The mountain had been quiet for some days. Our apprehensions of an
eruption had passed away. We had succeeded in hauling the _Hope_ on
shore; and Mr Thudicumb was of opinion that we should be unable to
repair her, though it might take some time to enable us to do so
sufficiently to prosecute our voyage to Singapore. We were all in good
spirits, as we trusted that after so many misadventures we should be
able to succeed. The Frau and the girls had been busily employed in
preparing a fresh supply of provisions, while sago, rice, and maize, and
sugar-cane in abundance, had been brought from the plantation. My uncle
and I had been out shooting, and had killed a couple of deer, three
hogs, and a number of wood-pigeons and other birds. We had thus a good
supply of meat.
We had all retired to rest, and were in the expectation in a few days of
getting the _Hope_ ready for launching. Suddenly we were awaked by my
uncle's voice shouting out, "Up! up! Sleepers, awake! Put on your
clothes, and endeavour to retain your presence of mind." In an instant
I was wide-awake, and knew by the tone of his voice that something
serious had happened; indeed, the bright glare against the thick foliage
of the trees in front of my window would have told me so. Oliver and I
dressed rapidly, and ran to the room occupied by the Frau and the young
ladies.
"What is it? what is it?" I heard the Frau exclaiming.
"Quick, quick," I answered; "put on your clothes, and take whatever you
have of most value."
They were already dressed, and now came to the door with looks of terror
in their countenances.
"We shall have time to save our lives, I trust, if we do not delay,"
said my uncle, who now appeared in the chief room.
Here we all collected. Each man bore on his shoulders as much provision
as he could carry, done up in bags, already prepared for the purpose.
"On," cried my uncle. "Mr Thudicumb and Tarbox desire to bring up the
rear; I will lead the way." We hurried down the steps, and began our
march toward Hope Harbour. The mountain was throwing up sheets of
flame, amid which appeared huge masses of rock and stones, while over
our heads came down a shower of light ashes. Already a fringe of flame
surrounded the mountain. It was the jungle which had caught fire, and
was blazing furiously. The bright glare of the flames was reflected on
the trees on one hand, making the night as bright as day. My uncle had
set at liberty his poor animals. "They must seek their own safety," he
observed; "and their instincts may guide them to the least dangerous
spot." Mr Hooker insisted upon taking Emily's arm, I supported Grace,
and Roger Trew begged the Frau to let him help her. Macco walked with
Oliver, while Potto Jumbo ran to the front to assist my uncle in
clearing the way. We hastened forward as fast as we could move, the
poor Frau panting with the unusual exertion she was compelled to make.
The very heavens seemed on fire. The earth shook. The wild beasts in
the forests roared and howled. The birds uttered strange cries of
terror, and flew here and there. At length we reached the bamboo
bridge. At such a moment it seemed a fragile structure to cross. Not a
moment was to be lost, however, for already the fire seemed rushing out
towards us, the trees crackling and hissing as the flames caught them.
Terror-stricken animals rushed past us, heeding us not. My uncle, Mr
Hooker, and the Frau, with their companions, had crossed, and Grace and
I were on the bridge. It seemed to be shaken violently, and as I looked
up towards the mountain, I saw a mass of liquid fire rushing down the
sides, and apparently wending its way towards us. I had nearly gained
the further end of the bridge, when another violent shock occurred, and
the frail structure fell into the water. With difficulty could I haul
my companion up the bank. But where were Oliver and the other three
men? They too saw the stream of fire rushing towards them. I trembled
lest we should be separated, or they might be overwhelmed in the
destruction we were endeavouring to escape. Macco cried out to Oliver,
"Come on! come on!" and taking his arm, he rushed down the bank and
plunged into the stream, from which a vapour was ascending, as if it was
already heated by the fire above. I could not desert Grace, or I would
have hurried back to assist them; but they needed it not, for the next
instant Macco and Oliver landed, Mr Thudicumb and Tarbox were already
in the water, and the other two were stretching out their hands to help
them. I felt greatly relieved when I saw them all landed.
