called upon for his defence, first declared +to the judges the attributes of the Deity he worshipped: that he +created the vast heavens, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, and +the sea; his voice spoke in the thunder, and his eye flashed in the +lightning. He then dwelt on his goodness to man, especially to the +Sandwich Islanders, whom he had created for the purpose of enjoying +the fine country around them and of beholding the beauty of the +heavens where he dwelt. Then he referred to the gods they had +worshipped, and asked how they were made, and what such senseless +things could do for them; commenting on their inability to serve +them, in any way, or do them any harm; and went on to speak of the +benefits he had been able to confer upon them, through the influence +of the all powerful God he worshipped; and asked them if he had ever +done them anything but good. Lastly, he promised them innumerable +benefits, if they would leave their useless gods, and turn to the +only God who had the power to serve them. + +"It is impossible for me to do justice to the animated manner in +which he delivered this discourse. It produced great effect upon the +majority of his hearers; but there was a powerful minority it still +more strongly influenced against him; and they continued to interrupt +him with terrible outcries. + +"Most of the leading chiefs were against his suffering any harm. +They bore in mind the advantages he had conferred, by his skill in +medicine, and superior wisdom in various other things, which the +people would lose were he put to death. They also remembered the hope +he held out of future benefits, which of course they could not +expect, if they offered him any violence. + +"The result was, that my husband was suffered to go harmless from +the meeting, to the great disappointment of his enemies, who could +scarcely be kept from laying violent hands upon him. The danger he +had escaped, unfortunately, did not render him more prudent. Far from +it. He believed that he was a chosen instrument of the Most High, to +win these savages from the depths of idolatry and Paganism; and +continued, on every occasion that presented itself, to endeavour to +win souls to God. + +"The school increased, several of the parents suffered themselves to +be baptised, and there was a regular observance of the Lord's Day +amongst those who belonged to our little flock. Even many of the +islanders, although they did not become Christians, attended our +religious services, and spoke well of us. + +"We brought up the young people to be able to teach their brethren +and sisters; and hoped to be able to establish missions in other +parts of the island, to which we sometimes made excursions; preaching +the inestimable blessings of the gospel to the islanders, and +exhorting them to abandon their dark customs and heathen follies. I +was not far behind my husband in this good work, and acquired as much +influence among the women as he exercised over the men: indeed we +were generally looked upon as holy people, who deserved to be treated +with veneration and respect." + + + + +Chapter XXXIX + + +"Things went on in this flourishing way for several years; my +husband, deeply impressed with the responsibility of his position, as +a chosen servant of God, devoted himself so entirely to the great +work he had undertaken, that he often seemed to overlook the claims +upon his attention of her he had chosen as his partner, in his +struggle against the Powers of Darkness. Sometimes I did not see him +for several days; and often when we were together, he was so +abstracted, he did not seem aware I was present. Whenever I could get +him to speak of himself, he would dilate on the unspeakable felicity +that he felt in drawing nearer to the end of his work. I affected not +to know to what he alluded; but I always felt that he was referring +to the impression he entertained of his own speedy dissolution, which +he had taken up when he first embraced this mission. + +"I tried to get rid of my misgivings by recalling the dangers and +difficulties we had triumphantly passed, and referring to the +encouraging state of things that existed at the present time; +nevertheless, I could not prevent a sinking of the heart, whenever I +heard him venture upon the subject; and when he was absent from me, I +often experienced an agony of anxiety till his return. I saw, +however, no real cause of apprehension, and endeavoured to persuade +myself none existed; and very probably I should have succeeded, had +not my husband so frequently indulged in references to our separation. + +"Alas," she exclaimed, mournfully, "he was better informed than I +was of the proximity of that Celestial Home, for which he had been so +long and zealously preparing himself. He, doubtless, had his +intimation from on high, that his translation to the realms of bliss, +was no remote consequence of his undertaking the mission he had +accepted; and he had familiarised his mind to it as a daily duty, and +by his constant references had sought to prepare me for the +catastrophe he knew to be inevitable." + +Here Mrs Reichardt became so sensibly affected, that it was some +time before she could proceed with her narrative. She, however, did +so at last, yet I could see by the tears that traced each other down +her wan cheeks, how much her soul was moved by the terrible details +into which she was obliged to enter. + +"In the midst of our success," she presently resumed, "when we had +established a congregation, had baptised hundreds of men, women, and +children, had completed a regular place of worship, and an extensive +school-house, both of which were fully and regularly attended, some +European vessel paid us a short visit, soon after which, that +dreadful scourge the small-pox, broke out amongst the people. Both +children and adults were seized, and as soon as one died a dozen were +attacked. + +"Soon the greatest alarm pervaded the natives; my husband was +implored to stop the pestilence, which power they felt convinced he +had in his hands. He did all that was possible for him to do, but +that unfortunately was very little. His recommendation of remedial +measures was rarely attended with the desired results. Death was very +busy. The people died in scores, and the survivors, excited by the +vindictive men who had formerly sought his death for disparaging +their gods, began not only to fall off rapidly in their regard and +reverence for my husband, but murmurs first, and execrations +afterwards, and violent menaces subsequently, attended him whenever +he appeared. + +"He preached to them resignation to the Divine Will; but resignation +was not a savage virtue. He was indefatigable in his attentions to +the sick; but those of whom he was most careful seemed the speediest +to die. The popular feeling against him increased every hour; he +appeared, however, to defy his fate--walking unconcernedly amongst +crowds of infuriated savages brandishing heavy clubs, and threatening +him with the points of their sharp spears; but his eye never blinked, +and his cheek never blanched, and he walked on his way inwardly +praising God, careless of the evil passions that raged around him. + +"It was on a Sabbath morn--our service had far advanced; we could +boast of but a limited congregation, for many had died, some had fled +from the pestilence into the interior; others had avoided the place +in consequence of the threats of their countrymen. A few children, +and two or three women, were all their teacher had to address. + +"We were engaged in singing a Psalm, when a furious crowd, mad with +rage, as it seemed, screaming and yelling in the most frightful +manner, and brandishing their weapons as though about to attack an +enemy, burst into our little chapel, and seized my husband in the +midst of his devotions. + +"I rushed forward to protect him from the numerous weapons that were +aimed at his life, but was dragged back by the hair of my head; and +with infuriate cries and gestures, that made them look like demons +broke loose from hell, they fell upon him with their clubs and spears. + +"Reichardt made no resistance, he merely clasped his hands the more +firmly, and looked up to Heaven the more devoutly, as he continued +the Psalm he had commenced before they entered. This did not delay +his fate. + +"They beat out his brains so close to me, that I was covered with +his blood, and I believe I should have shared the same fate, had I +not fainted with terror at the horrible scene of which I was a forced +spectator. + +"I learned afterwards that some powerful chief interfered, and I was +carried away more dead than alive, in which state I long remained. As +soon as I became sufficiently strong to be moved, I took advantage of +a whaler calling at the island, homeward bound, to beg a passage. The +captain heard my lamentable story, took me on board as soon as he +could, and shewed a seaman's sympathy for my sufferings. + +"I was to have returned to England with him, but off this place we +encountered a terrible storm, in which we were obliged to take to the +boats, as the only chance of saving our lives. What became of him I +know not, as the two boats parted company soon after leaving the +wreck. I trust he managed to reach the land in safety, and is now in +his own country, enjoying all the comforts that can make life +covetable. + +"What became of that part of the crew that brought me here in the +other boat, led by the fires you had lighted, I am in doubt. But I +think on quitting the island, crowded as their boat was, and in the +state of its crew, it was scarcely possible for them to have made the +distant island for which they steered." + + + + +Chapter XL + + +Mrs Reichardt's story made a sensible impression on me. I no longer +wondered at the pallor of her countenance, or the air of melancholy +that at first seemed so remarkable; she had suffered most severely, +and her sufferings were too recent not to have left their effects +upon her frame. + +I thought a good deal about her narrative, and wondered much that +men could be got to leave their comfortable homes, and travel +thousands and thousands of miles across the fathomless seas, with the +hope of converting a nation of treacherous savages, by whom they were +sure to be slaughtered at the first outbreak of ill-feeling. + +I could not but admire the character of Reichardt--in all his +actions he had exhibited a marked nobility of nature. He would not +present himself before the woman who had the strongest claims upon +his gratitude, till he had obtained a position and a reputation that +should, in his opinion, make him worthy of her; and though he had a +presentiment of the fate that would overtake him, he fulfilled his +duties as a missionary with a holy enthusiasm that made him regard +his approaching martyrdom as the greatest of all earthly +distinctions. I felt regret that I had not known such a man. I knew +how much I had lost in having missed such an example. + +My having heard this story led me into much private communing with +myself respecting religion. I could consider myself little better +than a savage, like the brutal Sandwich Islanders; my conduct to +Jackson had been only in a degree less inhuman than that these +idolaters had shewn to their teacher when he was in their power. I +fancied at the time that I served him right, for his villainous +conduct to my father, and brutal conduct to me: but God having +punished him for his misdeeds, I felt satisfied I had no business to +put him to greater torment as satisfaction for my own private +injuries. I fancied God might have been angry with me, and had kept +me on the island as a punishment for my offences; and I had some +conversation with Mrs Reichardt on this point. + +"Nothing," she observed, "can excuse your ill-feeling towards +Jackson; he was a bad man, without a doubt, and he deserved condign +punishment for his usage of your parents; but the Divine founder of +our religion has urged us to return good for evil." + +"Yes," I answered readily, "but I should have suffered as bad as my +father and mother, had I not prevented his doing me mischief." + +"You do not know that you were to suffer," she replied. "Jackson, +without such terrible punishment as he brought upon himself, might +eventually have become contrite, and have restored you to your +friends as well as enabled you to obtain your grandfather's property. +God frequently performs marvellous things with such humble +instruments, for he hath said, 'There is more joy in heaven over one +sinner that repenteth, than over ninety-nine just men.'" + +"Surely, this is raising the wicked man over the good," I cried. + +"Not at all," she replied. "The repentant is one gained from the +ranks of the great enemy--it is as one that was lost and is found +again--it is a soul added to the blessed. Therefore the joy in heaven +is abundant at such a conversion. The just are the natural heirs of +heaven--their rights are acknowledged without dispute--their claim is +at once recognised and allowed, and they receive their portion of +eternal joy as a matter of course, without there being any necessity +for exciting those demonstrations of satisfaction which hail the +advent of a sinner saved." + +"I don't think such a villain as Jackson would ever go to heaven," I +observed. + +"'Judge not, lest ye be judged,'" she answered; "that is a text that +cannot be too often impressed upon persons anxious to condemn to +eternal torment all those they believe to be worse than themselves. +It is great presumption in us poor creatures of clay, to anticipate +the proceedings of the Infinite Wisdom. Let us leave the high +prerogative of judgment to the Almighty Power, by whom only it is +exercised, and in our opinions of even the worst of our fellow-creatures, +let us exercise a comprehensive charity, mingled with a prayer that +even at the eleventh hour, they may have turned from the evil of +their ways, and embraced the prospect of salvation, which the mercy +of their Creator has held out to them." + +In this and similar conversations, Mrs Reichardt would endeavour to +plant in my mind the soundest views of religion; and she spoke so +well, and so convincingly, that I had little trouble in understanding +her meaning, or in retaining it after it had been uttered. + +It was not, as I have before stated, to religion only that she led +my thoughts, although that certainly was the most frequent subject of +our conversation. She sought to instruct me in the various branches +of knowledge into which she had acquired some insight, and in this +way I picked up as much information respecting grammar, geography, +astronomy, writing, arithmetic, history, and morals, as I should have +gained had I been at a school, instead of being forced to remain on a +desolate island. + +I need not say that I still desired to leave it. I had long been +tired of the place, notwithstanding that from our united exertions, +we enjoyed many comforts which we could not have hoped for. Our hut +we had metamorphosed into something Mrs Reichardt styled a rustic +cottage, which, covered as it was with flowers and creepers, really +looked very pretty; and the garden added greatly to its pleasant +appearance: for near the house we had transplanted everything that +bore a flower that could be found in the island, and had planted some +shrubs, that, having been carefully nurtured made rapid growth, and +screened the hut from the wind. + +I had built a sort of out-house for storing