_IN SHARK'S BAY_
Parting with Captain Seagrave and his men was no easy matter, but in a
few days farewells were exchanged and the new arrivals went to Barry
Tuxford's house at Perth. Here they remained three or four weeks, while
the schooners were being fitted out, and learned what their duties would
be.
"You'll find pearls, I am sure," said Barry, "and I should not be at all
surprised if you came across Jacob Rank. If he is alive, and you meet
him, he'll be very useful, for he knows all about the place and you can
tell him from me if he helps you I will not forget him."
Perth, in those days, did not strike them as a particularly desirable
place to live in, but Barry Tuxford found it suited his purpose to
remain there for the present.
The two schooners lay in the harbour at Fremantle, about a dozen miles
from Perth, at the mouth of the Swan river, and Jack Redland frequently
went on board to make himself acquainted with the vessels; he had more
energy than his friend who was, however, Barry found, clever at figures,
which suited him admirably. One of the vessels had been a trading
schooner, and although not very clean or tempting to look at, seemed a
seaworthy craft, the other was smaller but better fitted. Jack decided
if his mate had no objection, to go in the larger one, and as this was
easily arranged, he superintended her stores and general outfit.
The crews secured were a mixed lot, some few Dutchmen, and an odd Malay
or two, but the skippers were rather decent fellows and he felt it would
be easy to handle them. Most of the divers were to be secured in the
neighbourhood of Shark's Bay, but half a dozen aboriginies were to go
with them. These blacks had travelled in various schooners and were
accustomed to the sea, moreover they were expert divers.
At last, everything was ready for the start, and Barry Tuxford came to
see them sail. The name of the schooner Jack Redland took charge of was
the "Heron," her skipper, Phil Danks, while Harry Marton's was called
the "Wild Cat," and the skipper, Hake Moss, both men being well known to
Barry.
The first trial for pearl shell was to be made in Shark's Bay, but it
was farther to the north-west that the place indicated by Jacob Rank was
to be found. The "Golden Land" had not yet cleared on her return voyage.
As it was with some difficulty she obtained sufficient cargo, and Job
Seagrave and his crew gave them a rousing send off as they passed.
"They are two smart little schooners," he said, "and I hope the boys
will do well with them, we shall have a dull trip home without 'em,
Sam."
Jack soon found the motion of the "Heron" was far different to that of
the steamer, and for the first few days he was decidedly uncomfortable.
It was arranged between the skippers that if the schooners were parted
they were to make the best of their way to Shark's Bay. The weather was
fine, with a cool refreshing breeze, and this was a happy augury for a
successful trip. There seemed to be no difficulty with the men, and when
complaints were made, Jack settled them in an amicable manner.
"It will not take us long to get to Shark's Bay if this wind holds,"
said Danks, as he and Jack stood on the deck watching the steady lash of
the sea as the "Heron" cut swiftly through it; in the distance was the
"Wild Cat," but she did not make such good way.
"The sooner we are there the better for all," was his reply, "some of
these fellows may get a bit out of hand."
"Let 'em try it on," said Danks. "I've dealt with such fellows before,
and got the best of it. When they do kick up a row they are devils, and
a belaying pin is the best thing for them."
"I hope we shall manage without that," laughed Jack. "You have been to
Shark's Bay before, have you not?"
"Yes, four times, we shall not find much there, and the pearls are not
equal to those farther north. I have an idea where this bay Rank spoke
of is, and if I am correct it's a likely spot."
"You knew Rank?"
"Yes, and I'm sorry if he's come to grief, but I think with Mr. Tuxford,
it's more than likely we may find him there. Jacob Rank is not the sort
of man to be badly left, and depend upon it if the crew he had with him
got the better of him he would get out of their clutches somehow.
There's not many men know more about pearling than Jacob, but he's
awfully unlucky in some things, and never seems to make money. I'm not
struck on pearl fishing, but Barry Tuxford is a liberal man, and I've
done work for him before."
