Kate Meldrum was the first to break the melancholy silence that reigned
as they rowed away from the old ship, all looking back sadly at her
battered hull, whose crippled condition could now be better seen--the
bows all rent and torn by the violence of the waves, the gaping sides,
the gutted hold washed out by the water, and the sea around covered with
pieces of shattered planking from the 'tween-decks, besides the curved
knees and other larger parts of the timber work, that had been wrenched
off during the vessel's battle with the elements, and numbers of
packing-cases and empty casks and barrels that were floating about, the
flotsam and jetsam of the cargo.
"Papa," said she, speaking low in order that none of the others could
hear her, "did you see anything of the long-boat, or of the men who went
away in her, when you were looking round the coast this morning--I
forgot to ask you before."
"No, my dear," he answered. "There was not a trace of them, as far as I
could see with the glass; either along the shore in the direction in
which we are going now, or down to the southwards off there to the
right!"
"Do you think they have landed in safety, papa?"
"Hardly, Kate. There was a terrible squall which came on shortly after
they deserted us, and I believe they must have gone down in it. But,
why do you ask the question, my dear? I don't suppose you have much
sympathy with the treacherous scoundrels!"
"No, papa," said she; "but I thought that if we got on shore at the same
place that they did there might be a quarrel, or that something dreadful
would happen; and I'm sure we had enough of horrors on board the poor
old ship!" and Kate shuddered, as she spoke, at the recollection.
"You need not be afraid of that, my dear," replied her father kindly.
"If the mutineers have managed to run in the boat anywhere during the
frightful sea that was on at the time they deserted us, it must have
been miles away from any spot near here, for the wind was blowing in
quite the contrary direction. Besides, my child, only a few could have
saved their lives; so that, in case we should ever come across them,
they would be quite powerless against the strong force we have now to
oppose them, in the very impossible event of their trying to molest us.
I hope, however, that we may not meet."
"Isn't it shocking," observed Kate presently, as if reflecting over what
had happened, "to think that, companions in misfortune as we are, we
should be so anxious now to avoid them!"
"Yes," replied her father; "but the fact only exhibits a common phase of
human nature, and thus affords but another proof of the inherent
selfishness of the animal man. Wickedness, my child, ever begets
wickedness!" Mr Meldrum then lapsed again into silence.
The raft proceeded but very slowly, in spite of the exertions of the
towing party in the jolly-boat. This was on account of the current and
the tideway neutralising each other, instead of being both in their
favour, as Mr Meldrum had expected; so, in order to fight against the
drawback, he ordered Ben Boltrope to get up a sail on one of the
studding-sail booms which was rigged as a yard across the mizzen
topgallant mast that had been stepped in the centre of the platform.
However, the wind was so light from their low elevation in the water,
that the influence of this new motive power was only faintly
perceptible, the shore seeming almost quite as far off after an hour's
hard rowing as before, and the ship equally near.
This would never do.
At such a rate of progress, nightfall would probably still find them
afloat in the centre of the bay, in danger, should the sea again get up,
of being dashed to pieces against the precipitous cliffs to the left;
while, in the event of their escaping that peril, the raft might run on
to some hidden shoal or reef down southwards in the darkness, or else be
swept out into the offing, where they would be the sport of the waves,
and could never hope to reach the land again.
They had hitherto been keeping well out from the adjacent coast, by
reason of their seeing its inhospitable look, and the scanty chance
there was of their effecting a landing there. This fact, indeed, was
self-evident, for they could see the surf breaking in one continuous
line, as far as the eye could reach, against the steep rocky face of the
cliff. Besides, Mr Meldrum had thought it the best plan to take the
shortest course towards the curve he had selected, where the southern
shore branched off at an angle with the eastern one, in the hope of
there being some sort of a beach in that vicinity. Now, however, he
determined to try another way of gaining his end; and that was by going
"the longest way round."
"Pull in to the left," he sang out to Mr McCarthy, "and let us see how
the current will then affect us. I fancy we'll feel it all the more as
we get inshore."
"Aye, aye, sorr," replied the first mate, directing the head of the
jolly-boat right towards the face of the frowning cliff nearest to them;
but still, for some time, there was no increase in their rate of speed,
the short chopping waves that formed the backwater of the surges, which
had already expended their strength on the rocky rampart of the coast,
militating against any slight advantage they gained by the current
taking them along with it.