potatoes and firewood, +and a fowl-house for the gannets, which were now a numerous flock; +and had planted a fence round the garden, so that as Mrs Reichardt +said, we looked as if we had selected a dwelling in our own beloved +England, in the heart of a rural district, instead of our being +circumscribed in a little island thousands of miles across the wide +seas, from the home of which we were so fond of talking. + +Although my companion always spoke warmly of the land of her birth, +and evidently would have been glad to return to it, she never grieved +over her hard fate in being, as it were, a prisoner on a rock, out of +reach of friends and kindred; indeed, she used to chide me for being +impatient of my detention, and insensible of the blessings I enjoyed. + +"What temptations are we not free from here?" she would say. "We see +nothing of the world; we cannot be contaminated with its vices, or +suffer from its follies. The hideous wars--the terrible revolutions +--the dreadful visitations of famine and pestilence--are completely +unknown to us. Robbery, and murder, and fraud, and the thousand other +phases of human wickedness, we altogether escape. There was a time, +when men, for the purpose of leading holy lives, abandoned the fair +cities in which they had lived in the enjoyment of every luxury, and +sought a cave in some distant desert, where, in the lair of some wild +beast, with a stone for a pillow, a handful of herbs for a meal, and +a cup of water for beveridge, they lived out the remnant of their +days in a constant succession of mortifications, prayers, and +penitence. + +"How different," she added, "is our own state. We are as far removed +from the sinfulness of the world as any hermit of the desert, whilst +we have the enjoyment of comforts to which they were strangers." + +"But probably," I observed, "these men were penitents, and went into +the desert as much to punish their bodies for the transgressions of +the flesh, as to acquire by solitary communion, a better knowledge of +the spirit than they were likely to obtain in their old haunts." + +"Some were penitents, no doubt," she answered, "but they, having +obtained by their sanctity an extraordinary reputation, induced +others, whose lives had been blameless, to follow their example, and +in time the desert became colonised with recluses, who rivalled each +other in the intensity of their devotions and the extent of their +privations." + +"Would it not have been more commendable," I asked, "if these men +had remained in the community to which they belonged, withstanding +temptation, and been employed in labour that was creditable to +themselves and useful to their country?" + +"No doubt it would," she replied; "but religion has, unfortunately, +too often been the result of impulse rather than conviction; and at +the period to which we are referring, it was thought that sinful +human nature could only gain the attributes of saintship by +neglecting its social duties, and punishing its humanity in the +severest manner. Even in more recent times, and at the present day, +in Catholic countries, it is customary for individuals of both sexes, +to abandon the world of which they might render themselves ornaments, +and shut themselves up in buildings constructed expressly to receive +them, where they continue to go through a course of devotions and +privations till death puts an end to their voluntary imprisonment. + +"In this modified instance of seclusion," she added, "there are +features very different from our own case. We are not forced to +impoverish our blood with insufficient diet, or mortify our flesh +with various forms of punishment. We do not neglect the worship of +God. We offer up daily thanks for his loving care of us, and sing his +praises in continual hymns: and instead of wasting the hours of the +day in unmeaning penances, we fill up our time in employments that +add to our health, comfort, and happiness: and that enable us the +better to appreciate the goodness of that Power who is so mindful of +our welfare." + +"Have you no wish then, to leave this island?" I inquired. + +"I should gladly avail myself of the first opportunity that +presented itself for getting safely to England," she replied. "But I +would wait patiently the proper time. It is not only useless repining +at our prolonged stay here, but it looks like an ungrateful doubting +of the power of God to remove us. Be assured that he has not +preserved us so long, and through so many dangers, to abandon us when +we most require his interposition in our favour." + +I endeavoured to gather consolation from such representations: but +perhaps young people are not so easily reconciled to what they do not +like, as are their elders, for I cannot say I succeeded in becoming +satisfied with my position. + + + + +Chapter XLI + + +The perils of my first voyage had deterred me from making a similar +experiment; but I recovered my boat, and having further strengthened +it, fitted it with what could either be turned into a well or locker: +I used to row out a little distance when the sea was free from sharks +and fish. + +But my grand effort in this direction was the completion of a net, +which, assisted by Mrs Reichardt, I managed to manufacture. By this +time she had gained sufficient confidence to accompany me in my +fishing excursions; she would even take the oars whilst I threw out +the net, and assisted me in dragging it into the boat. + +The first time we got such a haul, that I was afraid of the safety +of our little craft. The locker was full, and numbers of great fish, +as I flung them out of the net, were flapping and leaping about the +bottom of the boat. It began to sink lower in the water than was +agreeable to either of us, and I found it absolutely necessary to +throw back into the sea the greater portion of our catch. We then +rowed carefully to land, rejoicing that we had at our command, the +means of obtaining an abundant supply of food whenever we desired it. + +Mrs Reichardt was with me also in our land excursions. Together we +had explored every part of the island; our chief object was plants +for enriching our garden, and often as we had been in search of +novelties, we invariably brought home additions to our collection; +and my companion having acquired some knowledge of botany, would +explain to me the names, characters, and qualities of the different +species, which made our journeys peculiarly interesting. + +Our appearance often caused considerable amusement to each other; +for our respective costumes must have been extremely curious in the +eyes of a stranger. Neither wore shoes or stockings--these things we +did not possess, and could not procure; we wore leggings and sandals +of seal skin to protect us from the thorns and plants of the cacti +tribe, among which we were obliged to force our way. My companion +wore a conical cap of seal skin, and protected her complexion from +the sun, by a rude attempt at an umbrella I had made for her. + +She had on, on these occasions, a pair of coarse cloth trousers, as +her own dress would have been torn to pieces before she had got half +a mile through the bush; these were surmounted by a tight spencer she +had herself manufactured out of a man's waistcoat, and a dimity +petticoat, which buttoned up to her throat, and was fastened in the +same way at the wrists. + +My head was covered with a broad-brimmed hat, made of dry grass, +which I had myself platted. I wore a sailor's jacket, much the worse +for wear, patched with seal skin, over a pair of duck trousers, +similarly repaired. + +Although our expeditions were perfectly harmless, we did not go +without weapons. At the instigation of my companion, I had made +myself a good stout bow and plenty of arrows, and had exercised +myself so frequently at aiming at a mark, as to have acquired very +considerable skill in the use of them. I had now several arrows of +hard wood tipped with sharp fish-bones, and some with iron nails, in +a kind of pouch behind me; in its sheath before me was my American +knife, which I used for taking the plants from the ground. I had a +basket made of the long grass of the island, slung around me, which +served to contain our treasures; and I carried my bow in my hand. + +My companion, in addition to her umbrella, bore only a long staff, +and a small basket tied round her waist that usually contained a +little refreshment; for she would say there was no knowing what might +occur to delay our return, and therefore it was better to take our +meal with us. And not the least agreeable portion of the day's labour +was our repast; for we would seat ourselves in some quiet corner, +surrounded by flowers, and shaded by the brushwood from the sun, and +there eat our dried fish or pick our birds, and roast our potatoes by +means of a fire of dried sticks, and wash down our simple dinner with +a flask of pure water--the most refreshing portion of our banquet. + +I had, as I have just stated, attained a singular degree of skill in +the use of the bow and arrow, which, as we had no fire-arms, was +often of important service in procuring food on land. + +I had made another use of my skill--an application of it which +afforded me a vast deal of satisfaction. My old enemies the sharks +used still to frequent a certain portion of the coast in great +numbers, and as soon as I became master of my weapon, I would stand +as near to the edge of the rock as was safe, and singling out my +victim, aim at his upper fin, which I often found had the effect of +ridding the place of that fellow. + +I bore such an intense hatred to these creatures, for the fright +they had put me into during my memorable voyage of discovery, and for +the slaughter of my beloved Nero, that I determined to wage incessant +war against them, as long as I could manufacture an arrow, or a +single shark remained on the coast. + +As we had so often traversed the island without accident, we dreamt +not of danger. We had never met with any kind of animals, except our +old friends the seals, who kept near the sea. Of birds, the gannets +were generally the sole frequenters of the island; but we had seen, +at rare intervals, birds of a totally different character, some of +which I had shot. + +Indeed, during our excursions, I was always on the look out for any +stranger of the feathered race, that I might exercise my skill upon +him. If he proved eatable, he was sure to be very welcome; and even +if he could not be cooked, he afforded me some entertainment, in +hearing from Mrs Reichardt his name and habits. + +We had discovered a natural hollow which lay so low that it was +quite hid till we came close to it, when we had to descend a steep +declivity covered with shrubs. At the bottom was a soil evidently +very productive, for we found trees growing there to a considerable +height, that were in marked contrast to the shrubby plants that grew +in other parts of the island. We called this spot the Happy Valley, +and it became a favourite resting-place. + +I remember on one of these occasions, we had made our dinner after +having been several hours employed in seeking for plants, of which we +had procured a good supply, and the remains of our meal lay under a +great tree, beneath the spreading branches of which we had been +resting ourselves. + +It was quite on the other side of the island, within about a quarter +of a mile from the sea. Abundance of curious plants grew about the +place, and Mrs Reichardt had wandered to a little distance to examine +all within view. + +I was peering into the trees and shrubs around to discover a new +comer. I had wandered in an opposite direction to that taken by my +companion, and was creeping round a clump of shrubs about twenty +yards off, in which I detected a chirping noise, when I heard a loud +scream. + +I turned sharply round and beheld Mrs Reichardt, evidently in an +agony of terror, running towards me with prodigious swiftness. She +had dropped her umbrella and her staff, her cap had fallen from her +head, and her long hair, disarranged by her sudden flight, streamed +behind her shoulders. + +At first I did not see anything which could have caused this +terrible alarm, but in a few seconds I heard a crushing among a +thicket of shrubs from which she was running, as if some heavy weight +was being forced through them; and presently there issued a most +extraordinary monster. It came forward at a quick pace, its head +erect above ten feet, its jaws wide open, from the midst of which +there issued a forked tongue which darted in and out with +inconceivable rapidity. Its body was very long, and thick as an +ordinary tree; it was covered over with bright shining scales that +seemed to have different colours, and was propelled along the ground +in folds of various sizes, with a length of tail of several yards +behind. Its eyes were very bright and fierce. Its appearance +certainly accounted for my companion's alarm. + +"Fly!" she cried in accents of intense terror, as she rushed towards +me, "fly, or you are lost!" + +She then gave a hurried glance behind her, and seeing the formidable +monster in full chase, she just had power to reach the spot to which +I had advanced, and sunk overpowered with terror, fainting at my feet. + +My first movement was to step across her body for the purpose of +disputing the passage of the monster, and in an erect posture, with +my bow drawn tight as I could pull it, I waited a few seconds till I +could secure a good aim, for I knew everything depended on my +steadiness and resolution. + +On came my prodigious antagonist, making a terrible hissing as he +approached, his eyes flashing, his jaws expanded as if he intended to +swallow me at a mouthful, and the enormous folds of his huge body +passing like wheels over the ground, crushing the thick plants that +came in their way like grass. + +I must acknowledge that in my heart I felt a strange sinking +sensation, but I remembered that our only chance of escape lay in +giving the monster a mortal wound, and the imminence of the danger +seemed to afford me the resolution I required. + +He was close behind, and in a direct line with the tree under which +we had dined, and I was about twenty yards from it. Directly his head +darted round and in front of the tree, making a good mark, I let fly +the arrow direct, as I thought, for his eye, hoping, by penetrating +his brain, to settle him at once. But as he moved his head at that +moment, the arrow went into his open jaws, one of which it +penetrated, and going deep into the tree behind, pinned his head +close to the bark. + +As soon as the huge creature found himself hurt, he wound his +enormous body round the trunk, and with his desperate exertions +swayed the great tree backwards and forwards, as I would have done +one of its smallest branches. Fearful that he would liberate himself +before I could save my senseless companion, as quick as possible I +discharged all my arrows into his body, which took effect in various +places. His exertions then became so terrible that I hastily snatched +up Mrs Reichardt in my arms, and with a fright that seemed to give me +supernatural strength, I ran as fast as I could the shortest way to +our hut. Fortunately, before I had gone half a mile, my companion +came to her senses, and was able to continue her flight. + +We got home at last, half dead with fatigue and fright; nevertheless +the first thing we did was to barricade all the entrances. We left +loop-holes to reconnoitre; and there we sat for hours after our +arrival, waiting the monster's approach in fear and trembling. + +We did not go to sleep that night. We did not, either of us, go out +the next day. The next night one watched while the other slept. The +second day my courage had so far returned, I wanted to go and look +after the constant subject of our conversation. But Mrs Reichardt +dissuaded me. + +She told me it was an enormous python, or serpent of the boa +species, that are common on the northern coast of America. Probably +it had been brought to the island on a drifted tree, and being so +prodigious a reptile, the wounds it had received were not likely to +do it much harm, and it would be no doubt lurking about, ready to +pounce upon either of us directly we appeared. + +On the third day, nothing having occurred to increase our alarm, I +determined to know the worst; so I got by stealth out of the house, +and armed with a fresh bow, a good supply of arrows, a hatchet slung +at my side, and my American knife--with my mind made up for another +conflict if necessary--I crept stealthily along, with my eyes awake +to the slightest motion, and my ears open to the slightest sound, +till I approached the scene of my late unequal struggle. + +I must own I began to draw my breath rather rapidly, and my heart +beat more quickly, as I came near the place where I had left my +terrible enemy. To my extreme surprise the python had disappeared. +There was a tree still standing, though its foliage and branches +strewed the ground, and a great portion of its bark was ground to +powder. At the base of the trunk was a pool of blood mingled with +fragments of bark, broken arrows, leaves, and mould. The reptile had +escaped. But where was he? Not altogether without anxiety I began to +look for traces of his retreat; and they were easily found. With my +arrow ready for immediate flight, I followed a stream of blood that +was still visible on the grass, and led from the tree, accompanied by +unmistakable marks of the great serpent's progress, in a direct line +to the sea. There it disappeared. + +When I discovered this, I breathed again. There was no doubt if the +monster survived the conflict, he was hundreds of miles away, and was +not likely to return to a place where he had received so rough a +welcome. It may readily be believed I lost no time in taking the +agreeable news to my companion. + + + + +Chapter XLII + + +I had become tired of looking out for a ship. Though day after day, +and week after week, I made the most careful scrutiny with my glass, +as I have said, it brought no result. I sometimes fancied I saw a +vessel appearing in the line of the horizon, and I would pile up +faggots and light them, and throw on water to make them smoke, as +Jackson had done; but all without avail. Either my vision had +deceived me, or my signals had not been observed, or the ship's +course did not lie in the direction of the island. + +We had had storms too on several occasions, but no wreck had been +left on our coast. I began to think we were doomed to live out our +lives on this rock, and frequently found myself striving very +manfully to be resigned to my fate, and for a few days I would +cheerfully endeavour to make the best of it. But the increasing +desire I felt to get to England, that I might seek out my +grandfather, and put him in possession of his diamonds, always +prevented this state of things enduring very long. I had obtained +from Mrs Reichardt an idea of the value of these stones, and of the +importance of their restoration to my relative, and I had often +thought of the satisfaction I should enjoy in presenting myself +before him, as the restorer of such valuable property, which, no +doubt, had long since been given up as lost. + +But latterly, I thought less of these things; the chance of leaving +the island seemed so remote, and the prospect of ever seeing my +grandfather so very distant, that I had ceased to take any interest +in the contents of the belt. The diamonds seemed to become as +valueless as they were useless; a handful of wheat would have been +much more desirable. It was now some time since I had seen the belt, +or inquired about it. + +Thus we lived without any incident occurring worth relating--when +one day the appearance of the atmosphere indicated a storm, and a +very violent hurricane, attended with peals of thunder and lurid +flashes of lightning, lasted during the whole of the day and evening. +The wind tore up the trees by the roots, blew down our outhouses, +made terrible havoc in our garden, and threatened to tumble our hut +over our heads. + +We could not think of going to our beds whilst such a tempest was +raging around us, so we sat up, listening to the creaking of the +boards, and anticipating every moment that the whole fabric would be +blown to pieces. Fortunately, the bark with which I had covered the +roof, in a great measure protected us from the rain, which came down +in torrents; but every part was not equally impervious, and our +discomfort was increased by seeing the water drip through, and form +pools on the floor. + +The thunder still continued at intervals, and was sometimes so loud +as to have a most startling effect upon us. My companion knelt down +and said her prayers with great fervour, and I joined in them with +scarcely less devotion. Indeed it was an awful night, and our +position, though under shelter, was not without danger. The incessant +flashes of lightning seemed to play round our edifice, as if +determined to set it in a blaze; and the dreadful peals of thunder +that followed, rolled over our heads, as if about to burst upon the +creaking boards that shut us from its fury. + +I fancied once or twice that I heard during the storm bursts of +sound quite different in character from the peals of thunder. They +were not so loud, and did not reverberate so much; they seemed to +come nearer, and then the difference in sound became very perceptible. + +"Great God!" exclaimed Mrs Reichardt, starting up from her kneeling +posture, "that is a gun from some ship." + +The wind seemed less boisterous for a few seconds, and the thunder +ceased. We listened breathlessly for the loud boom we had just heard, +but it was not repeated. In a moment afterwards our ears were +startled by the most terrifying combination of screams, shrieks, +cries, and wailings I had ever heard. My blood seemed chilled in my +veins. + +"A ship has just struck," whispered my companion, scarcely above her +breath. "The Lord have mercy on the crew!" + +She sank on her knees again in prayer, as if for the poor souls who +were struggling in the jaws of death. The wind still howled, and the +thunder still roared, but in the fiercest war of the elements, I +fancied I could every now and then hear the piercing shrieks sent up +to heaven for assistance. I thought once or twice of venturing out, +but I remembered the safety of my companion was so completely bound +up with my own, that I could not reconcile myself to leaving her; and +I was also well aware, that till the terrible fury of the tempest +abated, it was impossible for me to be of the slightest service to +the people of the wrecked ship, even could I remain unharmed exposed +to the violence of the weather. + +I however awaited with much impatience and intense anxiety till the +storm had in some measure spent itself; but this did not occur till +sunrise the next morning. The wind fell, the thunder and lightning +ceased, the rain was evidently diminishing, and the brightness of the +coming day began to burst through the darkest night that had ever +visited the island. + +Mrs Reichardt would not be left behind; it was possible she might be +useful, and taking with her a small basket of such things as she +imagined might be required, she accompanied me to the rocks nearest +the sea. + +On arriving there, the most extraordinary scene presented itself. +The sea was strewed with spars, masts, chests, boats stove in or +otherwise injured, casks, empty hen-coops, and innumerable pieces of +floating wreck that were continually dashed against the rocks, or +were washed ashore, wherever an opening for the sea presented itself. +At a little distance lay the remains of a fine ship, her masts gone +by the board, her decks open, in fact a complete wreck, over which +the sea had but lately been making a clean sweep, carrying overboard +everything that could not resist its fury. + +I could see nothing resembling a human being, though both myself and +my companion looked carefully round in the hope of discovering some +poor creature, that might need assistance. It appeared, however, as +if the people of the ship had taken to their boats, which had been +swamped, and most probably all who had ventured into them had been +devoured by the sharks. + +Had the crew remained on board, they would in all probability have +been saved; as the vessel had been thrown almost high and dry. + +As soon as we had satisfied ourselves that no sharks were in the +neighbourhood, I launched my little boat, and each taking an oar, we +pulled in the direction of the wreck, which we reached in a few +minutes. + +She had heeled over after striking, and the water was quite smooth +under her lee. I contrived to climb into the main chains, and from +thence on board, and was soon afterwards diligently exploring the +ship. I penetrated every place into which I could effect an entrance, +marvelling much at the variety of things I beheld. There seemed such +an abundance of everything, and of things too quite new to me, that I +was bewildered by their novelty and variety. + +Having discovered a coil of new rope, I hauled it on deck, and soon +made fast my little boat to the ship. Then I made a hasty rope ladder +which I threw over, and Mrs Reichardt was in a very few minutes +standing by my side. Her knowledge was necessary to inform me of the +uses of the several strange things I saw, and to select for our own +use what was most desirable. She being well acquainted with the +interior of a ship, and having explained to me its numerous +conveniences, I could not but admire the ingenuity of man, in +creating such stupendous machines. + +The ship having much water in the hold, I was forced to dive into +the armoury. It was the first time I had seen such things, and I +handled the muskets and pistols with a vast deal of curiosity; as my +companion explained to me how they were loaded and fired, I at once +saw their advantage over the bow and arrow, and was selecting two or +three to carry away, when I hesitated on being assured they would be +perfectly useless without ammunition. I might have remained content +with my own savage weapons that had already served me so well, had +not Mrs Reichardt, in the course of our survey, discovered several +tin canisters of powder perfectly uninjured, with abundance of shot +and bullets, of which I quickly took possession. + +From other parts of the vessel we selected bags of grain, barrels of +flour, and provisions of various kinds; wearing apparel, boxes of +tools, with numerous bottles and jars, with the contents of which I +was perfectly unacquainted, though their discovery gave great +gratification to my companion. What most excited my wonder, were +various kinds of agricultural implements that we found in the hold, +and in a short time I was made aware of the proper employment of +spades, harrows, ploughs, thrashing-machines, and many other things, +of the existence of which I had never before dreamt. + +We found also quantities of various kinds of seeds and roots, and +some sort of twigs growing in pots, which Mrs Reichardt particularly +begged me not to leave behind, as they would be of the greatest use +to us; and she added that, from various signs, she believed that the +ship had been an emigrant vessel going out with settlers, but to what +place she could not say. + +We made no ceremony in breaking open lockers and chests, and every +where discovered a variety of things, which, could we transfer to our +island, would add greatly to our comfort; but how they were to be got +ashore, was a puzzle which neither of us seemed capable of solving. +Our little boat would only contain a few of the lighter articles; and +as many of these as we could conveniently put together were shortly +stowed in her. + +With this cargo we were about returning, when my companion called my +attention to a noise that seemed to come from a distant corner of the +vessel, and she laughed and exhibited so much satisfaction that I +believed we were close upon some discovery far more important than +any we had yet hit upon. + +We continued to make our way to what seemed to me a very out of the +way part of the vessel, led in a great measure by the noises that +proceeded from thence. It was so dark here, that we were obliged to +get a light, and my companion having procured a ship's lantern, and +lighted it by means of a tinderbox, led me to a place where I could +discern several animals, most of which were evidently dead. She +however ascertained that there were two young calves, three or four +sheep, and as many young pigs, still giving very noisy evidence of +their existence. She searched about and found some food for them, +which they ate with great avidity. The larger animals she told me +were cows and horses; but they had fallen down, and gave no signs of +life. + +My companion and myself then entered into a long debate as to how we +were to remove the living animals from the dead; and she dwelt very +eloquently upon the great advantages that would accrue to us, if we +could succeed in transporting to the island the survivors. + +After giving them a good feed, seeing we could not remove them at +present, we descended safely to our boat and gained the shore without +any accident. Then having housed our treasures, we were for putting +together a raft of the various planks and barrels that were knocking +against the rocks, but as I knew this would take a good deal of time, +I thought I would inspect the ship's boats, which, bottom upwards, +were drifting about within a few yards of us. + +To our great satisfaction, one I ascertained to be but little +injured, and having forced her ashore, with our united exertions we +turned her over. In an hour we had made her water-tight, had picked +up her oars, and were pulling merrily for the wreck. + + + + +Chapter XLIII + + +Had the cows or horses been alive, they must have been left behind, +for we could not have removed them, but the smaller animals were with +comparatively little difficulty got on deck, and they descended with +me into the boat. We added a few things that lay handy, and in a few +minutes were laughingly driving our four-footed treasures on shore, +to the extreme astonishment of the gannets, which seemed as though +they would never cease to flap their wings, as their new associates +were driven by them. + +In the same way we removed the most portable of the agricultural +implements, bed and bedding, cots, and hammocks, furniture, the +framework of a house, preserved provisions of all kinds, a medicine +chest, boxes of books, crates of china and glass, all sorts of useful +tools, and domestic utensils; in short, in the course of the next two +or three weeks, by repeated journeys, we filled every available place +we could find with what we had managed to rescue. + +Then came another terrible storm that lasted two days, after which +the wreck having been broken up, was scattered in every direction. I +however managed to secure the drift wood, tubs, spars, and chests, +which were all got on shore, and