"Look here, gentlemen, I want a holiday. I've worked pretty hard, and I
think it's my turn to go on the new expedition. What do you say?"
"It is only just," they chorussed.
"Then I propose taking the lugger and sailing round the island--as we
believe it to be--and then I shall learn something about the prowess of
our new craft and see how she can sail."
"That's quite right, Mr Rimmer," said Panton. "Eh, Lane?"
"Of course; we have been horribly selfish in letting him keep on at work
for us while we have been taking our pleasure."
"Which again was work, gentlemen, work," replied the mate,
good-humouredly. "But all the same, my dear fellows, there will not be
much pleasure in this trip. I want to see whether our craft is
seaworthy before we are compelled to take to her in real earnest. It
would be rather awkward if she began to open her seams as soon as any
strain was put upon her by the sails and a heavy sea. Believe me, I
would not go if I didn't think it right."
"My dear Mr Rimmer," said Oliver, "do you think we do not know that?"
"But it's like leaving you all in the lurch."
"Nonsense," cried Panton; "we shall be all right. How long will you be
gone?"
"I can't say. Two or three days. Perhaps altogether."
"Eh?" cried Drew, in dismay.
"The _Little Planet_ may prove untrustworthy, and take me to the bottom,
gentlemen," said the mate, calmly. "Who knows?"
"Suppose we don't make the worst of it," said Oliver. "We know what a
sailor you are."
"Well, I grant that I am, gentlemen, and ought to be," replied the mate.
"I was brought up to the sea, but I never tried my hand at
ship-building before."
"Never mind, you've done wonders," cried Panton. "When shall you
start?"
"To-morrow, about mid-day. That will give me time to make a few
preparations. Let's see, I must have some fighting tools and powder."
"Of course. How many men will you take with you?"
"Three. That will be enough to manage the sails. I shall take the
helm. You, gentlemen, will take command, of course, and see that the
watches are kept regularly."
Oliver nodded as much as to say, "you may trust us," and after a little
more discussion of the mate's plans, the three men were selected and
sent down to the boat to take the places of two men who were in charge.
They sat for long enough in the cabin that night, looking out through
the open window at the lightning flickering about the volcano cloud, and
the fire-flies flitting about the nearest patch of green growth, while
every now and then a faint passing quiver told that the action below was
still going on, though its violence seemed to be past, and the
disturbance gradually dying out, perhaps to wait for years before
another outbreak. There was a feeling akin to sadness as they sat
talking, for they had all grown so intimate that the parting on the
morrow promised to be painful. But the mate saw how they were all
affected, and tried hard to cheer them up, rising at last to take a
final look round before they retired for the night.
Oliver's sleep was terribly disturbed. He dreamed that the blacks had
come with no ordinary weapons, but each bearing a bundle of dry wood
which they piled-up round the brig and set on fire, and as the flames
flashed in his eyes he started up in bed to see that the cabin was
vividly illuminated, but only for a moment or two at a time, and he knew
that it was from the electricity which played about the mountain top.
He was glad enough when daylight came, and after a bathe in the spring
where the bitter water was just comfortably hot, he felt refreshed and
took upon himself the duty of sending off the rifles, guns, and
ammunition, which would be needed on the voyage.
These were entrusted to Smith to carry down to the lagoon and put on
board, and at last the hour arrived for the mate to start, Panton being
left for that day in command at the brig, while Oliver and Drew started,
gun on shoulder, to see Mr Rimmer off.
Very little was said during the walk, and the young men's spirits sank
low when they reached the coral sands where the lugger, with sails all
ready for hoisting, lay on the pleasantly rippled blue lagoon.
"Capital," cried Mr Rimmer. "Just wind enough to take us well out
through the opening in the reef."
As he spoke he waved his hand, the dinghy put off from the lugger, and a
man rowed to the shore.
"Good-bye," cried the mate, quickly. "Only a pleasant trip, my dear
sirs. I'll soon be back. Shove off."
"It is to avoid showing that he is nervous about his voyage," said
Oliver as the man obeyed, and the little boat skimmed away toward where
the lugger lay hanging on to a buoy, formed of a little keg anchored to
a huge block of coral in the deepest part, by a great noose which had
been cleverly dropped around the rock. And then as they stood leaning
upon their guns, the dinghy reached the lugger and was made fast, the
mooring rope was cast off and the men began to hoist the first sail,
when Drew suddenly uttered a cry of horror.
"What's the matter?" exclaimed Oliver.
"Look! look!" was the reply.
Oliver already saw. A great war canoe was being paddled down the lagoon
from the north, another was approaching from the south, and from out of
the haze made by the booming breakers, a third came on toward the
opening through which the mate had arranged to pass to the sea.
The two young men stood paralysed for a few moments, before Oliver
raised his gun to give a signal of alarm.
But he lowered it into the hollow of his arm, as he felt that it was
unnecessary, for the mate must see.
"Look," cried Drew. "He's coming back to take his luck with us," as
they saw that the canoes were being paddled rapidly to lay their crews
on board. For the sail hoisted had filled, and the second was being
raised while the mate at the helm was steering the lugger as if to bring
her close to where the young men stood.
"That's right, come ashore, we'll cover you," roared Oliver, and then he
uttered a groan, for the lugger curved round when close to them, and
then rushed through the water toward the opening in the reef.
Oliver's heart sank.
"Discretion's the better part of valour," he muttered, "he's going to
leave us all in the lurch."