Nearly two hours of daylight had already gone by, and as there was at
present a perfect calm, we should have to depend on our oars alone. I
explained to the men that it was a matter of life and death to arrive as
soon as possible.
"Never fear, Mr Ned," answered Jack Lizard. "We'll make the boat fly
along as fast as our oars can send her."
As Dick had a sharp pair of eyes, I stationed him in the bows to look
out for rocks; for, of course, to shorten the distance, we had to keep
close to the land, or, rather, just outside the breakers, which, as we
advanced, we found dashing on the shore. As we had had a good
breakfast, we did not stop to dine, but Charlie handed round a mug of
water, that the men might moisten their lips. As I sat in the
stern-sheets holding the yoke-lines, I felt as if I was steering in a
race; and so it was--a race against the machinations of the treacherous
savages; but I trusted that we should win, and be in time to warn Harry
of their evil intentions. I was pleased with the way the men behaved,
evidently exerting their strength to the utmost, and even old Sam did
not utter a complaint. As we pulled on, I eagerly looked out for each
point or headland, hoping that it might be the one beyond which we
should find the harbour.
Everywhere the country was covered with trees. Sometimes there were
cliffs, and at others the land rose in bold slopes almost from the
water's edge; but nowhere did we see any coral reefs. This was owing,
Charlie said, to the existence of a volcano, which we observed somewhere
in the interior, sending forth clouds of smoke and ashes, occasionally
bright flames darting up, though scarcely visible in the sunlight. The
lava, he said, rolled down into the sea, and so heated the water that it
prevented the existence of the coral insects. Here and there were small
sandy bays, in which canoes were drawn up. On observing them, I feared
that some might come off and interfere with us. However, our boat was
so small an object, and being without a sail, the natives probably
scarcely observed her as we glided rapidly by. Perhaps they might have
taken her for some marine monster, or other fish which had just risen
above the surface. Occasionally we had to cross a broad bay, when we
were, in consequence, at a considerable distance from the land; but I
took care to examine it carefully, so as to be sure that the harbour we
were searching for was not within it.
Night was drawing on. We had been pulling, we calculated, for not less
than seven hours, and must have been going at the rate of four knots an
hour. Charlie thought that there might have been a current against us,
or, perhaps, we had scarcely made good the four knots as I supposed, or
else that the distance was greater than Hogan had told us. As yet,
however, we had seen no indication of an opening. A tree-covered point
was before us; we steered for it.
"Perhaps we shall find the harbour on the other side," said Charlie.
The men had not lately been pulling as fast as in the early part of the
day; and no wonder, for their arms were becoming weary with their
exertions. Still they went on.
"Never fear, sir," cried Jack Lizard. "We've got some go in us yet.
Cheer up, lads, cheer up; let us give way with a will again."
The point was rounded when we saw what Charlie and I felt nearly sure
was the entrance to the harbour. We were already steering for it when
we made out half a dozen canoes, which had just rounded the opposite
point, and soon came paddling towards us. They might have had no
unfriendly intentions; but, at all events, we were anxious not to
encounter them. As we pulled on, we became perfectly convinced, by the
appearance of the land, that we had discovered the harbour we were in
search of. The canoes were coming up with us, and it seemed doubtful
whether we should get into the harbour before them. Our men, though
they had previously appeared too much fatigued to pull longer, redoubled
their efforts, and point after point was passed, when at length I was
gladdened by the sight of the schooner at anchor.