proved of the greatest service to me +some time afterwards. + +Numerous as our acquisitions had been in this way, both of us had +been infinitely better pleased had we been able to rescue some of the +ill-fated crew, to whom they had once belonged. But not one of them +could have escaped, and only one body was cast on shore, which was +that of a young woman, who lay with her face to the ground, and her +wet clothes clinging round her. We turned her carefully over, and I +beheld a face that seemed to me wonderfully fair and beautiful. She +had escaped the sharks, and had been dead several hours--most +probably she had been cast on shore by the waves soon after the ship +struck, for she had escaped also the rocks, which, had she been +dashed against, would have left fearful signs of their contact on her +delicate frame. + +The sight of her corpse gave me many melancholy thoughts. I thought +of the delight she might have caused both of us, had she been saved. +What a pleasant companion she might have proved! Indeed, as I looked +on her pale cold features, I fancied that she might have reconciled +me to ending my existence on the island--ay, even to the abandonment +of my favourite scheme of seeking my grandfather to give him back his +diamonds. + +We took her up with as much pity and affection as if she were our +nearest and dearest relative, and carried her home and placed her on +Mrs Reichardt's bed; and then I laid some planks together, in the +shape of what Mrs Reichardt called a coffin--and I dug her a deep +grave in the guano. + +And all the while I found myself crying as I had never cried before, and +my heart seemed weary and faint. In solemn silence we carried her to her +grave, and read over her the funeral service out of the Prayer-book, +kneeling and praying for this nameless creature, whom we had never +seen alive, as though she had been our companion for many years; both +of us shedding tears for her hapless fate as if we had lost a beloved +sister. And when we had filled up her grave and departed, we went home, +and passed the most miserable day we had ever had to endure since we +had first been cast upon the island. + +I had now numerous occupations that kept me actively employed. Still +I could not for a long time help recalling to mind that pale face +that looked so piteously upon me when I first beheld it; and then I +would leave off my work, and give myself up to my melancholy thoughts +till my attention was called off by some appeal from my companion. I +made a kind of monument over the place where she was buried, and +planted there the finest flowers we had; and I never passed the spot +without a prayer, as if I were approaching holy ground. + +I must not forget to add, that a few days after the wreck we were +agreeably surprised by visitors that, though unexpected, were +extremely welcome. I had noticed strange birds wandering about in +various parts of the island. On their coming under the notice of my +companion, they were immediately recognised as fowls and ducks that +had no doubt escaped from the ship. + +We might now, therefore, constitute ourselves a little colony, of +which Mrs Reichardt and myself were the immediate governors, the +settlers being a mingled community of calves, sheep, pigs, and +poultry, that lived on excellent terms with each other; the +quadrupeds having permission to roam where they pleased, and the +bipeds being kept within a certain distance of the government house. + +The old hut had suffered so much from the storm that I determined +on building another in a better position, and had recourse to the +framework of the house I had taken from the wreck. I had some +difficulty in putting the several parts together, but at last +succeeded, and a small, but most commodious dwelling was the result. +Near it I laid out a new garden, wherein I planted all the orange-trees +we had reared, as well as many of the seeds and roots we had brought +from the wreck. A little beyond I enclosed a paddock, wherein I +planted the twigs we had found in pots, which proved to be fruit +trees. + +When I had done this, I thought of my agricultural implements, and +very much desired to make use of a handy plough that was amongst +them, when I learned the advantages that might arise from it. At +first, I yoked myself to the plough, and Mrs Reichardt held it: this +proved such hard and awkward work that I kept projecting all sorts of +plans for lessening the labour--the best was that of yoking our +calves, and making them pull instead of myself. This was more easily +thought of than done. The animals did not prove very apt pupils, but +in course of time, with a good deal of patience, and some +manoeuvring, I succeeded in making them perform the work they were +expected to do. + +Thus, in building, gardening, planting, and farming, the time flew +by quickly, and in the course of the next year the aspect of the +place had become quite changed. The guano that enriched the soil made +every kind of vegetation thrive with an almost marvellous rapidity +and luxuriance. We had a comfortable house, up which a vine was +creeping in one place, and a young pear-tree in another. We were +supplied with the choicest oranges, and had apples of several kinds. +We had abundance of furniture, and an inexhaustible stock of +provisions. We had a most gorgeous show of flowers of many different +species; our new kitchen garden was full of useful vegetables--young +fruit trees were yielding their produce wherever they had been +planted--the poultry had more than doubled their number--the calves +were taking upon themselves the full dignity of the state of cow and +bull--the ewes had numerous lambs--and the pigs had not only grown +into excellent pork, but had already produced more than one litter +that would be found equally desirable when provisions ran scarce. We +had two growing crops, of different kinds of grain, and a large +pasture-field fenced round. + +The Little Savage, at seventeen, had been transformed into a farmer, +and the cultivation of the farm and the care of the live stock soon +left him no time for indulging in vain longings to leave the island, +or useless regrets for the fair creature who, even in death, I had +regarded as its greatest ornament. + +Two years later, still greater improvements, and still greater +additions became visible. We were establishing a dairy farm on a +small scale, and as our herds and flocks, as well as the pigs and +poultry, increased rapidly, we promised in a few years to be the most +thriving farmers that had ever lived in that part of the world by the +cultivation of the land. + + + + +Chapter XLIV + + +Although my first experimental voyage had proved so hazardous, now +that I was better provided for meeting its perils, I became anxious +to make another attempt to circumnavigate the island. The boat that +had belonged to the wrecked ship, from the frequent trips I had made +in her to and from the shore, I could manage as well as if I had been +rowing boats all my life. + +With the assistance of Mrs Reichardt, who pulled an oar almost as +well as myself, we could get her along in very good style, even when +heavily laden, and our labours together had taken from her all that +timidity which had deterred her from trusting herself with me, when I +first ventured from the island. + +I was, however, very differently circumstanced now, to what I was +then. Instead of a frail cockle-shell, that threatened to be capsized +by every billow that approached it, and that would scarcely hold two +persons comfortably, I was master of a well-built ship's-boat, that +would hold half a dozen with ease, and except in very rough weather, +was as safe as any place ashore. + +I had repaired the slight damage its timbers had received, and had +made an awning to protect us when rowing from the heat of the sun; I +had also raised a sail, which would relieve us of a good deal of +labour. When everything was prepared, I urged Mrs Reichardt to +accompany me in a voyage round the island; an excursion I hoped would +turn out equally pleasant and profitable. + +I found her very averse to trusting herself farther from shore than +was absolutely necessary. She raised all kinds of objections-- +prominent among which were my want of seamanship for managing a boat +in the open sea; the danger that might arise from a sudden squall +coming on; her fear of our getting amongst a shoal of sharks, and the +risk we ran of driving against a projecting rock; but I overruled +them all. + +I showed her, by taking little trips out to sea, that I could manage +the boat either with the sail or the oars, and assured her that by +keeping close to the island, we could run ashore before danger could +reach us; and that nothing could be easier than our keeping out of +the reach of both rocks and sharks. + +I do not think I quite convinced her that her fears were groundless, +but my repeated entreaties, the fineness of the weather, and her +dislike to be again left on the island, whilst I was risking my life +at sea, prevailed, and she promised to join me in this second +experiment. + +Her forethought, however, was here as fully demonstrated as on other +occasions, for she did not suffer the boat to leave the shore till +she had provided for any accident that might prevent our return in +the anticipated time. + +A finer day for such a voyage we could not have selected. The sky +was without a cloud, and there was just wind enough for the purpose I +wanted, without any apprehensions of this being increased. I got up +the awning, and spread the sail, and handing Mrs Reichardt to her +appointed seat, we bid farewell to our four-footed and two-footed +friends ashore, that were gazing at us as if they knew they were +parting from their only protectors. I then pushed the boat off, the +wind caught the sail, and she glided rapidly through the deep water. + +I let her proceed in this way about a quarter of a mile from the +island, and then tacked; the boat, obedient to the position of the +sail, altered her course, and we proceeded at about the same rate for +a considerable distance. + +Mrs Reichardt, notwithstanding her previous fears, could not help +feeling the exhilarating effect of this adventurous voyage. We were +floating, safely and gracefully, upon the billows, with nothing but +sea and sky in every direction but one, where the rugged shores of +our island home gave a bold, yet menacing feature to the view. + +My heart seemed to expand with the majestic prospect before me. +Never had mariner, when discovering some prodigious continent, felt a +greater degree of exultation than I experienced, when directing my +little vessel over the immense wilderness of waters that spread out +before me, till it joined the line of the horizon. + +I sat down by the side of Mrs Reichardt, and allowed the boat to +proceed on its course, either as if it required no directing hand, or +that its present direction was so agreeable, I felt no inclination to +alter it. + +"I can easily imagine," said I, "the enthusiasm of such men as +Columbus, whose discovery of America you were relating to me the +other day. The vocation of these early navigators was a glorious one, +and, when they had tracked their way over so many thousand miles of +pathless water, and found themselves in strange seas, expecting the +appearance of land, hitherto unknown to the civilised world, they +must have felt the importance of their mission as discoverers." + +"No doubt, Frank," she replied. "And probably it was this that +supported the great man you have just named, in the severe trials he +was obliged to endure, on the very eve of the discovery that was to +render his name famous to all generations. He had endured intolerable +hardships, the ship had been so long without sight of land, that no +one thought it worth while to look out for it, and he expected that +his crew would mutiny, and insist on returning. At this critical +period of his existence, first one indication of land, and then +another made itself manifest; the curiosity of the disheartened +sailors became excited; hope revived in the breast of their immortal +captain; a man was now induced to ascend the main-top, and his joyful +cry of land woke up the slumbering spirit of the crew. In this way, a +new world was first presented to the attention of the inhabitants of +the old." + +"It appears to me very unjust," I observed, "that so important a +discovery should have become known to us, not by the name of its +original discoverer, but by that of a subsequent visitor to its +shores." + +"Undoubtedly," said Mrs Reichardt, "it is apparently unfair that +Americus Vespucius should obtain an honour which Christopher Columbus +alone had deserved. But of the fame which is the natural right of him +whose courage and enterprise procured this unrivalled acquisition, no +one can deprive him. His gigantic discovery may always be known as +America, but the world acknowledges its obligation to Columbus, and +knows little beyond the name of his rival." + +"Were the immediate results of so large an addition to geographical +knowledge, as beneficial to the entire human race as they ought to +have been?" + +"I do not think they were. The vast continent then thrown open to +the advance of civilisation, may be divided into two portions, the +south and the north. The former was inhabited by a harmless +effeminate race, who enjoyed many of the refinements of civilisation; +their knowledge of the arts, for instance, as shewn to us in the +ruins of their cities, was considerable; they possessed extensive +buildings in a bold and ornate style of architecture; they made a +lavish use of the precious metals, of which the land was extremely +rich, and they wore dresses which shewed a certain perfection in the +manufacture of textile fabrics, and no slight degree of taste and art +in their formation. + +"The Spaniards, who were led to this part of the continent by a +desire to enrich themselves with the gold which the earliest +discoverers had found in the new country in considerable quantities, +invaded the territories of this peaceful people, and, by their +superior knowledge of warlike weapons, and the ignorance of the +intentions of their invaders that prevailed amongst the natives of +all ranks, by a series of massacres, they were enabled, though +comparatively but a small force, to obtain possession of the vast +empire that had been established there from time immemorial, and turn +it into a Spanish colony. + +"The blood of this harmless race flowed like water; their great +Incas or Emperors were deposed and murdered, their splendid temples +plundered of their riches, their nobles and priests tortured to make +them change their faith, and the great mass of the people became +slaves to their more warlike conquerors. It was in this way the gold +of Mexico and Peru enriched the treasury of Spain; but every ingot +had the curse of blood upon it, and from that time the Spanish power, +then at its height, began to decline in Europe, till it sunk in the +scale of nations among the least important. The colonies revolted +from the mother country, and became independent states; but the curse +that followed the infamous appropriation of the country, seems to +cling to the descendants of the first criminals, and neither +government nor people prospers; and it is evident that all these +independent states must in time be absorbed by a great republic, that +has sprung up by peaceable means, as it were at their side, whilst +they were content to be