voice that he recognised said some words hastily in Greek, which were
replied to in hoarse panting tones.
Then the professor's welcome voice arose out of the pitchy darkness.
"Lawrence! Lawrence! where are you?"
Before an answer could be given there was the dull thud of a heavy blow,
and the professor roared more than spoke the one word:
"Coward!"
The struggle was resumed for a moment or two, while the Greek skipper
yelled out some order; but before it could be executed there came from
out of the darkness a sharp hiss and a loud roar. Lawrence felt himself
drenched by what seemed to be a cutting tempest of rain, and then it was
as if some huge elastic mass had struck the boat, capsizing it in an
instant. The lad felt that he was beneath the surface of the water, the
sudden plunge clearing his faculties and making him strike for the
surface.
As he rose he had touched a rope, which he caught at with the
instinctive clutch of a drowning man, and found that it was attached to
something which enabled him to keep his head above the water, but how it
was or what it all meant he could not comprehend in the midst of the
deafening rushing noise of the wind and the beating stinging blows of
the surf that was flying over him.
All at once from out of the darkness a hand seemed to be stretched forth
and to grasp him by the collar of the light Norfolk jacket he wore.
In spite of himself he uttered a cry of horror, but the grasp was not
inimical, for he felt that he was drawn up on to what seemed to be a
heaving piece of woodwork, and then a strong arm was passed round him, a
man's breast pressed him down, and the rush and roar and confusion
increased.
There were times when he could scarcely breathe, the wind and spray
stifling him till he could turn by an effort a little aside. Then for
long periods together, as they seemed, they were under water, as some
wave leaped over them. In fact, after a few such experiences he was
half insensible, and every struggle towards recovery was met by a new
attack.
How long it lasted the lad never knew; all he could comprehend was that
he was floating upon something in the midst of a wildly tempestuous sea,
and that the wind and spray seemed to have combined to tear him from
where his feeble efforts were aided by a strong man's arm.
Once or twice he fancied he heard a shout, but he could not be sure, and
he could make no effort to understand his position, for the storm that
had stricken the boat so suddenly robbed him more and more of the power
to move.
It was like another waking from sleep, to feel that his head was being
raised a little more from where it drooped, and someone pressed a pair
of lips to his ear and spoke.
He could not answer, he could not even move, for though the voice was
familiar, its import did not reach his brain, and he lay perfectly inert
till it seemed as if the sea and wind were not beating so hard upon his
face, and that he could breathe more easily.
Then it was not so dark, for the stars were coming out, and he found
himself gazing at a great black veil that was being drawn over the
heavens.
The next thing he heard was a voice, a familiar voice, speaking, and
another which he recognised, and which came from close by, answered, but
what was said he could not tell.
There was another confused half-dreamy time, and then it was
comparatively light. The spray had ceased to beat, and the mass of wood
upon which he had been dragged was rising and falling in a regular
drowsy rocking fashion, while now he felt bitterly cold.
"I cannot get to you, Yussuf," said the familiar voice again. "If I
attempt to move he will slip off into the water. Safe?"
"He is alive!" came in a low deep voice from close by Lawrence's ear,
and then there was a fierce puff of wind again, and with it the dreamy
sensation once more.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
CAST ASHORE.
When Lawrence came to himself again there was more vigour in his brain,
and he was conscious that he was on the side of the boat held fast by
Yussuf. The wind was blowing fiercely, and had seized hold of a portion
of a half-submerged sail which had filled out into a half sphere, and
they were going swiftly through the water.
The stars were shining brightly; there was no more spray, and as he
recovered himself he could see, right at the far end of the boat, the
dimly defined head and shoulders of the professor, whom he knew by his
great beard, and he seemed to be supporting Mr Burne.
Between them, seated high and clear of the water, were the Greek skipper
and a couple of his men, holding on tightly in a bent position.
There was deep silence now, save the ripple made by the boat in going
through the water, which it did at a fairly rapid rate, seeing how it
was submerged; but the wind having filled the portion of the sail,
seemed to be raising it more and more from where it lay in the water,
and as a natural consequence the more surface was raised and filled, the
more rapidly the other loose portion was dragged up, distended, and drew
the boat along.
