STRANGE ALLIES
"Turn out, Hoppy!"
Ellerton was awake in an instant, but forgetting that the cabin of a
small craft does not possess unlimited headroom, he sat up and brought
his head violently in contact with the deck beams.
"What's up?" he exclaimed, grasping his revolver. "Anything wrong?"
"No," replied Andy. "Only it's two o'clock, and your watch."
"Goodness! I feel as if I've only been asleep five minutes."
"Sorry for you, then, old chap, for you've got to keep awake five
hours."
So saying, Andy slid into his bunk, and within a minute his regular
breathing showed that he was asleep.
Ellerton took up his position under the shelter of the dew-sodden
awning. Everything was quiet, save for the occasional splash of a fish
as it played upon the surface of the placid water, and the ever-present
rumble of the breakers upon the distant reef.
Shorewards the outline of the island was dimly visible against the loom
of the starlit sky, while a light from the seaward window of the house
and the dull red gleam of the dying embers of the fire the natives had
kindled were the only sign of human occupation.
Yet, Ellerton reflected, the bush might be alive with savages, awaiting
the opportunity to fall upon the settlement, murder his friends, and
possess themselves of the valuable stores.
Perhaps the story of the seizure of Ahii and the flight of the
inhabitants to Ni Atong was a myth, invented by that rogue Blight for
the purpose of luring the castaways into a false position.
There could be no doubt about it, Ellerton's nerves were "jumpy."
Perhaps it was that the suddenness of coming into contact with human
beings other than his comrades had acted upon his nerves.
Ellerton realised that he was entering into a new phase of his
existence. He regretted it, for, beyond his natural anxiety concerning
his parents, he had grown to love the isolated life on McKay's Island.
Then, should Blight's story prove to be correct, Ellerton felt sure
that Mr. McKay's action was the only course permissible. The little
colony was to fight for its existence, and the more remote the scene of
hostilities the better chance they had of securing the sole
proprietorship of the island.
Hist! A succession of faint sounds like those of a man stealthily
swimming caused Ellerton to sit bolt upright, grasp his rifle, and peer
intently through the darkness.
There was no mistake about it. It was some object heading directly for
the yawl, its track being marked by a faint blur of phosphorescence.
Visions of bloodthirsty savages, swimming, knife in mouth, to surprise
the crew of the little craft, filled Ellerton with alarm. He raised
his rifle, released the safety catch, and took aim at the mysterious
intruder.
"Andy," he whispered, but his friend was too deep in slumber to be
awakened by a whisper.
"I'll wait till he's close alongside," muttered Ellerton, fingering the
trigger.
At that moment there was a perceptible jar alongside the boat, followed
by a prolonged grating sound, as if a piece of sandpaper were slowly
drawn over a rough surface. Then, with a swirl and a succession of
phosphorescent splashes, the object vanished.
The sound had roused Andy.
"What's up?" he exclaimed, springing into the cockpit.
Both lads looked over the side. Deep beneath the surface they saw a
huge luminous shape slowly gliding away.
"My word!" whispered Andy. "Can't you see what it is? It's a shark."
"I thought it was some natives swimming off to us."
"Never fear. They'll never attempt such a thing with a sentry like
that brute," replied Andy as he re-entered the cabin.
Slowly the weary hours passed, till the sun rose in a sky of misty
grey, and the inhabitants of McKay's Island, both black and white,
bestirred themselves into activity.
"Not much wind, boss," was Chinese Pork's salutation as Mr. McKay and
his companions arrived at the beach, whither Andy had rowed in the
tender.
"There'll be some before long," replied Mr. McKay. "It usually springs
up about an hour after sunrise."
"It'll mean a long pull if it doesn't," rejoined Blight. "Shall I lend
you four or five hands to work the sweeps?"
"I'll not trouble you, thanks. It's your men who will find it hard
work, I fancy."
"Say, why? You just see them use those paddles. They'll keep it up
for hours at a stretch. Your craft'll be the tail end of this 'ere
procession, I guess."
"We shall see," replied Mr. McKay quietly, for he had no desire to
enlighten the ex-pearler upon the subject of the motor.
