Mabel interrupted the conversation at this point by rushing up to
Captain Gray and Etta, exclaiming: “What can be the matter! Listen, what
is it?” Listening a moment they could hear the shouts of hundreds of
voices, which before, they had been too much occupied to notice. As they
looked, they saw Allen running in the direction of the village, waving
his arms wildly; he was closely followed by hundreds of the inhabitants
of Howcu, all gesticulating and shouting. The sight filled the hearts of
Mabel, Etta and Captain Gray with a horrible fear. Allen had, perhaps,
done something to anger the people of his village and they were pursuing
him that they might wreak their vengeance upon him, and he, in his
extremity, had come to Nahua to seek protection with them. The thought
filled the heart of each of the three, as they saw the mad rush onward
of the men and women who followed him. Mabel ran to Ahleka, who was
crossing toward the place where the two frightened girls and Captain
Gray stood. Throwing herself into his arms she cried, “Save us Ahleka,
save us! Do not let them kill your brother. Call on your young men to
get their spears in readiness to protect us from these people.” He held
her closely in his arms but laughed heartily at her fears. “Why, my
precious moonflower, it is a shout of joy, not a battle cry you hear.
There has happened some great thing at Howcu and they are coming to tell
us of it.”
By now, Allen had reached them and dropping, almost exhausted, upon the
ground, exclaimed: “A ship! A ship!”
“What do you say, a ship? Do you mean that you have seen a ship?” asked
the listeners, in a breath.
“Yes, a vessel of some description. I do not know whether it is a ship,
a barque or what. But whatever she is, she is making for the island, I
am sure.”
The listeners could hardly believe their ears; they quickly ascended the
burial hill, which was the highest point on the island. They could then
plainly see the vessel, which Captain Gray pronounced to be a barque.
She was some little distance out, but it was evident that she meant, in
some manner, to reach the island. The anxious group watched every
movement of the men, who could be seen lowering away a boat, which was
manned by eight sturdy sailors. They finally set out for the island.
Now, there was but one safe approach to that side of the island, and
that was at the point where Captain Gray and his party had come ashore
three years before.
A party, consisting of Captain Gray, Allen Thornton and four Nahua boys,
had already left for the spot where their boat had remained since their
landing on the island, safely moored under a huge rock, as it had been
considered best to leave it there, its size making it inconvenient to
carry it across the island to the village. It had been used occasionally
for fishing excursions. Having arrived where the boat was lying, they
quickly loosened her from her moorings, set her afloat and were soon
threading the narrow channel between the treacherous coral reefs, out to
meet the boat that was seeking a landing place.
The ship’s boat was now hid from their view by projecting rocks but they
were not long in getting clear of most of the obstructions in their way,
as they were well used to this tortuous little channel. When they
appeared in full view of the approaching crew the effect was startling.
The sailors turned suddenly, and with redoubled energy rowed toward the
vessel; they were fleeing in terror from what they imagined to be
hostile natives, come out to capture them, and their only chance of
safety seemed to them to lie in reaching their vessel. Captain Gray and
Allen as soon as they discovered how their party had frightened those to
whom they were so anxiously hurrying, began to halloo to them. At first
the fleeing crew paid no heed, except to renew their efforts to reach
their ship. Finally they halted, and apparently listened; then, as if
they had assured themselves that it was really English that they heard,
they turned their boat a second time toward the land.
It was but a few moments before the two boats were close together.
Captain Gray addressed the newcomers. He was answered by the mate of the
vessel who was in command of the boat. “We belong to the Eliza Judd,”
said he, “and such a knocking about as we’ve had ain’t often come my
way, though I’ve been to sea off an on these twenty odd years. I’ll tell
ye now, we’ve had a tough time of it.”
“Where do you come from?” asked Captain Gray.
“We hail from New Zealand, and are bound for San Francisco, but we have
had such bad weather and been delayed so long that our stock of fresh
water, which was not large at the start, has given out and under this
devilish hot sun we can’t stand it long without water. So, sighting this
island, the captain made up his mind he would land in search of fresh
water and run the chance of meeting with unfriendly natives, but by
George, we didn’t expect to find the island inhabited by whites.”
“Well, the island not exactly inhabited by whites, as you suppose, for
we are only a small party of shipwrecked travellers. We have been here
for three years, and I can tell you we will be glad enough to get a
chance to leave.”
While this conversation was taking place the two boats had reached the
shore where a large body of natives had collected. The two girls were
also there. The excitement was intense, as, of course, all realized that
the coming of this vessel furnished means of escape from the island.
“Where do you live?” inquired Mate Jenkins. “This don’t look like the
likeliest place in the world to live in, now, does it?”
“I must say, this side of the island is not a promising looking place,”
replied the captain, “but the other side is quite different, in fact, it
is a delightful place, if it were not that we are in exile here.”
“How is the water supply on this side?”
“Fine; it couldn’t be better or handier. Right beyond that next turn, is
a stream of water as sweet and pure as one could find in many a month’s
travel.”
“Now, I swan, that’s good. I didn’t know but what we’d have to bring it
over from the other side.”
The work of filling casks which they had brought with them, and
conveying them to the ship was soon begun.