But even now our danger was fearful. On came the fire, on came the
stream of lava. We had still a long way to go, it seemed. The rest of
the party, not knowing what had occurred, had already got to some
distance. We rushed after them at increased speed. Poor Grace could
scarcely support herself, but I helped her along. At length we overtook
our friends. "On, on!" cried Mr Sedgwick, every now and then turning
back and pointing towards the beach, much as an officer might encourage
a forlorn hope, only we were flying from danger instead of running into
it. The fire seemed scarcely a hundred yards from us, and already we
felt the heat of the advancing conflagration. At length the bay opened
out before us, but the fire was by this time close on one hand, and the
flames were curling up some tall palms which we the instant before had
passed. Crash followed crash as the trees sank before the devouring
element. Already it had gained the edge of the path and ignited the
wood on the opposite side. We had to pass under an arch of fire. I
entreated Oliver to keep close behind us. He and Macco sprang forward.
At that moment there came a crash, and a tall tree fell directly behind
them, cutting off the mate and boatswain. It was no time to stop,
however. I felt this for my companion's sake, and I know not, even if I
had been alone, that I should have ventured to turn back to help them.
I feared that our two friends had been lost. Without them, how could we
expect safely to navigate our frail raft? We had got some way, almost
clear of the wood, when I heard shouts, and turning my head, greatly to
my relief I saw both Mr Thudicumb and Tarbox leaping over the burning
trunk, their clothes already on fire. They were striking out the
flames, however, and rushing on. "On! on!" I heard Tarbox shouting
out, and his voice seemed as strong and cheery as ever. In a few
seconds they overtook us, and we altogether rushed frantically out of
the burning forest. A minute later none of us could have passed. We
hurried down to the beach. "On board the raft! on board the raft!"
shouted my uncle, "for the lava may rush down from the mountain even
here."
The raft was moored securely in the harbour, and, since I had seen it,
had been greatly enlarged and improved. Potto Jumbo and Roger Trew
rushed into the water, and cutting--the cable, towed it ashore. The
provisions meantime were carried from the house where they had been
stored, and those we had brought with us were put on board. We all now
hastened on to the raft. The masts, and spars, and oars, and all the
other things which had been prepared were also placed on it. "Now,
shove off!" cried my uncle, "and Heaven protect us! Mr Thudicumb, we
beg you to take charge of the raft. My duty is over." Merlin was the
last of our party who leaped on board. With long poles, which had been
got ready for the purpose, we shoved off. Not a moment too soon; for
already the lava which had overflowed the stream was making its way
towards the harbour, while the showers of dust increased, thickly
covering the raft.
I cast an affectionate look at the _Hope_. She had been the means of
rescuing me from my solitary island, and restoring me to my sister and
friends. In a few minutes, she would probably be a mass of cinders. As
soon as we were clear of the harbour, we got out our oars and paddles,
and urged the raft away from the island. It was nearly calm. The heat
was drawing the air towards the mountain, thus creating a contrary
breeze to what we expected to find, or wished for. The scene which took
place on our own island when Macco and I were carried from it, was
vividly recalled to my mind. There was the mountain blazing away, with
a vast sea of flame surging at its base, spreading here and there with
fearful rapidity, while the showers of ashes came every instant thicker
and thicker. Three streams of lava were descending from the sides of
the mountain, sweeping away in one instant the tall trees against which
it forced its course as if they had been willow wands. Even now it
seemed as if destruction might overtake us. We urged on the raft with
all the energy of despair. Mr Thudicumb steered, the rest of us worked
the oars. The Frau and the two girls were seated in the centre,
surrounded by the lockers which contained our provisions. While the
water was smooth, there was no danger, but we could not help seeing
that, exposed to a heavy sea, there would be great risk of our being
washed off it.