"Say, boss?"
"Well?"
"That's a rum packet," said Blight, indicating with a jerk of his thumb
the boat the lads had made from the wreck of the gig. "I bet you never
bought her at Hilo?"
Mr. McKay did not reply. He quite realised that the ex-pearler was
trying to pump him, while, on the other hand, he was equally determined
to conceal the fact that he and his companions were on the island
through shipwreck.
Although Mr. McKay hated deception, he wished to convey the impression
that they settled here by choice, yet Blight's question showed that he
kept his eyes open.
"Are you ready to start?" demanded Mr. McKay. "There's a wind
springing up from the south-east'ard."
"As soon as you like. But can you lend me a revolver, cap'n? I've got
a bloomin' Martini, but I've run out o' cartridges months and months
ago."
"Here you are, and here are fifty cartridges. I'll make you a present
of the pistol," replied Mr. McKay, though he realised that he was
playing into the man's hands.
Then, without waiting to receive the ex-pearler's thanks, he stepped
into the boat and was rowed off to the yawl.
"Good morning, Ellerton," he exclaimed. "All quiet, I suppose? Well,
let's get the canvas on her."
Already the natives were hauling their canoe down the beach, and by the
time the yawl had set her sails the splash of a score of paddles showed
that they had lost no time in embarking.
"Up with your helm, Andy; check the jib sheets."
Then, as the little craft drew clear of the land, the freshening breeze
caused her to heel and glide through the ruffled water of the lagoon.
By the time they had gained the passage through the reef the yawl was
ahead of the canoe.
"Glorious!" ejaculated Andy. "See, they're setting their sail. It
will be a good race, after all."
Half a dozen bronzed natives were setting the raking mast and bending
the yard with its enormous sail of cocoa fibre. Then, as the sail rose
swiftly in the air, the breeze filled the mat-like canvas. The crew
took in their paddles and watched the yawl with curious eyes.
"We are gaining on her, I think," remarked Andy.
"Yes; we must shorten sail," replied Mr. McKay. "But I want
particularly to note the respective speeds of the two craft. I should
think that, under sail and aided by her paddles, that canoe could
overhaul us under sail alone. Yes," he continued, after a few moments'
careful observation. "I think I've seen enough in case of future
developments, so we'll strike the topsail."
Under reduced canvas the yawl kept the canoe at a regular distance from
her, neither gaining nor allowing the latter to overhaul her. Quexo,
fearing an attack of sea-sickness, had retired to the seclusion of a
berth in the fo'c'sle, while Ellerton and Terence, who had kept the
last portion of the previous night's watch, followed his example,
though from other motives.
Andy was steering. His father, who had given him the course, was below
preparing a meal.
The wind held steadily all the forenoon, and by eleven o'clock the
summit of McKay's Island had dipped beneath the horizon. It was not
without feelings of regret that Andy saw it disappear. He, too,
realised that they were embarked upon a hazardous mission, and that
possibly great sacrifice would have to be made ere they returned to
their island home.
At midday the wind died away to a flat calm, the yawl rolling
sluggishly in the oily swell, with her boom swaying violently from side
to side, and threatening dire disaster to the heads of any of the crew
that incautiously came within its reach.
The canoe, similarly situated, did not hesitate to lower the sail, and
paddle close alongside.
"This is a bit rotten, cap'n," shouted Blight. "Shall I give you a
tow?"
"No thanks, don't trouble about us," replied Mr. McKay. "You can
paddle on ahead, and we'll follow when the breeze springs up. If we
can't fetch Ni Atong before dark you might get those fellows to light a
fire on the beach, so that we can come up to the anchorage."
"Righto, boss! Ta-ta!"
There was a peculiar glint in the man's eye. He fancied that the
superior speed of the canoe under paddles was an asset in his favour
for the events he had already planned.
The chief gave the word, the blades dipped, and, gathering way, the
canoe soon gained a rapid pace. The long-drawn song of the paddlers
gradually died away as the distance increased, and an hour later the
canoe was lost to sight.