At last, however, after three hours' hard work, and when the fourth
relay of men had just begun to handle the oars in the jolly-boat, the
raft appeared all at once to move along more briskly and smoothly,
while, at the same time, the sea grew calmer.
Things looked promising.
They had approached close inshore to the rocky wall of the cliff; and,
if it had seemed formidable at a distance, it looked ten times more
imposing now that only a few hundred yards of sea divided them from it.
Its bold precipitous face appeared to ascend right up into the clouds,
while the counterscarp, or base, seemed to dive abruptly into the deep
without a slope. It was really just like a gigantic iron wall, straight
up and down and quite even in contour, without a fissure or break as far
as could be seen; and the surf made such a thundering din as it dashed
fretfully against the lower part of the cliff, that it was almost
impossible for the shipwrecked voyagers to hear each other speak.
Indeed, the whole scene could not but force their imagination to picture
what might be their fate should a storm arise just then and give them
over into the power of the billows. These were only in play now, so to
speak; but if their demeanour changed to one of dreadful earnest, the
mad waves would easily toss them as high and as savagely as they did the
yeasty fragments of spindrift, which circled up into the air like
snowflakes--flung off from the tops of the breakers after each
unsuccessful onslaught on the rocky barrier that balked their endeavours
to annihilate it.
However, there was little fear of such a catastrophe at present. Thanks
to the aid of the current, combined with the towing powers of the jolly-
boat's crew--the sail having been found useless in the little wind there
was and lowered again--the raft was proceeding steadily along at the
rate of some three miles an hour; keeping all the while at a safe
distance from the cliffs, in order to avoid any undertow, and rapidly
losing the hull of the _Nancy Bell_--albeit, the flag of the ship could
yet be seen distinctly far away astern to seaward, fluttering in the
slight breeze that expanded its folds.
Each moment, too, the coast on the starboard hand rose up nearer and
nearer, closing in sharply with that to port, thus showing that they
were approaching the embouchure which Mr Meldrum had marked out. Soon,
a little more exertion on the part of the rowers would decide whether
the naval officer had judged rightly or wrongly as to there being a bay
there--a veritable "harbour of refuge" it would be for them.
"I guess, mister," said Mr Lathrope, who had been for some time quieter
than usual, "that air animile ain't far off its roosting peg; and whar
he lands I kalkerlate we can dew too."
As he spoke, the American pointed out a species of black shag or
cormorant, which had evidently been on a fishing expedition and was
returning home with the fruits of his spoil in his bill for the
delectation of the home circle.
"You are very likely right," said Mr Meldrum. "That sort of sea-fowl
generally selects a flat shore for its habitat, in preference to high
places--just as the penguins do, so that they may the sooner tumble into
the water when desirous of taking to that element. I would not be
surprised to find a landing-place as soon as we round that further point
of the cliff, where the line of surf seems to end. Stretch out with
those oars, men," he added, speaking in a louder tone to those in the
jolly-boat. "One more long pull altogether and we'll be able to get
ashore."
"Aye, aye, sorr; go it, my hearties," sang out Mr McCarthy; and, the
hands, giving a responsive cheer and putting their backs into each
stroke, made the boat race along--dragging the raft behind it at a speed
that caused it to rock from side to side, and slightly startle the
ladies, while the boat, too, shipped a little water that came in over
the bows as it dipped forward from the jerk of the tow-rope.
At length the limit of the cliff line was reached. It terminated as
abruptly as it rose from the water; for, when the boat had pulled past
the last of the breakers, a long narrow fiord or inlet of the sea opened
before the eager eyes of the castaways, stretching far inland and
bordered on each side by shelving slopes of hills that from their shape
must have been composed of the same basaltic rock as that of the cliffs,
although now completely covered with snow. A sight that pleased them
more, however, was a broad beach of black sand--extending up to the
slope of the higher land--on which they could ground the raft in safety.
It was the very thing they sought!
"Hooray boys!" exclaimed the first mate, taking off his cap and waving
it round his head in excitement. "Sure an' we've rached the land at
last!"
