"That would be a harder matter than standing on," answered Dick. "Maybe
we shall come in sight of a harbour, and if so we will stand in and take
shelter; but if not, our only course is to run on till we can double the
cape. And then, unless the wind shifts to the westward, we shall be
under the lee of the island, and make better weather of it."
Dick spoke calmly; but as I looked at his countenance I observed a
strange expression pass over it.
"Are you in pain, Dick?" I asked.
"To say the truth, I am, sir," he answered; "though I didn't like to
alarm you by telling you how I feel I should like to have some doctor's
stuff: or maybe a glass of rum would set me to rights; but as that isn't
to be got, I must grin and bear it."
As I watched Dick, he appeared to grow worse and worse, and every now
and then a groan he could not suppress escaped him. Still, he kept his
seat at the helm, steering the boat before the wind with his usual care.
I remembered the supposed poisonous fish he had spoken of, and wondered
whether he had taken any; but I did not like to suggest the thought to
him. Presently, to my horror, his hand relaxed its hold of the helm,
and he sank down in the bottom of the boat. I seized the tiller in time
to prevent the boat broaching-to, and kept her on as we had before been
steering. I could do nothing to help him, except place his head against
the side of the boat. He breathed heavily, every now and then giving a
groan. I was greatly alarmed, not knowing what I should do by myself;
while I felt much grieved at the thought of losing him. All I could do
was to sit and steer. Nothing I could offer him was likely to do him
any good; and I could only hope that his strong constitution would carry
him through the attack, whatever it was.
At length I was very nearly up to the cape, and expected to get round it
in the course of half an hour or so, when the wind fell even more
suddenly than it had risen, and the boat lay rocking on the water,
making no perceptible way. I tried to do all I could to restore Dick.
I sprinkled his face with water, and poured some cocoa-nut milk down his
throat; but it did not appear to have the slightest effect. He remained
perfectly unconscious, only giving signs of life by his heavy breathing
and his groans, which grew fainter and fainter.
Hoping that at last a moderate breeze would spring up, I shook the reefs
out of the sail, and again hoisted it. Still there was no change. The
sun was setting over the island, and I expected to have my difficulties
increased by the approaching darkness. The weather also still looked
very threatening. Scarcely had the sun disappeared behind a cliff on
the left, when the wind again suddenly sprang up, and blew with even
greater violence than before. I now wished that I had not shaken the
reefs out of the sail, but I could not venture to leave the helm to make
any alteration.
On flew the boat as before, the foaming seas rising up on either hand.
I could but dimly distinguish the cliff. At length it was lost to
sight. As I looked out on the larboard side, I fancied that I saw a
line of white breakers, indicating a reef running off from it. How far
it might extend I could not tell; perhaps a mile, or a couple of miles.
It would be destruction, should I haul up too soon and strike on it;
indeed, with the sail I had set, I dared not do that. My only resource
was to stand on, hoping that the squall would pass away as quickly as it
had sprung up. I knew that I was leaving the land farther and farther
astern. In vain in my anxiety I called to poor Dick to help me.
Sometimes the horrid thought came over me that he was dead, the
splashing of the water and the howling of the wind drowning the sound of
his breathing. My anxiety--or, I may confess it, my alarm--made me feel
very ill; and I began to fancy that I too had been poisoned, either by
the fish or the wild-fowl we had eaten.
I scarcely know how many hours thus passed. At last, as I had expected,
the wind suddenly fell to a gentle breeze. I immediately hauled aft the
sheet, hoping to be able to beat up to the island again by daybreak; but
scarcely had I stood on for a quarter of an hour when it dropped
altogether, and the boat lay rocking on the heaving waters. As there
was no use in keeping the sail set, I lowered it, and sat down with my
arm round the mast, intending to keep awake till the breeze should again
get up; while I heartily prayed that it might come from a direction
which might enable me to fetch the island. I could hear Dick breathing;
but though I called to him he did not answer, and appeared quite as
unconscious as at first. I felt very tired, after the excitement I had
gone through; still I did my utmost to keep awake. All my efforts,
however, were vain, and I dropped off to sleep.
Suddenly I awoke; and standing up, I looked out anxiously for the land.
My heart sank: an unbroken sea-horizon was around me. As I was still
gazing, a bright glow appeared in the direction towards which the boat's
head was turned; and presently the sun, a vast globe of fire, arose out
of his ocean-bed, tinging with a ruddy hue the edge of the clouds which
still covered the sky. The breeze, however, had sprung up from the
eastward, and I knew from the position of the sun in what direction to
steer. The numerous birds, also, which hovered round me, proved that
the island was not far off.
I again attempted to arouse Dick; but though I did not succeed, his more
quiet breathing made me hope that he was recovering. I now hoisted the
sail; and hauling aft the sheet, went to the helm, and steered to the
southward.