"Now, Andy, we'll start the motor, and creep up within a couple of
miles of Ni Atong. They will think we have picked up a breeze."
"Why don't you want to let that chap Blight know we've a motor?"
"Frankly, Andy, I don't trust him. If he plays a straight game, well
and good; but, should he act treacherously--and I have every reason to
believe he will, judging by his past career--we must keep a trump card
up our sleeves. That's why I wanted to make sure of the respective
speeds of the two craft, for you may be certain that, since the chief
is in her, yonder canoe is the largest and swiftest they possess.
Under power we can easily outstrip her, I have no doubt."
No sooner had the motor started than Terence and Ellerton appeared.
"Hullo! Where's the wind?" asked the latter.
"And where's the canoe? added Donaghue.
"Hull down," replied Andy. "They've gone on ahead to give us a
house-warming. Now, you fellows, get yourselves something to eat, and
then give us a spell. I'll let you have the course. Keep your weather
eye lifting, and look out for a breeze. It may come down suddenly."
"You bet I will," assented Ellerton. "How far are we from Ni Atong?"
"About twenty miles. Directly the island hoves in sight call us."
At about four in the afternoon Terence, who had climbed the main-mast
and had taken up a perch upon the diminutive cross-trees, reported land
ahead.
Mr. McKay and Andy were instantly warned, and, a breeze springing up,
the motor was shut off.
Half an hour later the heads of a patch of palm trees were visible from
the deck.
"That's Ni Atong, right enough," commented Mr. McKay, as bit by bit the
land appeared to rise above the horizon. "Blight told me that the
entrance to the lagoon is easily picked out."
Ni Atong resolved itself into a low, regularly outlined island barely
two miles in length. Its surface was covered with dense scrub and a
few cocoanut palms, the soil being apparently loose and sandy. So far
as could be seen, a coral reef extended round the island at a distance
of half a mile from the shore, the rocks in places protruding above
water to a height of nearly three feet.
"There's another island showing up on our port bow, sir," announced
Ellerton.
"Then that's Ahii. It's a lofty island something like ours, judging by
the appearance of that mountain. However, we'll hear and see more of
it later on. Now, Andy, we are approaching the reef. Do you climb
aloft and con the boat in through the channel."
This is the only practical method of entering an unbeaconed lagoon, for
owing to the sudden increase in depth, a lead line is of little use.
On the other hand, the extreme clearness of the water makes it possible
for a man aloft to detect instantly any rocks or shoals that lurk
beneath the surface.
For the space of five minutes it was an anxious time. On either hand
the breakers thrashed themselves in masses of milk-white foam upon the
glistening coral reef, while ahead a narrow patch of undulating, yet
unbroken water showed the presence of the only available channel into
the shelter of the lagoon.
"Starboard--bear away--starboard again--port, steady!"
Under the light breeze the yawl was in danger of dropping to leeward
upon the merciless rocks. One moment her stern was lifted high in the
air, the rudder consequently being useless. The next she threw her
streaming bows above the following wave, then, shaving the edge of the
reef by a bare five yards, the little vessel glided into the quiet
waters of the anchorage.
The crew now had time to look about them. Drawn up on the sandy beach
were seven large canoes, similar to that which had paid an unwelcome
visit to McKay's Island, while others, only slightly smaller in size,
were hauled up beneath the shelter of the bushes, their lofty carved
prows alone being visible.
The beach was lined with natives, numbering at least 180 men, besides a
host of women and children.
The men were of medium stature, muscular, and well built. In colour
they resembled that of Quexo, being considerably lighter than the
natives of New Guinea. Many of them bore scars, possibly
self-inflicted or the result of inter-tribal wars.
"Stand by to let go!" shouted Andy to Terence and Ellerton. Then, as
the yawl shot up into the wind, he followed up with: "Let go!"
With a roar and rattle of chain the anchor plunged to the bottom of the
lagoon, and as the crew prepared to lower and stow the sails, Mr. McKay
waved his arm towards the crowded shore.
"Well, lads," he exclaimed, "what do you think of our allies?"