A TRYING TIME--THE FATAL CRASH--BEN RUDALL'S LAST EFFORT--AMONG THE
BREAKERS--THROWN ON SHORE--THE FIRST SHELTER--THE CARPENTER'S CHEST--
SETTING TRAPS--A VERY SATISFACTORY MEAL--VISIT OF NEP--A PRESENT FOR
LORD REGINALD--DICK BUILDING HIS HUT--MEETING OF THE RIVAL CRUSOES--
SUPPLIES STOPPED--COLLECTING STORES--BOAT-BUILDING--USEFUL EMPLOYMENT OF
TIME--CONSTRUCTING A COT--THE MEGAPODES--A CROSSBOW.
We must now go back to the night of the shipwreck. Dick, with Ben
Rudall and several other men, had been stationed forward, and remained
at their posts when land was first seen under the lee.
"There'll be a watery grave for most of us," said Ben when the cry arose
of "Land, land!" often so cheering to seamen, but on the present
occasion of such dreadful import.
"We must have a struggle for our lives, at all events," said Dick.
"Better than going down in mid-ocean, without a plank to cling to."
"You don't know what a surf like that breaking on a lee-shore under your
lee can do!" observed an old salt, who stood holding on to the bulwarks
with one hand, while he searched for a quid of tobacco with the other.
"They would grind up a stout ship like this in a few minutes if she
strikes. It can't be helped; I'll take one chaw, though it may be my
last, and I only wish that I could get a glass or two of grog. It would
make one feel more comfortable like."
"We can do without grog, surely," said Dick. "It strikes me that we
ought to try and keep our senses wide awake, so that we can judge of
what's best to be done. I for one shall struggle to the last, and hope
to reach the beach in spite of the surf, either on a spar or a piece of
wreck."
"We arn't wrecked yet; maybe we shall be able to run into some cove or
other where we can bring up."
"Not unless we had a pilot on board who knows the coast. From what I
hear, none of the officers have ever been in these seas before, and we
have little chance of dropping anchor in a safe harbour."
The gale came down with increased fury. "Hold on, lads, for your
lives!" cried Ben, who had cast one anxious look to leeward. "Keep
clear of the falling masts, for before a minute is over we shall be on
shore!"
Scarcely had he spoken than there came a fearful crash. The masts went
by the board. The sea, with thundering roars, broke over the doomed
ship. Crash succeeded crash. The shrieks of those carried away could
be heard every moment. Dick kept to his resolution of clinging tightly
to a stanchion. Presently came the final crash, when the _Marie_ parted
amidships, and those forward found themselves separated from their
companions. The sea twisted the bow round and floated it away, but it
still held together. "We shall be carried off from the land!" cried Ben
Rudall. "We had better try to get hold of some spars and float ashore."
"I thought you advised us to cling to the ship as long as she held
together," observed Dick.
"But she's not holding together," answered Ben. "To my mind, she'll
either go down in deep water, or go to pieces when we are too far off to
reach the shore."
Still Dick had made up his mind to stick to the ship.
"Well, mates, who's for the shore?" cried Ben.
"Only those who are tired of life!" said the old seaman; "the wise ones
will stick to the wreck. The chances are that will be cast on the
beach, where we shall have a better chance of landing."
Ben, however, still adhered to the belief that they would have a better
prospect of saving their lives by clinging to some of the floating mass
than by holding on to the forecastle, over which the sea was continually
washing.
Several, while doubting what to do, were swept from their hold, and had
no choice given them. Ben, with three others, got hold of some pieces
of timber.
"If you escape and I get drowned, give my love to poor Susan and the
children. Say that my last thoughts were about them," cried Ben, as he
threw himself after his companions.
Dick and the old seaman alone remained. The mass of wreck was tossed
wildly about for some minutes, being swept by a current parallel to the
shore, until at length, lifted by a sea, it drove on a reef, when the
next sea rolling up, carried its two occupants overboard, together with
several fragments of the bulwarks which it had torn off.
Striking out for his life, Dick succeeded in getting hold of a piece of
timber. As he did so he heard a cry, and glancing in the direction from
whence it came, he dimly saw his late companion through the gloom, lift
up his arms and sink amidst the foaming waters. Dick held fast to the
timber. Although not a bad swimmer, he knew that he should have but
little chance of keeping afloat in that boiling cauldron. The seas
washed him on nearer and nearer the shore, when just as he felt his
strength failing him, he found that the timber had grounded; so letting
it go he scrambled up before the next wave overtook him, and reached the
dry sand, on which he threw himself, well-nigh exhausted by his
exertions. Soon recovering, he looked out, in the hopes that some of
his shipmates might be thrown up on the same beach, but though he for
long watched anxiously, running up and down along the whole circuit of
the bay, he saw no one, and came to the melancholy conclusion that all
on board excepting himself had been lost.