colonies." + +"To what republic do you allude?" + +"You may remember that I told you that the entire continent was +divided into south and north." + +"Exactly." + +"The history of the southern portion I have rapidly sketched for +you, that of the northern you will find of a totally different +character." + +"Pray let me hear it." + +"When North America was first discovered, it was found to be +inhabited by a race of savages, divided into several tribes. They had +no manufactures; they had no knowledge of art or science; they lived +in the impenetrable woods in huts, having no pretension to +architecture; they went almost entirely naked, were extremely +warlike, and fond of hunting, and were known to devour the enemies +they killed in battle. + +"To this barbarous race came a few adventurous men across the stormy +Atlantic, from the distant island of England--" + +"Ah, England!" I exclaimed, "that is the country of my parents--that +is the home of my grandfather; let me hear anything you have to say +about England." + +Mrs Reichardt smiled at my animation, but proceeded without making +any comment upon what I had said. + +"England possessed at this period many adventurous spirits, who were +ready to dare every danger to obtain for their country a share in the +honours which other lands had assumed through the enterprise of their +navigators. By such men different portions of the northern continent +of America were discovered; the fame of these new lands, their +wonderful productiveness and admirable climate, soon spread amongst +their countrymen, and from time to time various ships left the +English ports with small bands of adventurers, who made what were +termed settlements in the country of these savages--not by +mercilessly massacring them as the Spaniards had done in the south, +and then plundering them of all they possessed, but by purchasing +certain districts or pieces of land from the original occupants, +which they peacefully cultivated; as their numbers increased, they +multiplied their habitations, and obtained by barter of the savages +fresh accessions of territory." + +"The English showed themselves a much more humane people than the +Spaniards," I observed. "But did they never come into collision with +the wild natives of the country?" + +"Frequently," Mrs Reichardt replied, "but in some measure this was +unavoidable. As new settlers from England landed in the country, they +required more land; but the savages were now not inclined to barter; +they had become jealous of the strangers, and were desirous of +driving them back to their ships before they became too numerous. +Acts of hostility were committed by the savages upon the settlers, +which were often marked by great brutality: this exasperated the +latter, who joined in a warlike association, and notwithstanding +their numbers and daring, drove them further and further from their +neighbourhood, till either by conquest, treaties, or purchase, the +Englishmen or their descendants obtained the greater portion of North +America." + +"Do they still hold possession of it?" I asked. + +"Up to a recent date, the whole of this vast acquisition was a +colony in obedience to the government of England; but a dispute +having arisen between the mother country and the colony, a struggle +took place, which ended in the latter throwing off all subjection to +the laws of England. The extensive provinces joined together in a +union of equal privileges and powers, which has since gone by the +name of the Government of the United States of North America. This is +the great republic to which I just now alluded, that is gradually +absorbing the minor Southern States into its--union, and threatens at +no very distant date to spread the English language and the English +race over the whole continent of America." + +"Has England then completely lost the country she colonised?" I +inquired, feeling more and more interested in the subject. + +"No, a great portion still remains in her possession," she replied. +"The people preserved their allegiance when their neighbours thought +proper to rise in revolt, and are now in a state of great prosperity, +governed by the laws of England, and supported by her power. The +English possessions in North America form an extensive district. It +is, however, but an inconsiderable fraction of the vast countries +still remaining under the dominion of England. Her territories lie in +every quarter of the globe; indeed the sun never sets upon this +immense empire--an empire with which the conquests of Alexander, and +of Caesar, or the most formidable state that existed in ancient +times, cannot for a moment be compared; and when we bear in mind that +in all these various climates, and in all these far-distant shores, +the flag of our country affords the same protection to the colonist +as he would enjoy in his own land, we may entertain some idea of the +vast power that government possesses which can make itself respected +at so many opposite points from the source whence it emanates." + +I was so much interested in this description, that I had neglected +to notice the rate at which the boat was driving through the water. I +now rose with great alacrity to shift the sail, as we had got several +miles from the island, and if I did not take care we might be blown +out of sight of land. I lost no time in putting her on another tack, +but we had not proceeded far in this direction when I found the wind +lull, and presently the sail drooped to the mast, and there was a +dead calm. + +It became necessary now to take to our oars, and we were presently +pulling with all our strength in the direction of land. This went on +for some time till we were both tired, and I was surprised at the +little progress we had made. We lay on our oars and took some +refreshment, and then pulled with additional vigour; but I began to +suspect that we were receding from the land instead of approaching +it, and called Mrs Reichardt's attention to the fact of the island +diminishing in size notwithstanding the length of time we had been +pulling towards it. + +"Ah, Frank," she said, in a melancholy tone of voice, "I have for +some time entertained suspicions that all our strength was being +expended in vain. It is very clear that we have got into a current +that is every moment taking us farther out to sea, and if a breeze +does not soon spring up, we shall lose sight of the island, and then, +heaven only knows what will become of us." + +I shook out the sail, in hopes of its catching sufficient wind to +lead us out of the current, but not a breath of air was stirring. We +did not possess such a thing as a compass; our provisions were only +calculated for a pleasure trip--we had only one small jar of water, +and a flask of spirit, a few biscuits, two large cakes, a chicken, +and some dried fish. The land was rapidly receding; I could only mark +its position with respect to the sun that now was pouring its burning +rays upon our little bark. If it had not been for the awning we could +not have endured it; the heat was so oppressive. We had been obliged +to give over rowing, as much from the fatigue it occasioned, as from +the hopelessness of our labour. + +We now sat with sinking hearts watching the fast retreating land. It +had become a point--it diminished to a speck, and as it disappeared +from our anxious sight, the sun set in all his glory, and we were +drifting at the mercy of the current we knew not where, with nothing +but sky and sea all around us. + + + + +Chapter XLV + + +Vainly I stretched my eyes around the illimitable field of ocean, in +hope of discerning some indication of that power whose ships I had +been told traversed every sea; but nothing like a vessel was in sight +--the mighty waters stretched out like an endless desert on every +side. There was no sign of man in all this vast space, except our +little boat; and in comparison with this space, how insignificant +were the two helpless human beings who sat silent and motionless in +that boat awaiting their destiny. + +The stars came out with marvellous brilliancy. I fancied that I had +never seen them appear so bright; but probably the gloominess of my +thoughts made them look brighter by contrast. I seemed the centre of +a glorious system of worlds revolving above me with a calm and +tranquil beauty, that appeared to reproach me for giving way to +despair in a scene so lovely. + +The great mass of water, scarcely moved by a ripple, now appeared +lit up with countless fires, and a purplish haze, like a low flame, +was visible in every direction. I directed the attention of my +companion to this strange appearance. Notwithstanding the intensity +of her anxiety, she immediately entered into an explanation of the +phenomenon, and attributed it to a peculiarly phosphoric state of the +sea, caused by myriads of creatures which possess the quality of the +glow-worm, and rising to the surface of the water, made the latter +seem as though enveloped in flame. + +I sat a long time watching the singular appearances that presented +themselves whenever I dashed down the oar. It looked as though I was +beating fire instead of water, and flame seemed to come from the oar +with the drops that fell from it into the sea. + +In this way hours passed by: we were still floating with the +current; the moon and stars were now coldly shining over our heads; +the ocean around us was still gleaming with phosphoric fires, when +Mrs Reichardt advised me to take some nourishment, and then endeavour +to go to sleep, saying she would keep watch and apprise me if +anything happened of which it might be advantageous to avail ourselves. + +The only thing I desired was the appearance of a vessel, or the +setting in of a breeze, of which at present not a sign existed. I +felt disinclined either to eat or to drink: but I proposed that my +companion should make a meal and then go to sleep, as it was much +more proper that I should keep watch than herself. The fact was, we +were both anxious that the other should be the first to diminish our +little stock of food; but as neither would be induced to do this, it +was decided that our provisions should be divided into certain +portions, which were only to be taken at sunrise and sunset, and that +we should during the night relieve each other every three hours in +keeping watch, that if we saw land, or a ship, or the wind should +spring up, we might consult immediately as to our course. + +I only succeeded in inducing her to lie down at the bottom of the +boat, to obtain a little sleep, previously to her taking my place +that I might so rest myself. She first said her usual prayers for the +evening, in which I joined, and in a few minutes I was glad to hear +by her regular breathing, that she was obtaining that repose of which +I was certain she stood greatly in need. + +I was now the sole observer of the stupendous spectacle that spread +out around and above me the most sublime feature in this imposing +scene appeared to be the silence which reigned supreme over all. The +heavens were as mute as the sea. It looked as if the earth had been +engulfed by a second deluge, and all living nature had perished +utterly from the face of it. + +I felt a deep feeling of melancholy stealing over me: and could not +forbear reproaching myself for embarking in this hazardous +enterprise, and risking a life that I was bound to preserve. What +could become of us both I knew not--but I was sensible that if we +were not speedily picked up, or made some friendly shore, there +existed but little hopes of our surviving many days. + +I made up my mind that the island we should never see again, and +though I had been so anxious for so many years to quit it, now that +fate had separated us for ever, I could not console myself for the +loss of a home endeared to me by so many recollections. But my great +grief was the loss of my grandfather's diamonds. He had now no chance +of having them restored to him. If they were found they would become +the property of the discoverer; and he would never know how his +daughter perished on a rock, and how his grandson was swallowed up by +the waters of the great deep. + +And then I thought of that glorious England I had so long hoped to +see, and my heart sunk within me as I gazed out upon the boundless +prospect. There was not a voice to murmur consolation, not a hand to +offer me assistance. Was I never to see those white cliffs which had +been so often described to me, that I could call them to mind as +clearly as if they stood in all their pride and beauty before my eyes? + +How often had I dreamed of approaching the hallowed shores of +England--how often had I heard the cheerful voices of her people +welcoming the Little Savage to his natural home--how often had I been +embraced by my aged grandfather, and received into the happy circle +of his friends, with the respect and affection due to his heir. I had +dreamed happy dreams, and seen blissful visions; and the result was +starvation in an open boat on the illimitable ocean. + +Mrs Reichardt still slept, and I would not wake her. As long as she +was insensible to the dangers of her position she must exist in +comparative happiness; to disturb her was to bring her back to a +sense of danger and misery, and the recollection that my folly had +brought her to this hopeless state. + +I noticed that a small cloud was making its appearance in the +horizon, and almost at the same instant I observed it, I felt a +breeze that was just sufficient to flap the sail against the mast. In +a few minutes the cloud had greatly increased, and the wind filled +the sail. I fancied it blew in a direction contrary to the current; +and in the belief that it did so I soon got the boat round, and to my +great joy she was presently scudding before the wind at a rate that +was sensibly increasing. + +But the cloud presently began to envelop the heavens, and a thick +darkness spread itself like a veil in every direction. The wind blew +very fresh, and strained the mast to which the sail had been fixed; +and now I began to entertain a new fear: some sudden gust might take +the sail and capsize us, or tear it from its fastenings. I would +gladly have taken in the sail, but I considered it as rather a +hazardous experiment. Mrs Reichardt lay in a position that prevented +my getting at it without disturbing her, or running the risk of +tipping the boat over, when it would be sure to fill immediately, and +sink with us both. Though we could both swim, I felt assured that if +we were once in the water, there would remain very little chance of +our protracting our lives beyond a few hours. + +The boat, therefore, continued to run before the wind at a rapid +rate, the slight mast creaking, and the sail stretching so tight, I +expected every minute that we should be upset. At this moment Mrs +Reichardt awoke, and her quick eye immediately took in the full +extent of her danger. + +"We shall be lost," she said hurriedly, "if we do not take in that +sail!" + +I was fully aware of this, but she had seen more of a sailor's +perils than I had, and knew better how to meet them. She offered to +assist me in taking in the sail, and directing me to be very careful, +we proceeded, with the assistance of the awning, to the mast, and +after a good deal of labour, and at some risk of being blown into the +sea, we succeeded in furling the sail, and unshipping the mast. + +We were now in quite as much danger from another cause--the surface +of the sea, which had been so smooth during the calm, was