For a full hour no one spoke. The travellers were divided by the Greek
and his men, who held the post of vantage, and there was a growing
feeling in every breast that if any attempt were made to get into a
better position, the enemy would be roused to action, and perhaps thrust
them from their precarious hold into the sea.
By degrees Lawrence began to get a clear understanding of what had
happened, and as far as he could make out the suspicions of Yussuf had
been quite correct. The Greek and his men, for purposes of robbery, had
made an attack during the night when all were asleep, and in the midst
of the struggle one of the terrible squalls, whose threatenings they had
not read on the previous evening, had suddenly struck and capsized the
boat, to which they were now desperately clinging for life.
Lawrence felt too much numbed to speak to Yussuf, or even to shout to
the other end of the boat, where the professor was clinging, and his
companion was too intent upon holding him in his position to care to
make any remarks.
The breeze blew very coldly, and the lad knew that if it increased to
any great extent, and the waves rose, they must all be swept off; but
the wind showed more disposition to lull than increase, the sail napping
and sinking once, but only to fill again and bear them steadily on. For
the squall had exhausted its violence; the intense heat had passed, and
the sea rapidly grew more placid as they were borne along.
There was something strange and terrible, and sufficient to appal a
heart stronger than that of a boy who had suffered from a long and
severe illness. The darkness seemed to float as it were in a thick
transparent body upon the surface of the sea, while far above the stars
shone out clearly and spangled the sky with points of gold.
Where were they being borne? What was to be the end of it all? Were
they to cling there for an hour--two hours, and then slip off into the
sea?
It was very terrible, and as he grew cold, a strange sensation of
reckless despair began to oppress Lawrence, mingled with a feeling that
perhaps after all it would be better to let go and slide off the boat so
as to arrive at the end.
These despondent thoughts were ended upon the instant by a movement made
by one of the Greeks who were crouching in the middle of the boat.
He seemed to be quitting his position slowly and to be creeping towards
where Yussuf was clinging.
At that moment the Turk heaved himself up; there was a quick movement of
his arm; and Lawrence clung spasmodically to the boat, for he felt
himself slipping.
In his agony he did not hear the click made by the pistol the guide had
snatched out and held before him; neither could he understand the Turk's
words, but they were full of menace and evidently embodied a threat.
The Greek uttered an angry snarl and snatched a knife from his waist, as
he crept on and said something, to which Yussuf replied by drawing
trigger.
The result was a click, and the Greek laughed and came on; but just as
he was nearly within striking distance Yussuf drew trigger again, and
this time there was the sharp flash and report of the pistol, while for
a moment the smoke hid the man from view, but a cry of agony and fear
was heard.
The breeze cleared the smoke away directly, and revealed in the dim
starlight the form of the Greek lying back and one of his companions
crawling to his side.
The Turk uttered a few words full of warning, and the second Greek
paused to speak in a low pleading tone, to which Yussuf responded by
lowering his arm and watching his enemies while one helped the other
back to his place where he had clung.
"Is he much hurt?" came from the other end of the boat.
"I cannot say, excellency," was Yussuf's reply in English. But directly
after he roared out a few words in Greek, with the pistol pointed; for
as soon as the wounded man was crouching in the central part of the boat
he said something fiercely, and his two followers began to creep towards
where the professor and the old lawyer clung.
It was plain enough to all what Yussuf had shouted, with pistol aimed,
for the two Greek sailors cowered down as if seeking to shelter
themselves behind their wounded skipper, and for a space no one moved or
spoke.
Yussuf was the next to break the silence with a few words of warning
which made the Greeks creep back to their old position, and then what
seemed to be a terrible space of time ensued in the darkness that grew
colder and colder, and where it seemed to be vain to look around for
help. No one moved or spoke, but all were animated by the same intense
longing, and that was for the light of day.
Morning seemed as if it would never come. Right in front there was a
great black cloud touching the sea and rising high; but though the wind
set towards the cloud, which grew higher and broader, they knew that at
any time the breeze might change to a furious squall, coming from where
that cloud was gathering; and when it came it would be to find them
numbed and cold, and unable to resist its violence and the beating
waves.