A shout of joy came from all, in sympathetic response.
A few strokes more, and the jolly-boat had touched the shore; when, the
men jumping out, and those on the raft following suit, although the
water was icy cold and almost up to their arm-pits, the raft was quickly
hauled up close to the beach and everybody scrambled on shore. Even
Mrs Major Negus was so delighted to stand once more on _terra firma_
that she did not mind getting her feet wet for once, and was almost one
of the first to jump off the raft.
"Thank God!" exclaimed Mr Meldrum as he stood up in the centre of the
group, taking off his hat reverently in acknowledgment of the divine
mercy of that watchful providence which had guided them safely through
all the perils of the deep and now permitted them to land without harm--
the untaught seamen around him appearing to sympathise with his
heartfelt thanksgiving as they, too, bowed their heads in silence; while
Kate fell upon her knees also in an ecstasy of gratitude to Him who
ruled the wind and waves and had protected them to the last!
Then, all began to look about them. However, as they surveyed the
strange scene, they found to their surprise that they were not the only
inhabitants of "Desolation Island," as Captain Cook so aptly named, when
he first saw the place, the land which had been previously discovered by
Monsieur de Kerguelen.
From the beach, the land rose up on both sides of the fiord in a gentle
slope to the hills above, which latter were broken away in some places,
forming flat level tables of basaltic debris that had tumbled from the
tops of the cliffs; and, these stretches of table-land being under the
lee of the hills, were sheltered from the snow that otherwise covered
every place in sight, valley and mountain peak alike.
On these tables of bare black ground, numerous colonies of penguins had
established themselves--the tenants already in possession of the island,
to prove that it was not altogether deserted.
The birds were standing about in crowds in the queerest and most
ungainly attitudes in the world, croaking and barking, according to
their usual wont, at the unexpected visitors who had so unceremoniously
come to disturb the quietude of their island home. They looked
excessively funny, waddling about awkwardly on their short legs and
flapping their wings as if grumbling at the intrusion, much resembling a
lot of little dumpy old women with grey tippets on; and Maurice Negus
and Florry Meldrum went into fits of laughter at their appearance.
The penguins were not very busy at that time of year evidently.
They were simply idling about the beach and "loafing," as if they had
nothing particular to do but gossip with each other as to what meant the
outlandish creatures, who had invaded their territory. Occasionally,
two or three would proceed out together to fish in the quiet waters of
the creek, and these would pass another party coming back from the same
errand, when they would croak a greeting; but the majority did nothing
but strut about from one position to another in order to stare the
better at the intruders--an inspection which, it need hardly be told,
the latter returned with an equal interest.
However, the survivors from the _Nancy Bell_ had a good deal to do
besides watching the penguins, for it was now late in the afternoon and
growing dark, with the wind rising again. A few premonitory scattered
flakes of snow, too, that fell flutteringly down in a half hesitating
way every now and then, pointed out what the weather might be expected
to be bye and bye and reminded them that it would be just as well for
them to be under shelter of some sort before night came on to interrupt
their labours.
A word from Mr Meldrum was sufficient, the first mate then giving the
necessary orders for setting the whole party to work.
"All hands shift cargo!" he cried, stepping back upon the raft; when,
the men following him, he divided them into two gangs, the first of whom
he directed to carry out Mr Meldrum's instructions under Frank Harness,
while the second remained with him to remove the stores on to the beach,
where Mr Adams supervised their landing. But, before anything else was
done, the cot containing poor Captain Dinks--the only one who had not as
yet been ashore--was carefully lifted up from the raft and transported
to a spot high up from the water and shielded by a spur of the hills on
the right from the winds. This Mr Meldrum had selected as a favourable
place for their camp, and Snowball was already engaged there in building
up a fire with some wood that he had fortunately brought from the
wreck--for not a scrap of brush or twig, or the sign of any tree, could
be seen in the neighbourhood of the fiord, nor a single bit of drift on
the beach!