We soon had reason to be thankful that we had escaped from the island,
for the fire was every instant seen to be extending on both sides, while
the eruption became more furious than ever. Suddenly a loud roar was
heard coming over the water, and a vast rent was made in the side of the
mountain. It seemed like the work of magic. The whole outline was in
an instant changed. The conical top was rolling down, while in other
places huge mounds were seen to be forced up as it were out of the
earth. The glare of the conflagration reached us even at the distance
we were from the island. I had been watching Emily and Grace, and
though their countenances exhibited anxiety, there was no senseless
terror perceptible. The Frau certainly did show alarm, and every now
and then hid her face when the mountain sent forth fresh volumes of
flame, or continued roars were heard as vast fragments of rock were
hurled up into the air, and came crashing down on the earth, new
openings being made in the side of the mountain.
"There is a breeze from the eastward," I heard Mr Thudicumb exclaim.
"Hoist the sails, lads!"
The masts had already been stepped. We hoisted our two lugsails, with a
small jib on the bowsprit, which had been rigged ahead, and the raft
feeling its effects, glided over the surface.
"We may reach some part of Java, even if we cannot get as far as
Singapore," observed Mr Thudicumb. "It would be a long voyage in such
a craft as this; but if the weather holds fair, and our provisions last
out, I see no reason why we should not accomplish it. We shall have the
sun soon, and that will help us to steer the right course when we lose
sight of the island."
Streaks of bright light were now appearing in the east, and presently
the whole sky was overspread with a ruddy glow, which increased in
intensity near the horizon, till the sun, a vast globe of fire, rose
above the waters, and quickly shot upwards in the sky. Still we were
not clear altogether of the cinders which fell in light showers upon our
heads, but we had lost all dread of being overwhelmed by any heavier
substance, though we could see that many huge stones and rocks were
falling into the water astern of us. The very island itself was torn
and rent by the various subterranean powers working away beneath it, and
it seemed probable, from what was taking place, that the whole would ere
long be submerged by the ocean. How thankful we were when at length,
the breeze freshening, we were carried to a distance from the awful
spot.
"Should we not return thanks to Him who has preserved us?" said Oliver
at length in a quiet tone to Mr Hooker.
"Certainly we should, my boy," was the answer; and together we knelt
down on the raft, Mr Thudicumb still steering, and offered up our
thanks to him who rules the winds and seas and all the powers of the
earth.
With a better appetite than might have been expected, and with cheerful
spirits, we went to breakfast. No distinction was made between the
ladies and gentlemen and the men. All shared alike. We had an oil
lamp, with which we could boil our tea, and our other provisions we were
compelled to eat cold. Few of them indeed required cooking.
Day after day we glided on, still favoured by fine weather. The little
tent we had brought sheltered the Frau and her charges. Those who had
been on watch also were not sorry in the day-time to creep into it and
go to sleep. Thus we all obtained sufficient rest, and those alone who
have been exposed as we were, can understand how sweet that rest was.
"A sail! a sail!" cried Roger Trew. The beams of the rising sun were
shining on the white canvas of a ship which was hull down a long way to
the westward. She seemed to be crossing our course, but whether we
could reach her before she had stood to any great distance seemed
doubtful. We got out our oars to increase the speed of our raft. How
eagerly we all kept looking towards that patch of white just rising
above the horizon! We drew nearer and nearer. Perhaps the look-out
aloft might have seen us. From the deck of the ship we could scarcely
have been visible. Frequently, as we drew nearer, I felt inclined to
shriek out and to shout to her to stay for us.
"Do you think she is English?" asked Mr Hooker.
"Little doubt about it," answered Mr Thudicumb. "She is a merchantman,
though probably bound round from Singapore to trade with some of these
islands, and maybe to go to Sydney, or perhaps up to China."
It seemed very doubtful, however, whether she would perceive us before
she had got to a distance. Already she was ahead of us, standing away
on the port tack. Our eyes, as they had hitherto been, were still fixed
on her.
"See! see! there is lift tacks and sheets!--the helm's a-lee!--she's
coming round!" shouted Tarbox. "We are seen! we are seen!"