The helpless drowsy sensation was attacking Lawrence again, and he would
have slipped back into the sea but for the strong arm about him. The
dimly-seen figures grew unreal and as if part of a dream, and he was
falling more and more into a state of unconsciousness, when, as if by
magic, there was a patch of light in the sky before them, to right of
the great cloud; there was a dull murmur ahead; then more light, and, as
if by some rapid scenic effect, the stars paled, the sky grew grey, then
pink, red, glowing orange, and it was morning.
Yussuf uttered a low cry of joy, for the dark cloud ahead of them was a
high mountainous land, whose topmost points were beginning to blush with
the first touches of the sun that was rising directly behind.
"We are safe, excellencies!" cried the guide. "In an hour this wind
will carry us to the shore."
"The boy!" cried the professor in a low voice that told of exhaustion.
"He is here and safe," was the reply. "It is day once more, and we can
perhaps better our position."
The words were hopeful and had a stimulating effect, but nothing could
be done. The Greeks could not be trusted, even under the influence of
threats, to go to the help of the professor; and Yussuf dared not quit
his own charge, for Lawrence was too much exhausted to be left alone; so
there was but the one hope--to wait and remain clinging to the side of
the boat until the breeze carried them ashore.
As the sun rose warm and bright it brought with it hope and sent a glow
through the chilled forms of all, but the morning light made nothing
else clear. They were just as they had made themselves out to be in the
darkness.
The sail had been filled now till it was of a goodly size, and they were
borne more swiftly still towards what seemed to be a barren rocky coast;
but the same dread was in the heart of each of the travellers, and that
was lest when the sun rose higher the power of the wind should fail,
and, slight as the currents were in that part of the world, they might
be swept past the land unseen.
The dread was needless, for at the end of about a couple of hours of the
most intense anxiety the boat was blown close in to the beach, and
struck with a bump that changed her position, shaking Yussuf and his
companion from their hold.
But it was into the shallow transparent water, and, gaining his feet,
Yussuf tried to raise Lawrence on to his shoulders; but he was so stiff
and cramped that he could only hold the lad beneath his arm and wade
with him ashore.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
A WARM LAND WELCOME.
The distance was only some forty yards, and Yussuf was quite half-way
there when he was met by the professor, who came staggering down to his
aid, and between them they carried Lawrence the rest of the way, to lay
him beside Mr Burne in the full sunlight and upon the soft warm sand.
The three Greeks were already ashore selecting a spot a good hundred
yards away, and they could be seen to be stripping the clothes from
their wounded captain, and then one of them appeared to be binding a
cloth round his leg, showing where Yussuf's bullet had taken effect.
By way of precaution Yussuf's first act was to take out his pistol, and
swing it about to get rid of all the water possible before uncharging
it, and laying it with its cartridges in the sun to dry, in the hope
that some of them might prove to be uninjured, the water not having been
able to penetrate to the powder, though it was extremely doubtful.
His next act was to take out his pipe from a pocket in his loose robe,
and place that with his bag of tobacco and little tinder-box and matches
also in the sun, which was rapidly gaining power, all of which being
done he proceeded coolly enough to slip off his garments, to wring them
and spread them upon the glowing sand.
Meanwhile the professor was dividing himself between Lawrence and the
lawyer, then lying in the warm sunshine, whose influence rapidly made
itself felt, and seemed to carry strength as well as a pleasant glow.
"Well, Lawrence," said the professor anxiously, "how do you feel?"
"Not quite so cold," was the reply, "but very stiff and hungry."
"Hah!" ejaculated the professor, "then you are not very bad. Can you
follow Yussuf's example?"
Lawrence hesitated.
"Take my advice, my lad. Take off and wring your clothes as well as you
can, and then, in spite of being soaked with the sea-water, go down and
have a quick plunge, and then walk or run about till you are dry."
The advice seemed so droll, that now the danger was past the lad
laughed, but he saw that Yussuf was doing precisely what the professor
advised, and, weakly and shivering a good deal, he did the same.
Freed by the evident lack of anything to apprehend about the lad for the
present, the professor turned to Mr Burne, whom he had been helping for
some hours to cling to the boat, and had sustained with a few whispered
words of encouragement in his feeblest moments.
The old man was lying in the sunshine just as he had sunk down upon his
back, apparently too much exhausted to move, but as the professor went
down on one knee by his side he opened his eyes.