Numerous articles, besides masses of wreck, were, however, cast on
shore, and those which appeared the most valuable he made every exertion
to secure. Among them was a large chest, which he hoped by its weight
to have belonged to the carpenter. Though unable to haul it up beyond
where the water had floated it, having found a rope he made it fast to
the handle, and carried the other end to the trunk of a tree. In vain
he looked out during the time, in the hope of seeing any of his
shipmates coming on shore; he feared all had been drowned or washed
away. At length he made out amid the foam two bodies floating at no
great distance from the shore. They both appeared lashed to pieces of
timber. They might still be alive.
He dashed into the water, just as the sea sent one of the pieces of
wreck close to him, when seizing it he dragged it up, and instantly
casting off the lashings, carried the man up to the dry beach. He then
dashed forward again, and succeeded in getting hold of the spar to which
the second man was lashed. It cost him much labour, and he was very
nearly carried out himself, but by exerting all his strength he
succeeded at length in getting the spar also up to the beach.
Cutting the man loose, he carried the body up and placed it beside that
of his companion. He then set to work to try and restore the men to
life, rubbing their hands and chests, but all his efforts were in vain.
As far as he could tell, they were the only people who had reached the
beach. He thought of poor Ben. He still had some hopes that he might
have been washed on shore, but although he called his name several
times, no answer was returned.
Finding that all his efforts were vain, he then got up, wishing to
procure some shelter for himself during the inclement night. Observing
the mizzen rigging with a piece of sail entangled among it, he cut the
canvas loose, and contrived with a couple of bales and some pieces of
board, to rig up a rough hut.
The storm abated and the moon shone out for a short time, enabling him
to complete his work. Scarcely was it finished than down came the rain,
and he was glad to crawl in and obtain rest. He slept on until morning.
Immediately on getting up he went down to the beach on the chance of
finding any of his companions, but no one was visible, either alive or
dead. There were, however, a number of articles and masses of wreck
floating or cast on shore, while the bows of the ship still hung
together at the end of the reef. Hunger reminded him that he must look
out for food. The trees and shrubs he saw growing inland gave him hopes
of finding provision for his wants.
His first care was to form a covering for his head, as he had already
found the heat of the sun excessive, and he had lost his hat during his
swim ashore. He had often seen the seamen on board form straw hats. He
at once looked out for such leaves as would serve the purpose of straw,
and soon finding some, he sat down under a tree and diligently set to
work. The fibre of the leaf served as thread, the thick stem as a
needle. Certainly the hat was not over well shaped, but it answered the
purpose of protecting his head and neck from the burning rays of the
sun.
His next idea was to obtain such food as the sea would afford. Without
difficulty he collected as many shell-fish as he required from the reef,
and was returning with them when he saw a cask, which from its
appearance he hoped contained biscuits. He at once rolled it up to his
hut, then set about collecting wood for a fire.
He easily found a supply of dry sticks which, with some pieces of wreck,
were amply sufficient for his wants. As he was collecting the sticks he
was delighted to see the number of birds as well as animals inhabiting
the island.
"If I can catch you fellows, I shall have no want of food," he observed.
"I must set my wits to work, and make some traps."
A couple of large clam shells which he had found on the beach, served to
carry water. He had in his pocket a flint and steel, with which he soon
managed to produce a blaze. While the shell-fish were cooking, he
opened the cask, which he found contained flour. Though the outside was
wet, by digging down to a little depth, he found the interior perfectly
dry. A clam shell served him as a kneading-dish, and he quickly made
some dough cakes, which he baked in the embers. He was thus able to
enjoy a very satisfactory breakfast, although he had cold water alone as
a beverage. There were a number of other casks and cases, and he hoped
to find among them some more flour, and perhaps some tea or coffee, and
salt beef or pork.
The first thing to be done was to secure all the articles which came on
the beach, before another tide should float them off. He at once set
about this. It was somewhat hard work, for many of the cases were
heavy, and he could with difficulty drag them over the soft sand.
Having drawn up all he could see floating on the shores of the bay, he
bethought him that by going further to the south, he might find others
in the bay off which the ship struck.
He accordingly set out, and climbing over the intervening rocks, what
was his surprise on looking down to see a person at work, whom he
recognised as Lord Reginald. He at once guessed how he was employed.
"It isn't fair to let him do that work all alone, though I'd rather have
kept clear of him, and very likely he'll not take in good part whatever
offer I make," he said to himself.
He approached, and was received as he expected. The interview has
already been described. Dick felt a sincere grief when he found Ben
Rudall's body among the drowned; it was not likely that any others had
escaped. The headland which extended away to the westward, would
prevent any persons landing on that side, and he felt sure that Lord
Reginald and he were the only people who had escaped from the wreck.
The treatment he received made him resolve not to trouble Lord Reginald
in future with his company. "He'll come to his senses by-and-by, and
find out that he and I are pretty much on an equality, or rather that I
have the advantage of him, as I shall be able to get on much better than
he does," thought Dick.
From the first, he saw the necessity of providing for his daily wants.