now so +violently agitated by the wind, that the boat kept ascending one +great billow only to descend into the trough of another. We often +went down almost perpendicularly, and the height seemed every moment +increasing; and every time we went thus plunging headlong into the +boiling waters, I thought we should be engulfed never to rise; +nevertheless, the next minute, up we ascended on the crest of some +more fearful wave than any we had hitherto encountered, and down +again we plunged in the dark unfathomable abyss that, walled in by +foaming mountains of water, appeared yawning to close over us for ever. + +It was almost entirely dark; we could see only the white foam of the +wave over which we were about to pass; save this, it was black below +and black above, and impenetrable darkness all around. + +Mrs Reichardt sat close to me with her hand in mine--she uttered no +exclamations of feminine terror--she was more awe-struck than +frightened. I believe that she was fully satisfied her last hour had +come, for I could hear her murmuring a prayer in which she commended +her soul to her Creator. + +I cannot say that I was in any great degree alarmed--the rapid up +and down motion of the boat gave me a sensation of pleasure I had +never before experienced. To say the truth, I should have greatly +enjoyed being thus at the mercy of the winds and waves, in the midst +of a black and stormy night on the trackless ocean, had it not been +for my constant thoughts of my companion, and my bitter self-reproaches +for having led her into so terrible a danger. + +I was now, however, called from these reflections, by the necessity +of active employment. The boat I found shipped water at every plunge, +and if speedy means were not taken to keep the water under, there was +little doubt that she would soon fill and go down. I therefore seized +the iron kettle we had brought with us to cook our dinner, and began +rapidly bailing out the water, which was already over our ankles. We +continued to ship water, sometimes more and sometimes less; and Mrs +Reichardt, actuated no doubt by the same motives as myself, with a +tin pan now assisted me in getting rid of the treacherous element. + +By our united exertions we kept the water under, and hoped to be +able to get rid of the whole of it. About this time it began to rain +very heavily, and although the awning protected our heads, so much +fell into the boat, that notwithstanding our labours we continued to +sit in a pool. + +We were, however, glad to find that as the rain fell the wind +abated, and as the latter subsided, the sea became less violent, and +we shipped less water. I was now able by my own exertions to keep the +boat tolerably dry, and Mrs Reichardt, ever provident, spread out all +the empty vessels she had brought with her to catch the rain, for as +she said, we did not know how valuable that water might become in a +short time. + +The rain continued to pour down in a perfect torrent for several +hours; at the end of which the sky gradually cleared. The sea, though +still rough, presented none of those mountainous waves that a short +time before had threatened to annihilate us at every descent, and +there was just sufficient breeze to waft us along at a brisk rate +with the assistance of our sail. + +Mrs Reichardt helped me in putting up the mast, and directly we +began to feel the breeze, she insisted on my taking some refreshment. +It was vitally necessary to both, for our labours had been heavy for +several hours. We therefore ate sparingly of our provisions, and +washed down our meal with a pannikin of water mingled with a little +spirit. + + + + +Chapter XLVI + + +The morning dawned upon a boundless expanse of sea. The first object +that presented itself to my sight was an enormous whale spouting +water about a quarter of a mile distant from me; then I observed +another, then a third, and subsequently, several more; they presented +a singular and picturesque appearance, as one or other of these vast +animals was continually throwing up a column of water that caught the +rays of the sun, and looked very beautiful in the distance. + +I looked in vain for land; I looked equally in vain for a ship; +there was nothing visible but this shoal of whales, and Mrs Reichardt +endeavoured to cheer me by describing the importance of the whale +fishery to England, and the perils which the men meet with who pursue +the fish for the purpose of wounding them with an iron instrument +called a harpoon. + +I felt much interest in these details; and my companion went into +the whole history of a whaling expedition, describing the first +discovery of the huge fish from the ship; the pursuit in the boats, +and the harpooning of the whale; its struggles after having been +wounded; its being towed to the ship's side; the subsequent +manufacture of oil from the blubber of the animal, and the +preparation of whalebone. + +In attending to this discourse, I completely forgot that I was being +tossed about in the open sea, I knew not where; and where I might be +in a short time it would be proved I was equally ignorant: perhaps I +should be a corpse floating on the surface of the ocean waiting for a +tomb till a shark came that way; perhaps I should be suffering the +torments of hunger and thirst; perhaps cast lifeless upon a rock, +where my bleached bones would remain the only monument which would +then declare that there once existed in these latitudes such a being +as the Little Savage. + +Where now could be the island I, though long so anxious to quit, now +was a thousand times more desirous of beholding? I felt that nothing +could be more agreeable to me than a glimpse of that wild rocky coast +that had so often appeared to me the walls of an intolerable prison. + +I strained my eyes in vain in every direction; the line of the +horizon stretched out uninterrupted by a single break of any kind all +around. Where could we be? I often asked myself; but except that we +were on the wide ocean, neither myself nor my companion had the +slightest idea of our geographical position. We must have been blown +a considerable distance during the storm: much farther than the +current had taken us from the island. + +I calculated that we must have passed it by many a mile if we had +continued the same course; but the wind had shifted several times, +and it might be that we were not so very long a sail from it, could +we gain the slightest knowledge of the direction in which it was to +be found. But this was hopeless. I felt assured that we must abandon +all idea of seeing it again. + +In the midst of these painful reflections, my companion directed my +attention to an object at a very considerable distance, and intimated +her impression that it was a ship. Luckily, I had brought my glass +with me, and soon was anxiously directing it to the required point. +It was a ship: but at so great a distance that it was impossible, as +Mrs Reichardt said, for any person on board to distinguish our boat. +I would have sailed in that direction, but the wind was contrary: I +had, therefore, no alternative but to wait till the ship should +approach near enough to make us out; and I passed several hours of +the deepest anxiety in watching the course of the distant vessel. + +She increased in size, so that I could observe that she was a large +ship by the unassisted eye; but as we were running before the wind in +a totally different direction, there seemed very little chance of our +communicating, unless she altered her course. + +Mrs Reichardt mentioned that signals were made by vessels at a +distance to attract each other's attention, and described the various +ways in which they communicated the wishes of their respective +captains. The only signal I had been in the habit of making was +burning quantities of wood on the shore and pouring water on it to +make it smoke--this was impossible in our boat. + +My companion at last suggested that I should tie a table-cloth to +the mast; its peculiar whiteness might attract attention. The sail +was presently taken in, and the table-cloth spread in its place; but, +unfortunately, it soon afterwards came on a dead calm--the breeze +died away, and the cloth hung in long folds against the mast. + +No notice whatever was taken of us. We now took to our oars and +pulled in the direction of the ship; but after several hours' hard +rowing, our strength had so suffered from our previous fatigues, that +we seemed to have made very little distance. + +In a short time the sun set, and we watched the object of all our +hopes with most anxious eyes, till night set in and hid her from our +sight. Shortly afterwards a light breeze again sprung up; with +renewed hope we gave our sail to the wind, but it bore us in a +contrary direction, and when morning dawned we saw no more of the ship. + +The wind had now again shifted, and bore us briskly along. But +where? I had fallen asleep during the preceding night, wearied out +with labour and anxiety, and I did not wake till long after daybreak. +Mrs Reichardt would not disturb me. In sleep I was insensible to the +miseries and dangers of my position. She could not bring herself to +disturb a repose that was at once so necessary to mind and body; and +I fell into a sweet dream of a new home in that dear England I had +prayed so often to see; and bright faces smiled upon me, and voices +welcomed me, full of tenderness and affection. + +I fancied that in one of those faces I recognised my mother, of +whose love I had so early been deprived, and that it was paler than +all the others, but infinitely more tender and affectionate: then the +countenance seemed to grow paler and paler, till it took upon itself +the likeness of the fair creature I had buried in the guano, and I +thought she embraced me, and her arms were cold as stone, and she +pressed her lips to mine, and they gave a chill to my blood that made +me shake as with an ague. + +Suddenly I beheld Jackson with his sightless orbs groping towards me +with a knife in his hand, muttering imprecations, and he caught hold +of me, and we had a desperate struggle, and he plunged a long knife +into my chest, with a loud laugh of derision and malice; and as I +felt the blade enter my flesh, I gave a start and jumped up, and +alarmed Mrs Reichardt by the wild cry with which I awoke. + +How strongly was that dream impressed upon my mind; and the features +of the different persons who figured in it--how distinctly they were +brought before me! My poor mother was as fresh in my recollection as +though I had seen her but yesterday, and the sweetness of her looks +as she approached me--how I now tried to recall them, and feasted on +their memory as though it were a lost blessing. + +Then the nameless corpse that had been washed from the wreck, how +strange it seemed, that after this lapse of time she should appear to +me in a dream, as though we had been long attached to each other, and +her affections had been through life entirely my own. Poor girl! +Perhaps even now some devoted lover mourns her loss; or hopes at no +distant date to be able to join her in the new colony, to attain +which a cruel destiny had forced her from his arms. Little does he +dream of her nameless grave under the guano. Little does he dream +that the only colony in which he is likely to join her is that +settlement in the great desert of oblivion, over which Death has +remained governor from the birth of the world. + +But the most unpleasant part of the vision was the appearance of +Jackson; and it was a long time before I could bring myself to +believe that I had not beheld his well known features--that I had not +been stabbed by him, and that I was not suffering from the mortal +wound he had inflicted. I however at last shook off the delusion, and +to Mrs Reichardt's anxious inquiries replied only that I had had a +disagreeable dream. + +In a short time I began to doubt whether the waking was more +pleasant than the dreaming--the vast ocean still spread itself before +me like a mighty winding sheet, the fair sky, beautiful as it +appeared in the rays of the morning sun, I could only regard as a +pall--and our little bark was the coffin in which two helpless human +beings, though still existing, were waiting interment. + +"Has God abandoned us?" I asked my companion, "or has He forgotten +that two of his creatures are in the deepest peril of their lives, +from which He alone can save them?" + +"Hush! Frank Henniker," exclaimed Mrs Reichardt solemnly; "this is +impious. God never abandons those who are worthy of His protection. +He will either save them at His own appointed time--or if He think it +more desirable, will snatch them from a scene where so many dangers +surround them, and place them where there prevails eternal +tranquillity, and everlasting bliss. + +"We should rather rejoice," she added, with increasing seriousness, +"that we are thought worthy of being so early taken from a world in +which we have met with so many troubles." + +"But to die in this way," I observed gloomily; "to be left to linger +out days of terrible torture, without a hope of relief--I cannot +reconcile myself to it." + +"We must die sooner or later," she said, "and there are many +diseases which are fatal after protracted suffering of the most +agonising description. These we have been spared. The wretch who +lingers in torment, visited by some loathsome disorder, would envy +us, could he see the comparatively easy manner in which we are +suffered to leave existence. + +"But I do not myself see the hopelessness of our case," she added. +"It is not yet impossible that we may be picked up by a ship, or +discover some friendly shore whence we might obtain a passage for +England." + +"I see no prospect of this," said I; "we are apparently out of the +track of ships, and if it should be our chance to discover one, the +people on board are not likely to observe us. I wish I had never left +the island." + +Mrs Reichardt never reproached me--never so much as reminded me that +it was my own fault. She merely added, "It was the will of God." + +We ate and drank our small rations--my companion always blessing the +meal, and offering a thanksgiving for being permitted to enjoy it. I +noticed what was left. We had been extremely economical, yet there +was barely enough for another day. We determined still further to +reduce the trifling portion we allowed ourselves, that we might +increase our chance of escape. + + + + +Chapter XLVII + + +Five days and nights had we been drifting at the mercy of the winds +and waves; all our small stock of food had been devoured--though we +had hoarded every crumb, as the miser hoards his gold. Even the rain +water, as well as the water we had brought with us, we had drained to +the last drop. + +The weather continually alternated from a dead calm to a light +breeze: the wind frequently shifted, but I had no strength left to +attend to the sail--the boat was abandoned to its own guidance, or +rather to that of the wind. When becalmed we lay still--when the +breeze sprang up we pursued our course till the sail no longer felt +its influence. + +Five long days and nights--days of intolerable suffering, nights of +inexpressible horror. From sunrise to sunset I strained my eyes along +the line of the horizon, but nothing but sky and wave ever met my +gaze. When it became dark, excited by the deep anxiety I had endured +throughout the day, I could not sleep. I fancied I beheld through the +darkness monstrous forms mocking and gibbering, and high