"Not dead yet, Preston," he said smiling. "I say, don't laugh at me."
"Laugh at you, my dear sir?"
"For being such an old goose as to come upon such a journey. Oh, my
back!"
"Come, come, it was an accident."
"Accident, eh? I say, we'll prosecute those murdering thieves of Greeks
for this."
"One of them has met his punishment already," said the professor, "and
Yussuf has severely wounded another."
"Yes. I was pretty well done then, but I saw him shoot that scoundrel.
I believe the heathen dog was going to shove us off."
"There is no doubt about that," said the professor.
"But Yussuf? don't you think he was in league with the murderous
rascals?"
"Yussuf? My dear sir!"
"Humph! No! He couldn't have been, could he, or he wouldn't have
fought for us as he did at first, and then shot that scoundrel yonder?
I hope his bandage will come off, and he'll bleed to death."
"No, you do not," said the professor.
"Oh, yes, I do--a dog!"
"No, you do not; and as to Yussuf--well, I need not defend him."
"Well, I suppose not. Boy seems to be all right, don't he?"
"Yes, I think so. This warm sunshine is a blessing."
"Hah, yes, but I'm so stiff and sore I cannot move. Preston, my dear
boy, would you mind putting your hand into my pocket and taking out my
snuff-box. I suppose it's all paste, but a bit of that would be, like
your sunshine, a blessing. It's all very well, but I'd rather have a
fire, a towel, a warm bath, and some dry clothes. Hah, yes! Thank you.
Now for some paste."
He thrust the little box in and out among the dry sand till the moisture
was all gone, and doing this dried and warmed his hands as well before
he proceeded to open the lid, when he uttered a cry of satisfaction.
"Bravo, Preston! Dry as dust. Have a pinch, my dear sir?"
"Thanks. No. I am drying a cigar here for my refreshment, in the hot
sand. I daresay my matches are all right in their metal box."
"Just as you like. Smoking is all very well, but nothing like a pinch."
"I am most anxious about the boy," said the professor.
"Must teach him to take snuff. Well, where are we? Is this a desolate
island, and are we going to be so many Robinson Crusoes for the rest of
our days?"
"Desolate enough just here," replied the professor; "but it must be
inhabited. It strikes me that we have reached Cyprus."
"Then, my dear fellow, just look about, or shout, or do something to
make the inhabitants bring me a bottle of Cyprus wine. Hah! a pinch of
snuff is a blessing, and, bless me, how wet my handkerchief is!" he
cried, as he struggled to his feet and took out and wrung the article in
question before making the rocks echo with a tremendous blow.
"How do you feel?" said the professor.
"Bad, sir; but I'm not going to grumble till we get all right again. I
must try and walk about to get some warmth into me. How beautiful and
warm this sand is! Hah!"
He seemed to revel in the beautiful dry sand of the shore, which, with
the sunshine, sent a glow into the perishing limbs of all, and to such
an extent that in about an hour the sufferers were not so very much the
worse for their adventure. The professor and Mr Burne had lit cigars;
Yussuf was enjoying his pipe; and Lawrence alone was without anything to
soothe his hunger.
The wounded Greek lay at a distance where his companions had left him.
The professor had been to him with Lawrence, and seen to his injury, the
others paying no heed, and the injured man himself only looking sulky,
and as if he would like to use his knife, even though he was being
tended by a man who knew something of what was necessary to be done.
He was left then, and the professor and Lawrence joined Mr Burne, who
was very cheerful though evidently in pain.
"I say," he said, "those fellows had planned that attack."
"Decidedly," said the professor. "I feared it, though I did not say
anything more to you."
"Then it was very ungentlemanly of you, sir," cried the old lawyer
testily. "Lucky for you I was awake, sir, or we should all have been
killed in our sleep."
"I thought you were fast asleep, as, I am ashamed to say, I was."
"Oh, you own you were, professor."
"Fast."
"Then I'll own I was too. It seems, then, that Yussuf was on the watch
and met them."
"Exactly so, and saved our lives."
"Well, I don't know about that, but he certainly kept the boy from
drowning during the night, for I couldn't stir to help him. I don't
dislike that fellow half so much as I did; but I wish to goodness he
could do as those Turks and Persians did in the _Arabian Nights_."