The stores being all landed and piled up on the shore some little
distance beyond high-water mark, Mr McCarthy's portion of the crew then
proceeded to take the raft to pieces and carry up the timbers of which
it was composed likewise to a place of safety, for fear lest the waves
should bear them away in the night-time when the tide again came in;
besides which, the material was wanted for other purposes--as Mr
Meldrum had foreseen when causing the raft to be constructed--although
it was now too late in the day to utilise it to that end, for, even
while they were landing the things, the evening had closed in and it was
nearly dark.
Meanwhile, the second body of men, working under Frank Harness's
direction and Mr Meldrum's personal supervision, were equally
industrious.
The site for the camp having been chosen, a couple of the largest spars
that had been brought ashore on the raft were erected as uprights, some
twenty feet apart, close under the scarp of the cliff; and a block and
running tackle having been previously attached to the top of each of
these, a third spar was hoisted up and lashed across them at right
angles. After this, a spare top-sail, which had been brought with them
in the jolly-boat, was pulled over the framework; and, the ends of this
being tied down by the reef points to stout pegs driven in the ground,
the structure formed a good sized tent which would do well for temporary
accommodation for a night or two. Of course, something more substantial
would be required if the shipwrecked people were forced to remain long
on the island--which, indeed, seemed more than probable, considering the
time of year, and the faint hope of their rescue by any whaling vessel
before the month of November.
"I guess it air prime," said Mr Lathrope, looking at the tent with much
satisfaction as he walked round it. He evidently took considerable
pride in the construction, in which, indeed, he had some share, his
experience "out west" having been of great use in suggesting the shape
and location of the shelter.
"Yes," replied Mr Meldrum, who was still busy at work on the details.
"I think it will do till we can rig up something better."
"Wa-ll, all you've got to do neow, I guess," said the other, "is to
stretch a rope across the hull consarn, and fix up a blanket or two to
screen off the femmels from the menfolk; and the thing's done slick and
handsome."
"Right!" responded Mr Meldrum, taking his advice and dividing the tent
across into two portions, one of which was reserved for the ladies;
when, the spare bedding and blankets having been brought up from the
raft, the improvised apartments were made to look as comfortable as
circumstances permitted. Really, the interior, on being lighted up by
the ship's lanterns, which had not been forgotten, appeared quite cosy,
especially when Snowball's fire, which was now burning up briskly from
the chips shovelled on to it, could be seen sparkling and leaping up in
spurts of flame through the open flap that had been left to serve for a
doorway.
"And now, I kalkerlate, it's time for grub," said the American when the
tent was finished and the ladies' comfort provided for--Captain Dinks,
still in his cot, being ensconced in a warm corner--"I hope that blessed
darkey has got something good, for I feel powerful holler, I dew!"
He need not, however, have been in any doubt as to Snowball's capacity.
That worthy allowed nothing to interfere with the exercise of his
culinary skill; so, when the first mate by Mr Meldrum's directions had
"piped down" all hands, he had ready a repast which appeared to the
hungry castaways more like a splendid banquet than an improvised meal,
and one as well cooked as if Snowball had all the facilities of the
galley on shipboard to prepare it. His chief dish was a well-seasoned
"Irish stew," compounded of salt beef and preserved vegetables, which
seemed on that cold evening a perfect _chef-d'oeuvre_, and would, as Mr
Lathrope "guessed" after a third helping, have "made a man leave his
grandmother for his wife's mother's aunt, any day!"
Soon after the meal was finished, night came on, when the snow began to
fall heavily and the wind to blow piercingly from the north'ard and
westward, just as it had done the evening before when the poor _Nancy
Bell_ was struggling round Cape Saint Louis and rushing on to her doom;
but the castaways happily were now sheltered from the inclemencies of
the weather, and as they one and all nestled into their blankets as soon
as bedtime came;--man and woman, Jack tar and landsman alike!--thanked
God fervently that they were now no longer on board ship.
Towards morning, a slight alarm was created by some of the melted snow
finding its way down upon the sleepers through the sail that served for
the roofing of their tent; but this was soon remedied by lashing over it
the old tarpaulin from off the cabin skylight, which, it may be
recollected, was only thought of at the last moment, although such a
useful article. The leak in the roof stopped, all turned to sleep again
with the greater zest, enjoying such a night's rest as they had not had
for the last week at sea--not a soul indeed waking up till long after
daybreak, all were so dead tired out with the fatigue and anxiety they
had undergone.