above them +all was reared the head of the enormous python I had combated in the +Happy Valley. And he opened his tremendous jaws, as though to swallow +me, and displayed fold upon fold of his immense form as if to involve +and crush the boat in its mighty involutions. + +I was always glad when the day dawned, or if the night happened to +be fair and starlight; for the spectres vanished when the sun shone, +and the tranquil beauty of the stars calmed my soul. + +I was famishing for want of food--but I suffered most from want of +water, for the heat during the day was tremendous, and I became so +frantic from thirst, that nothing but the exhortations of Mrs +Reichardt would have prevented me from dashing myself into the sea, +and drinking my fill of the salt water that looked so tempting and +refreshing. + +My companion sought to encourage me to hope, long after all hope had +vanished--then she preached resignation to the Divine Will, and in +her own nature gave a practical commentary on her text. + +I perceived that her voice was getting more and more faint--and that +she was becoming hourly more feeble. She was not able to move from +her seat, and at last asked me to assist her to lie down at the +bottom of the boat. Then I noticed that she prayed fervently, and I +could often distinguish my name in these petitions to the throne of +Grace. + +I felt a strange sensation in my head, and my tongue became in my +mouth as a dry stick--from this I was relieved by chewing the sleeve +of my shirt; but my head grew worse. My eyes too were affected in a +strange manner. I continually fancied that I saw ships sailing about +at a little distance from me, and I strove to attract their attention +by calling to them. My voice was weak and I could create only a kind +of half stifled cry. Then I thought I beheld land: fair forests and +green pastures spread before me--bright flowers and refreshing fruits +grew all around--and I called to my companion to make haste for we +were running ashore and should presently be pulling the clustering +grapes and should lay ourselves down among the odorous flowers. + +Mrs Reichardt opened her eyes and gazed at me with a more painful +interest. She knew I was haunted by the chimeras created by famine +and thirst; but she seemed to have lost all power of speech. She +motioned me to join her in prayer; I, however, was too much occupied +with the prospect of landing, and paid no attention to her signs. + +Presently the bright landscape faded away, and I beheld nothing but +the wide expanse of water, the circle of which appeared to expand and +spread into the sky, and the sky seemed lost and broken up in the +water, and for a few minutes they were mixed together in the wildest +and strangest confusion. Subsequently to this I must have dropt +asleep, for after a while I found myself huddled up in a corner of +the boat, and must have fallen there from my seat. I stared about me +for some time, unconscious where I was. The bright sun still shone +over my head; the everlasting sea still rolled beneath my feet. + +I looked to the bottom of the boat, and met the upturned gaze of my +fellow voyager--the pale face had grown paler, and the expression of +the painful eye had become less intelligent. I thought she was as I +had seen her in my dream, when she changed from her own likeness to +that of the poor drowned girl we buried in the guano. + +I turned away my gaze--the sight was too painful to look upon. I +felt assured that she was dying, and that in a very short space of +time, that faithful and affectionate nature I must part from forever. + +I thought I would make a last effort. Though faint and trembling, +burning with fever, and feeling deadly sick, I managed by the support +of the awning to crawl to the mast, and embracing it with one arm I +raised the glass with the other hand, and looked carefully about. My +hand was very unsteady and my eyes seemed dim. I could discern +nothing but water. + +I should have sunk in despair to the bottom of the boat, had I not +been attracted at the moment by a singular appearance in the sky. A +cloud was approaching of a shape and appearance I had never observed +before. I raised the glass again, and after observing this cloud for +some time with great attention, I felt assured that what I considered +to be long lines of vapour was an immense flock of birds. + +This discovery interested me--I forgot the intensity of my +sufferings in observing the motions of this apparently endless flock. +As the first file approached, I looked again, to see if I could make +out what they were. God of heaven! They were gannets. + +I crawled back to my companion as rapidly as my feeble limbs would +allow, to inform her of the discovery I had made. Alas! I found that +I was unheeded. I could not believe that her fine spirit had fled; +no, she moved her hand; but the dull spiritless gaze seemed to warn +me that her dissolution was fast approaching. I looked for the spirit +flask, and found a few drops were still left there; I poured these +into her mouth, and watched the result with the deepest anxiety I had +ever known since the day of my birth. + +In a few minutes I found that she breathed more regularly and +distinctly--presently her eyes lost that fixedness which had made +them so painful to look upon. Then she recognised me, and took hold +of my hand, regarding me with the sweet smile with which I was so +familiar. + +As soon as I found that consciousness had returned, I told her of +the great flock of gannets that were evidently wending their way to +their customary resting place, and the hope I entertained that if +they could be kept in sight, and the wind remained in the same +quarter, the boat might be led by them to the place where they laid +their eggs. + +She listened to me with attention, and evidently understood what I +said. Her lips moved, and I thought she was returning thanks to God +--accepting the flight of the birds as a manifest proof that He was +still watching over us. In a few minutes she seemed so much better +that she could sit up. I noticed her for some time watching the +gannets that now approached in one vast cloud that threatened to shut +us out from the sky--she then turned her gaze in an opposite +direction, and with a smile of exultation that lit up her wan face as +with a glory, stretched her arm out, pointing her hand to a distant +portion of the sea. My gaze quickly followed hers, and I fancied I +discovered a break in the line of the horizon; but it did not look +like a ship. I pointed the glass in that direction, and felt the +joyful assurance that we were within sight of land. + +This additional discovery gave me increased strength: or rather hope +now dawning upon us, gave me an impulse I had not felt before. I in +my turn became the consoler. I encouraged Mrs Reichardt, with all the +arguments of which I was master, to think that we should soon be in +safety. She smiled, and something like animation again appeared in +her pale features. + +If I could save her, I felt I should be blessed beyond measure. Such +an object was worth striving for; and I did strive. I know not how it +was that I gained strength to do what I did on that day; but I felt +that I was supported from On High, and as the speck of land that she +had first discovered gradually enlarged itself as we approached it, +my exertions to secure a speedy rescue for my companion from the jaws +of death, continued to increase. + +The breeze remained fair and we scudded along at a spanking rate, +the gannets keeping us company all the way--evidently bound to the +same shore. I kept talking to Mrs Reichardt, and endeavouring to +raise her spirits with the most cheering description of what we +should do when we got ashore, for God would be sure to direct us to +some place where we might without difficulty recover our strength. + +Hitherto she had not spoken, but as soon as we began to distinguish +the features of the shore we were approaching she unclosed her lips, +and again the same triumphant smile played around them. + +"Frank Henniker, do you know that rock?" + +"No!--yes!--can it be possible? O what a gracious Providence has +been watching over us!" + +It was a rock of a remarkable shape that stood a short distance from +the fishing-pool. It could not be otherwise, the gannets had led us +to their old haunts. We were approaching our island. I looked at my +companion--she was praying. I immediately joined with her in thanks +-giving for the signal mercy that had been vouchsafed to us, and in +little more than an hour had the priceless satisfaction of carrying +her from the shore to the cottage, and then we carefully nursed +ourselves till we recovered the effects of this dreadful cruise. + + + + +Chapter XLVIII + + +My numerous pursuits, as I stated in a preceding chapter obliging me +to constant occupation, kept me from useless repining about my +destiny, in being obliged to live so many years on this far-distant +corner of the earth, I had long ceased to look for passing ships--I +scarcely ever thought about them, and had given up all speculations +about my grandfather's reception of me. I rarely went out to sea, +except to fish, and never cared to trouble myself about anything +beyond the limited space which had become my inheritance. + +The reader, then, may judge of my surprise when, one sultry day, I +had been busily engaged for several hours cutting down a field of +wheat, Mrs Reichardt came running to me with the astounding news that +there was a ship off the island, and a boat full of people had just +left her, and were rowing towards the rocks. I hastily took the glass +she had brought with her, and as soon as I could get to a convenient +position, threw myself on the ground on the rock, and reconnoitred +through the glass the appearance of the new comers. + +I soon noticed that a part were well armed, which was not the case +with the rest, for they were pinioned in such a manner that they +could scarcely move hand or foot. We concealed ourselves by lying our +lengths on the grass. As the boat approached, I could discern that +the unarmed party belonged to a superior class of men, while many of +the others had countenances that did not prepossess me at all in +their favour. + +We lay hid in the long grass, from which we could command a view of +our approaching visitors. + +"I think I understand this," whispered Mrs Reichardt. "There is +mischief here." + +"Had I not better run home and get arms?" I asked. + +"No," she replied, "you had better not. If we are able to do any +good, we must do it by stratagem. Let us watch their movements, and +act with great caution." + +My companion's advice was, I saw, the wisest that could be pursued; +and therefore we remained in our hiding places, narrowly observing +our visitors as they approached. They entered the fishing-pool, and I +could then distinctly not only see but hear them. To my extreme +surprise, one of the first men who jumped out of the boat was John +Gough, who had brought Mrs Reichardt to the island. He looked older, +but I recognised him in a moment, and so did my companion. Her +admonitory "Hush!" kept me from betraying the place of our +concealment--so great was my astonishment--having long believed him +and all his lawless associates to have been lost at sea. + +He was well armed, and evidently possessed some authority; +nevertheless, I thought I could detect an air of concern in his +features, as he offered to help one of the captives out of the boat. +The latter, however, regarded him with an air of disdain, and, though +his hands were tied behind him, leaped ashore without assistance. He +was a man of commanding stature, with a well bronzed face, and a look +of great energy of character. He wore a band of gold lace round his +cap, and had on duck trousers, and a blue jacket and waistcoat. + +"Come, captain!" exclaimed John Gough, "I bear you no malice. Though +you have been rather hard upon us, we won't leave you to starve." + +"He's a deuced deal better off than he desarves to be," cried a man +from the boat, whom I at once recognised as the fellow on whom I had +drawn my knife for hurting Nero. "If we had made him walk the plank, +as I proposed, I'm blowed if it wouldn't have been much more to the +purpose than putting him on this here island, with lots o' prog, and +everything calkilated to make him and his domineering officers +comfortable for the rest of their days." + +"Hold your tongue, you mutineering rascal," exclaimed the captain +angrily. "A rope's end at the yard-arm will be your deserts before +long." + +"Thank ye kindly, captain," replied the fellow, touching his hat in +mockery. "But you must be pleased to remember I ain't caught yet; and +we means to have many a jolly cruise in your ship, and get no end o' +treasure, before I shall think o' my latter end; and then I means to +die like a Christian, and repent o' my sins, and make a much more +edifying example than I should exhibit dangling at the end of a rope." + +The men laughed, the captain muttered something about "pirates and +mutineers," but the rest of the officers wisely held their tongues. + +I now noticed an elderly man of very respectable appearance, who was +not pinioned like the rest. His hair was quite white, his complexion +very pale, and he looked like one oppressed with deep sorrow and +anxiety. He rose from his seat in the boat, and was assisted out by +John Gough. + +"I'm very sorry that we are obliged to leave you here, Mr Evelyn," +said Gough, "but you see, sir, we have no alternative. We couldn't +keep you with us, for many reasons; and therefore we have been +obliged to make you a sharer in the fate of our officers." + +"And werry painful this is to our feelings, sir, you may believe," +said another of the mutineers mockingly. "I'm quite moloncholy as I +thinks on it." + +The men again laughed; but the person so addressed walked to the +side of the captain without making any observation. The other +captives also left the boat in silence. They were eight in all, but +four of them were evidently common seamen by their dress--the others +were officers. All were well-made, strong men. + +"What a precious pretty colony you'll make, my hearties!" exclaimed +one of the mutineers, jeeringly, as he helped to land a cask, and +some other packages, that they had brought with them. "It's a +thousand pities you ain't got no female associates, that you might +marry, and settle, and bring up respectable families." + +"Talking of women," cried the one who had first spoken, "I wonder +what became of the one we left here so cleverly when we was wrecked +at this here place six years ago." + +John Gough looked uneasy at this inquiry, as if the recollection was +not agreeable to him. + +"And the Little Savage," continued the fellow, "what was agoing to +send his knife into my ribs for summat or other--I forget what. They +must have died long ago, I ain't no doubt, as we unfortnitely left +'em nothin' to live upon." + +"No doubt they died hand in hand, like the Babes in the Wood," said +another. + +I still observed John Gough; he seemed distressed at the turn the +conversation had taken. + +"Now, mates," he said hurriedly, "let us return to the ship. We have +done what we came to do." + +"I votes as we shall go and see arter the Missionary's woman and the +Little Savage," cried the fourth. "I should like, somehow, to see +whether they be living or not, and a stroll ashore won't do any on us +any harm." + +"I shall remain here till you return," said John Gough; and