"What's that?" said the professor.
"Conjure a breakfast up for that poor boy."
"It strikes me," said the professor, who was watching where Yussuf had
posted himself on the edge of the sea, "that that is the very thing he
is about to do."
"Eh? what do you mean?"
"Oh, I say, Mr Preston, don't talk about food if there is none," cried
Lawrence, "for I am so hungry."
"I mean this," said the professor, "that the two Greeks down there are
evidently trying to get something out of the boat, and if they find
anything to eat, Yussuf is there with his loaded pistol, and he will
certainly have a share."
In effect the two sailors had stripped, and were busy in the shallow
water doing something, and in a short time they had contrived to thrust
the boat out, and, by using the masts as levers, completely turned her
round, so that her deck was parallel with the shore.
The men were evidently working hard, and in a short time they had got
the vessel so closely in that they were able to lower the sails, or
rather run them down to the foot of each mast, with the result that, by
the help of hard work with a spar they partly raised the side of the
boat that was submerged, its natural inclination to resume its normal
position aiding them; and at last, after several attempts, they
succeeded in getting at one of the baskets of provisions that had
fortunately not been washed away.
As they dragged this out and waded ashore, they were for making off in
the direction of the spot where their wounded skipper lay, but a few
sharp orders from Yussuf stopped them.
They were not disposed to yield up their prize peaceably, for each man's
hand went to his knife, and the professor ran down to Yussufs help.
But there was no need. The Turk went close up to them, pistol in hand,
and the men stooped and lifted the basket, carrying it between them
sulkily to where Mr Burne and Lawrence were breathlessly watching the
proceedings.
The water streamed and dripped from the basket as they bore it over the
sands, and plumped it down, scowling fiercely, where they were told to
stop. Then turning, they were going off, but the professor bade them
stay.
They did not understand his words, but their tone was sufficient
command; besides there was Yussufs pistol, which acted like a magician's
wand in ensuring obedience.
"Tell the scoundrels that we will behave better to them than they have
to us, Yussuf," said the professor; and he took out from the dripping
basket a great sausage, a bottle of wine, and one of the tins of biscuit
that were within.
"Am I to give them this food, effendi?" said Yussuf calmly. "You will
get no gratitude, and the dogs will murder us if they get a chance."
"Yes; give it to them," replied the professor. "Coals of fire upon
their head, O follower of Mahomet. There, bid them eat. We may want to
make them work for us."
Yussuf bowed, and handed the food and wine to the two Greeks, who took
what was given them without a word, and went to join their companion.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
HOW TO BALE A BOAT.
"Hah!" ejaculated Mr Burne, after they had made a hearty meal, seated
upon the warm sands. "I don't know that I like my biscuit sopped, and
there was more salt than I cared for, but really I don't feel as if I
had done so very badly. Another taste of that wine, Preston. Hah!
well, we might have been worse off."
This was the general opinion, for matters looked better now, and a
discussion arose as to what they were to do next; whether they were to
travel along the coast till they came to some village, or, as Yussuf
suggested, try to get the boat baled out and righted, and once more make
for Ansina.
Yussuf declared that they were undoubtedly on the western coast of
Cyprus, but he could not tell them how far they might have to journey,
and it would be terrible work for Lawrence, who was too weak to walk
far, so the Muslim's suggestion was received; and its wisdom was
endorsed by the action of the Greeks, who had carried their skipper down
to the boat and seated him upon the sands.
"We are three strong men against two now," Yussuf had said, "for we will
not count the wounded master, or the young effendi here. The men shall
empty the boat of water, and they shall take us across to the coast."
"But suppose another storm should come?" said Mr Burne.
"If another storm should come we should meet it like men, effendi," said
the Turk gravely. "That white squall last night saved our lives, for I
was mastered."
"And so was I," said the professor. "You are right, Yussuf; but we must
not let ourselves be surprised again. I had no business to sleep."
"We should not have been surprised if yon Greek dog had not struck me
down when he was pretending to be asleep by the helm. But see, effendi,
he is ordering them to try and empty the boat. Let us go down and
help."
The remains of the food were placed in the basket, which was carried
down and left in the sun to dry, not far from where the Greek skipper
was seated, holding his wounded leg.