"In what line?" asked Jack.
"When he had a station up country he bred a lot of good horses and used
to ship them from Fremantle to Singapore. I have run him more than one
lot over; it's a rum game, but it pays well, always providing you have a
good passage and not many of them die."
"You don't mean to say you have taken horses from Fremantle to Singapore
on a schooner?" said Jack, surprised.
"I have, and over forty of them in one not much larger than this. I can
tell you they were crowded in their stalls, and had a deuced bad time of
it, but it's wonderful how soon they pick up when they get ashore."
Jack was interested, he could hardly believe it possible to cram forty
horses into a schooner not much larger than the "Heron."
"You can imagine what it is like down below," said Danks; "when the heat
beats down on the schooner, I tell you the atmosphere is not exactly
pleasant. What we fear most is a dead calm, it kills the horses off
quickly, and sometimes we run short of water. The sharks have a great
feast when the poor brutes are heaved overboard."
"I should not like that job," said Jack.
"No, I don't suppose you would, and it is not to my taste, but there's a
lot of money in it if you have a successful trip and that is what most
of us are after."
"Quite right," said Jack. "It is what I am after at all events, and I
want you to help me."
"I'll do all I can, but there's a heap of luck attached to pearl
fishing," was the reply.
They were becalmed for a couple of days, and then, a fresh breeze
springing up, they were soon near to Shark's Bay, and when they entered
Jack Redland was surprised at its immense size, and at the wild almost
uninhabited look of the land. There were very few houses to be seen,
most of the fishers living in tents so as to be able to move near the
fisheries.
"Well, what do you think of it?" Harry asked Jack as he came on board.
Jack looked glum as he replied, "I never saw a more uninviting spot and
we seem to have the place pretty much to ourselves."
"I hope we shall not have to stay here long," answered Harry, "it will
give me the blues."
"You'll find it all right when the divers are at work, there'll be
plenty of excitement for you then, but we are newcomers and some of the
old hands here may turn a bit crusty. I think we had better go ashore
and see how the land lies," said Danks.
It was evident the arrival of the two schooners had created some
sensation amongst the dwellers in tents, for a small knot of men stood
discussing them.
Jack, Harry and Phil Danks got into a boat and were pulled to the beach.
A big powerful man came down to meet them, his looks were not friendly,
and he seemed to be the boss of the others, who stood some distance
away.
"He's Amos Hooker," said Danks, "and we must try and work our cards with
him, he rules the roost here."
"It's you, Phil Danks, is it?" said Hooker, "and I see you've got
company with you. There's not much for you to find here, and what little
there is by rights belongs to us. We live here, and I'm damned if it's
fair for you fellows to come and poach on our fishery."
"We have as much right to fish here as you have," retorted Phil Danks,
"and what's more, we intend to try our luck. Be sensible, Amos, we can
make it worth your while. If you care to live in this hole, I know you
have very good reasons for keeping out of the way. There's one or two
men down at Fremantle who would not be at all sorry to come across the
man who cleared out with the 'Mary Hatchett.'"
Amos Hooker's eyes gleamed and he looked angrily at the speaker, but the
blow struck home and Jack saw he was not quite so brave as he wished to
appear.
"Who told you I was in the 'Mary Hatchett'; you can tell 'em from me
it's a lie."
"Oh, no, it is not, so you had better be reasonable. There are several
things you can do for us if you will, and you shall be well paid, if not
in cash in kind, and when you hear who has fixed out these schooners
you'll know he is not the man to forget you."
Amos Hooker had no relish for this situation. He was the best man at
Shark's Bay amongst the fishers, and he felt if he gave way too easily
his authority would be diminished. It would never do to give in without
some show of bluster, so he said,
"If the Governor owned the schooners, you have no right to come here.
What's become of that fool, Jacob Rank? We soon cleared him out, and a
nice crew he had with him; I suppose you know he got left?"
"We heard he was drowned," said Danks.