he threw +himself on the grass with his back towards me, and only a few yards +from the place in which we were concealed. The rest, after making +fast the boat, started off on an exploring expedition, in the +direction of the old hut. + + + + +Chapter XLIX + + +The captives were grouped together, some sitting, and some standing. +Not one of them looked dejected at his fate; though I could see by +their movements that they were impatient of the bonds that tied them. +My attention was most frequently directed to the old gentleman who +had been addressed as Mr Evelyn. Notwithstanding the grief expressed +in his countenance, it possessed an air of benevolence and kindness +of heart that even his settled melancholy did not conceal. I could +not understand why, but I felt a deeper interest for this person than +for any of the others--a sort of yearning towards him, mingled with a +desire to protect him from the malice of his enemies. + +Almost as soon as they were gone, John Gough beckoned to Mr Evelyn +to sit down by his side. Possibly this was done to prevent his +assisting his companions to regain their liberty, as he, not being +pinioned like the rest, might easily have done, and they might have +overpowered their guard before his companions could come to his +assistance. But Gough was well armed, and the rest being without +weapons of any kind, it was scarcely probable that they would have +risked their lives in so desperate an attempt. + +Mr Evelyn came and quietly sat himself down in the place indicated. +I observed him with increasing interest, and singular to relate, the +more I gazed on his venerable face, the more strongly I felt assured +that I had seen it before. This of course was impossible, +nevertheless, the fancy took possession of me, and I experienced a +strange sensation of pleasure as I watched the changes his features +underwent. + +"John Gough, I am sorry to see you mixed up in this miserable +business," said he, mildly addressing his companion. The other did +not answer, and as his back was turned towards me I could not observe +the effect the observation had upon him. + +"The men who have left us I know to be bad men," continued the +speaker; "I expect nothing but wickedness from them. But you I am +aware have been better brought up. Your responsibility therefore +becomes the greater in assisting them in their villainy." + +"You had better not let them hear you, Mr Evelyn," replied Gough, at +last, in something like a surly tone; "I would not answer for the +consequences." + +"Those I do not fear," the other answered. "The results of this +transaction can make very little difference to a man on the verge of +the grave, who has outlived all his relatives, and has nothing left +to fall back upon but the memory of his misfortunes: but to one in +the prime of life like yourself, who can boast of friends and +relatives who feel an interest in your good name, these results must +be serious indeed. What must be the feelings of your respectable +father when he learns that you have joined a gang of pirates; how +intense must be the grief of your amiable mother when she hears that +you have paid the penalty that must sooner or later overtake you for +embracing so lawless a life." + +"Come, Mr Evelyn," exclaimed Gough, though with a tremulousness in +his voice that betrayed the state of his feelings, "you have no right +to preach to me. I have done as much as I could for you all. The men +would have made short work with you, if I had not interposed, and +pointed out to them this uninhabited island." + +"Where it seems you left a poor woman to be starved to death," +continued Mr Evelyn. + +"It was no fault of mine," replied the man; "I did all I could to +prevent it." + +"It would have been more manly if you had remained with her on this +rock, and left your cowardly associates to take their selfish course. +But you are weak and irresolute, John Gough; too easily persuaded +into evil, too slow to follow the impulses of good. The murder of +that poor woman is as much your deed as if you had blown her brains +out before you abandoned her. Indeed I do not know but what the +latter would have been the less criminal." + +John Gough made no answer. I do not think, however, his mind was +quite easy under this accusation, for he seemed restless, and kept +playing with his pistols, with his eyes cast down. + +"Your complicity in this mutiny, too, John Gough, is equally +inexcusable," continued Mr Evelyn. "It was your duty to have stood by +Captain Manvers and his officers, by which you would have earned +their eternal gratitude, and a handsome provision from the owners of +the vessel." + +"It's no use talking of these things now, Mr Evelyn," said Gough, +hurriedly. "I have taken my course. It is too late to turn back. +Would to God," he added, dashing his hand violently against his brow, +"I had had nothing to do with it." + +"It is never too late, John Gough, to do good," here cried out Mrs +Reichardt, as she rose from her place of concealment, as much to my +surprise as that of all who could observe her. But nothing could +equal the astonishment of Gough when he first caught sight of her +features;--he sprang to his feet, leaving his pistols on the ground, +and clasping his hands together, exclaimed, "Thank God, she is safe!" + +"Yes," she replied, approaching him and taking his hand kindly. "By +an interposition of Providence, you are saved from the guilt of one +murder. In the name of that God who has so signally preserved you +against yourself, I command you to abandon your present wicked +designs." + +The man hesitated, but it seemed as if he could not take his gaze +from her face, and it was evident that her presence exerted an +extraordinary influence over him. In the meantime I had made my +appearance on the scene, not less to the astonishment of the lookers-on; +and my first act was to take possession of the pair of pistols +that Gough had left on the ground; my next to hurry to the group of +captives, who had been regarding us, in a state as it were of perfect +bewilderment, and with my American knife to cut their bonds. + +"I will do whatever you think proper," said John Gough. "Believe me +I have been reluctantly led into this, and joined the mutiny knowing +that I should have been murdered if I did not." + +"You must endeavour to make what amends are in your power," +continued Mrs Reichardt, "by assisting your officers in recovering +possession of the ship." + +"I will gladly assist in whatever they may think feasible," said the +man. "But we must first secure the desperate fellows who have just +left us, and as we are but poorly provided with weapons, that of +itself will be a service of no slight danger. To get possession of +the ship I am afraid will be still more hazardous; but you shall find +me in the front of every danger." + +Here Captain Manvers and the others came up to where John Gough and +Mrs Reichardt were conversing; he heard Gough's last speech, and he +was going to say something, when I interposed by stating that there +was no time now for explanations, for in a few minutes the fellows +who had gone to the hut would return, and the only way to prepare for +them was for the whole party to go to our house, to which Mrs +Reichardt would lead them, where they would find plenty of arms and +ammunition. In the meantime I would keep watch, and observe their +motions, and by firing one of the pistols would signal to them if I +was in any danger. Lastly, I recommended that the oars should be +removed from the boat, to prevent the mutineers making their escape +to the ship. + +My appearance and discourse attracted general attention. I +particularly noticed that Mr Evelyn started as soon as he caught +sight of me, and appeared to observe me with singular carefulness; +but that, no doubt, arose from my unexpected address, and the strange +way in which I had presented myself before him. + +The Captain approving of my proposal, the whole party, after taking +away the boat's oars, moved off rapidly in the direction of the +house. I again concealed myself in the grass, and waited the return +of the mutineers. They did not remain away long. I could hear them +approaching, for they laughed and shouted as they went along loud +enough to be heard at a considerable distance. When they began to +descend the rocks, they passed so close to me, that I could hear +every word that was spoken. + +"Well, flesh is grass, as the parson says," said Jack; "they must +have died sooner or later, if we hadn't parted company with so little +ceremony. But, hallo! my eyes and limbs! Where's John Gough? Where's +the captain? Where's all on 'em?" + +It is impossible to express the astonishment of the men on reaching +the spot where they had so lately left their prisoners, and +discovering that not a trace of them was to be seen. At first they +imagined that they had escaped in the boat, but as soon as they saw +that the boat was safe, they gave up that idea. Then they fancied +John Gough had taken the prisoners to stroll a little distance +inland, and they began to shout as loud as their lungs would permit +them. Receiving no response, they uttered many strange ejaculations, +which I could not then understand, but which I have since learned +were profane oaths; and seemed at a loss what to do, whether to +wander about the island in search of them, or return to their ship. + +Only one chanced to be for the former, and the others overruled him, +not thinking it was worth their while to take so much trouble as to +go rambling about in a strange place. They seemed bent on taking to +the boat, when one of them suggested they might get into a scrape if +they returned without their companion. They finally resolved on +sitting down and waiting his return. + +Presently, one complained he was very sleepy, as he had been too +busy mutineering to turn into his hammock the previous night, and the +others acknowledged they also felt an equal want of rest from the +same cause. Each began to yawn. They laid themselves at their full +length along the grass, and in a short time I could hear by their +snoring, as Jackson used to do, that they were asleep. + +I now crept stealthily towards them on my hands and knees, and they +were in such a profound sleep, that I had no difficulty whatever in +removing the pistols from their belts. I had just succeeded in this, +when I beheld the captain, and John Gough, and Mr Evelyn, and all the +rest of them, well armed with guns and pistols, approaching the place +where we were. + +In a few minutes afterwards the mutineers were made prisoners, +without their having an opportunity of making the slightest +resistance. I was much complimented by the captain for the dexterity +with which I had disarmed them; but while I was in conversation with +him, it is impossible to express the surprise I felt, on seeing Mr +Evelyn suddenly rush towards me from the side of Mrs Reichardt, with +whom he had been talking, and, embracing me with the most moving +demonstrations of affection, claim me as his grandson. + +The mystery was soon explained. Mr Evelyn had met so many losses in +business as a merchant, that he took the opportunity of a son of his +old clerk--who had become a captain of a fine ship, employed in the +South American trade--being about to proceed on a trading voyage to +that part of the world, to sail in his vessel with a consignment of +goods for the South American market. He had also another object, +which was to inquire after the fate of his long-lost daughter and +son-in-law, of whom he had received no certain intelligence, since +the latter took ship with the diamonds he had purchased to return home. +The vessel in which they sailed had never been heard of since; and Mr +Evelyn had long given up all hopes of seeing either of them again, or +the valuable property with which they had been entrusted. + +On their going to the house, he had asked Mrs Reichardt my name, +stating that I so strongly resembled a very dear friend of his, he +believed had perished many years ago, that he felt quite an interest +in me. The answer he received led to a series of the most earnest +inquiries, and Mrs Reichardt satisfied him on every point, showed him +all the property that had formerly been in the possession of Mrs +Henniker and her husband: related Jackson's story, and convinced him, +that though he had lost the daughter for whom he had mourned so long, +her representative existed in the Little Savage, who was saving him +from the fate for which he had been preserved by the mutineers. + +I have only to add, that I had the happiness of restoring to my +grandfather the diamonds I had obtained from Jackson, which were no +doubt very welcome to him, for they not only restored him to +affluence, but made him one of the richest merchants upon Change. + +I was also instrumental in obtaining for the captain the command of +his ship, and of restoring discipline amongst the crew. The +ringleaders of the mutiny were thrown into irons, and taken home for +trial; this resulted in one or two of them being hanged by way of +example, and these happened to be the men who so barbarously deserted +Mrs Reichardt. She accompanied me to England in Captain Manvers's +vessel, for when he heard of the obligations I owed her, my +grandfather decided that she should remain with us as long as she +lived. We however did not leave the island until we had shown my +grandfather, the captain, and his officers, what we had effected +during our stay, and every one was surprised that we could have +produced a flourishing farm upon a barren rock. I did not fail to +show the places where I had had my fight with the python, and where I +had been pursued by the sharks, and my narrative of both incidents +seemed to astonish my hearers exceedingly. + +I must not forget to add, that the day before our departure, John +Gough came to me privately, and requested my good offices with the +captain, that he might be left on the island. He had become a very +different character to what he had previously been; and as there +could be no question that the repentance he assumed was sincere, I +said all I could for him. My recommendation was successful, and I +transferred to John Gough all my farm, farming stock, and +agricultural implements; moreover, promised to send him whatever he +might further require to make his position comfortable. He expressed +great gratitude, but desired nothing; only that his family might know +that he was well off, and was not likely to return. + +Perhaps John Gough did not like the risk he ran of being tried for +mutiny, or was averse to sailing with his former comrades; but +whatever was the cause of his resolution, it is certain that he +remained behind when the ship left the island, and may be there to +this hour for all I know to the contrary. + +We made a quick voyage to England, and as my readers will no doubt +be glad to hear, the Little Savage landed safely at Plymouth, and was +soon cordially welcomed to his grandfather's house in London. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Little Savage, by Captain Marryat + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LITTLE SAVAGE *** + +This file should be named ltsvg10.txt or ltsvg10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, ltsvg11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, ltsvg10a.txt + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Tom Allen, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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