In less than three minutes after coming in contact with the kit, the
three castaways formed a group, curious and peculiar. On the right of
the chest was the sailor, his body stretched transversely along its end,
with his left arm buried to the elbow in the sennit loop forming its
handle. Half of his weight being thus supported by the buoyant box, it
was only necessary for him to keep his right arm in regular motion to
sustain himself above the surface. This, even wearied as he was, he was
enabled to accomplish without difficulty: for the new position was one
rather of rest than of labour.
At the opposite end of the chest, in a _pose_ precisely similar, the
sea-cook had placed himself,--the only difference being in the uses
respectively made of their arms. Snowball's right arm was the one
thrust through the handle, his left being left free for swimming.
As already hinted, Lilly Lalee had been transferred from Snowball's
shoulder to a more elevated position,--upon the top of the chest where,
lying upon her breast, and grasping the projecting edge of the lid, she
was enabled to keep her place without any exertion.
It is not necessary to say that this change in the situation and
circumstances of the party had also produced a change in their
prospects. It is true that death might have appeared as inevitable as
ever. They were still at its door,--though not quite so near entering
as they had been but a few minutes before. With the help of the
capacious chest--forming, as it did, a famous life-preserver--they might
now sustain themselves for many hours above the surface,--in fact, as
long as hunger and thirst would allow them. Their holding out would be
simply a question of strength; and had they been only assured of a
supply of food and drink, they might have looked forward to a long
voyage performed in this singular fashion: that is, provided the sea
around them should keep clear of storms and sharks.
Alas! the approach of one or the other of these perils was a contingency
to be looked for at any moment, and to be dreaded accordingly.
Just at that moment they were not thinking of either, nor even of the
probability of perishing by hunger or its kindred appetite,--thirst.
The singular coincidence that the chest should come floating that way,
just when they were on the point of perishing, had produced a remarkable
effect on the minds both of the sailor and the sea-cook, begetting not
positive conviction, but a pleasant presentiment that there might be
other and more permanent succour in store for them; and that, after all,
they were not destined to die by drowning,--at least not just then
Hope,--sweet, soothing hope!--had again sprung up in the bosom of both;
and, along with it the determination to make a further effort for the
saving of their lives. They could now exchange both speech and counsel
with perfect freedom; and they proceeded to discuss the situation.
The presence of the chest required explanation. The theory, which at
first sight of it had suggested itself to its owner (that the raft had
gone to pieces and that the kit was one of the scattered fragments) was
not tenable, nor was it entertained for a moment. There had been no
convulsion, either of winds or waves, to destroy the _Catamaran_; and
this curiously-fashioned fabric, in all its fantastic outlines, must
still be intact and afloat somewhere upon the surface of the sea.
It is true they could see nothing of it anywhere; neither could Lilly
Lalee, who, from her more elevated position, was instructed to survey
the circle of the horizon,--a duty which the child performed with the
greatest care.
If the craft had been anywhere within the distance of a league or two,
the large lateen sail should have been sufficiently conspicuous to have
caught the eye of the girl. But she saw it not. She saw nothing,--so
ran her report,--but the sea and sky.
From this it might have been inferred (even supposing the _Catamaran_ to
be still afloat) that it must have drifted to such a distance as to have
destroyed all chance of their ever overtaking it. But the sage seaman
did not give way to this form of reasoning. His conjectures were of a
more consolatory character,--founded upon certain data which had
presented themselves to his mind. On reflection, he came to the
conclusion that the presence of the sea-chest upon the bosom of the blue
water was no accidental circumstance, but a design,--the design of
little William.
"I be sure o't, Snowy," said he; "the lad ha' chucked the kit overboard,
knowin' as how we mout overhaul it, when we could not come up wi' the
_Catamaran_. The chest war amidships, when I parted from it. It
couldn't a' got into the water o' itself no-howsomever; besides, it war
full o' heavy things, and now I'm sartin it be empty,--else how do it
float so? Sure he must a' whammelled it upside down, and spilled out
the things afore he pitched it overboard. It was thoughtful o' him; but
he be just the one for that. I've seed him do some'at similar afore.
Only think o' the dear boy!"
And Ben, after this burst of enthusiasm, for a moment indulged his
admiration in silence.
"Dat's all berry likely,--berry likely," was the rejoinder of the
Coromantee.
"I know what he did next," said Ben, continuing the thread of his
conjectures.
"Wha' you tink, Massa Brace?"
"He tuk in sail. I don't know why he didn't do it sooner; for I called
to him to do that, an' he must ha' heerd me. I've jest got a idea that
the fault was not his'n. When I hauled up that bit o' canvas, I've a
sort o' recollection o' puttin' a ugly knot on the haulyards. Maybe he
warn't able, wi' his little bits o' digits, to get the snarl clear, as
fast as mout a' been wished; an' that'll explain the whole thing.
Sartin he got down the sail at last,--eyther by loosin' the belay, or
cuttin' the piece o' rope, and that's why there be no canvas in sight.
For all that, the _Catamaran_ can't be so fur off. She hadn't had time
to a' drifted to such a great distance,--'specially if the sail were got
down the time as we missed it."
"Dat am true. I miss de sail all ob a sudden,--jess as if it had come
down, yard an' all, straight slap bang."
"Well, then, Snowy," continued the sailor, in a tone of increased
cheerfulness, "if't be as we conjecture, the craft ain't far ahead o' us
yet. Maybe only a knot or two; for one can't see far over the water who
happens to be neck-deep under it as we be. In any case she be sure to
be lying to leuart o' us; and, without the sail, she won't drift faster
than we can swim, nor yet so fast. Let us do the best we can to make a
mile or two's leeway; an' then we'll know whether the old Cat's still
crawling about, or whether she's gin us the slip altogether. That's the
best thing we can do,--ain't it?"
"De berry bess, Massa Brace. We can't do nuffin' better dan swim down
de wind."
Without further parley, the two set themselves to the task thus
proposed; and one striking with his right hand, the other with his
left,--both buffeting the waves with equal vigour and resolution,--they
were soon sweeping onward with a velocity that caused the sea to surge
along the sides of the chest, until the froth rose to the fingers of
Lilly Lalee as she lay grasping its lid!