He must look out for food, and erect some shelter for himself. The hut
in which he had spent the first night was hot and close, and though it
might serve him until he could get a better habitation erected, he was
anxious to build a more substantial place to live in. He was desirous,
also, without delay, to examine the large chest. It would have been a
difficult task to get it beyond the reach of the sea, even should Lord
Reginald have condescended to help him. He considered, therefore, how
he could best do it alone. There were several broken spars about.
These he collected, and managed, by digging away the sand, to place them
so as to serve as rollers beneath the chest. He then picked up several
blocks, with which he formed a tackle, and secured it to the stump of a
tree. By hauling away with all his might, he found that he could move
the chest, and by shifting the rollers by degrees he hauled it up beyond
high-water mark. The next difficulty to be overcome was to get it open.
He had no tools to work with, and without tools it would baffle the
strength of fifty men. Looking about, however, he discovered a large
flat stone which might, he hoped, serve as a wedge; after a further
search he picked up another heavy round stone, and armed with these he
began to work away at the lock. It resisted for some time, but by
hammering away with might and main the lock yielded, and the interior,
full of carpenter's tools and numerous other articles, was revealed to
his sight. He had now the means of building a comfortable house. He
had been taught to handle tools by a carpenter in his younger days, and
he had also--which was of great importance--often formed traps for the
purpose of catching birds and animals, so that he might thus supply
himself with food. He saw a number of green pigeons, which appeared
very tame, and lots of cockatoos, though they looked too wise to be
trapped.
Selecting such of the tools as he thought he should require, he
collected a quantity of wood, and took them up to the shade of the
nearest tree, where he could work in tolerable comfort. In a short time
he had formed three traps, similar to those made by boys in England to
catch sparrows, but of much larger dimensions.
Having picked up a quantity of seed fallen from the trees, for bait, he
set them in different places apart, where from a distance he could
command a sight of them. He watched eagerly, and soon had the
satisfaction of seeing one go down, and directly afterwards the other
two. He ran up to secure his prizes. Each had caught a pigeon, and
wringing their necks he reset the traps, and returned to his tree. Some
dry fungus served him for tinder. Having his flint and steel, he struck
a spark and soon had a fire blazing. He plucked one of the pigeons and
set it on to roast, considering that it would be sufficient for one
meal, and intending to keep the other two. He then made some dough
cakes, which he cooked as before, on a large stone surrounded by ashes.
He had begun his meal when he saw Nep ranging in the distance. He
called the dog to him, and observing his hungry look, gave him the
remainder of the pigeon and some dough cake. The dog, having eaten what
was bestowed upon him, looked still anxious.
"I see what it is; you are thinking of your master, old fellow. Now you
take back that bird. He is probably very hungry, and you may tell him I
sent it, if you like. I don't suppose he will refuse to eat it, even if
he knows where it comes from. Now mind, Nep, don't you stop on the way
and bolt it down, or I shall be obliged to give you a thrashing when you
come back."
Nep seemed fully to understand what he was to do. Taking the bird up
with as much care as if it were alive, he set off in the direction of
the cave.
"He'll do it," said Dick, well satisfied with himself. "I couldn't bear
to have him starve, while I am enjoying an ample meal. The chances are
that he hasn't got the sense to obtain anything for himself. Nep might
be able to catch some animals for him, but he won't succeed in getting
hold of a bird."
Dick felt much more satisfied with himself after this. He now began to
consider how he could make himself comfortable. While setting his traps
he had observed several trees which bore fruit, and he therefore felt
convinced he should be able to obtain as much food as he required,
besides any fish he might catch. On searching the carpenter's chest, he
found a number of hooks of all sizes, together with some fine line, so
that he might go out fishing as soon as he had time. Several of the
bales consisted of cotton or linen cloth, and another prize was a box
belonging to one of the officers, which contained clothes, shoes, some
nautical instruments, a spyglass, and several books, which, although
they were in French, were better than none at all, as he might by their
means teach himself that language.
Having collected all the wood which had drifted ashore from the wreck,
he dragged it up by means of his tackle, and he had soon enough to build
a small hut. He lost no time in making a commencement. The tropical
rains, he thought, might soon begin, and it was important to get under
shelter before then. He settled to build his hut in such a way that he
might increase its size as he could procure more materials. At present
his plan was to build the frame of drift wood, and then to cover it over
with planks, for which he might cut down trees and saw them up into
boards.
For some time, however, his progress was slow, as he was compelled to
look out for provisions. For this purpose he had to form several more
traps, as sometimes whole days passed without those he had at first set
catching a bird. Neptune paid him another visit, and he sent a second
pigeon by the dog to Lord Reginald. Remembering that several articles
had been thrown up on the beach of the smaller bay on which Lord
Reginald had been cast, he thought that he would ascertain if there were
any things worth having among them. He set off, therefore, armed with a
stick for this purpose. He was going along the beach, eagerly looking
out for whatever he could draw on shore, when he saw Lord Reginald
engaged in burying the midshipman.
The coldness with which his overtures were received made him determine
to leave Lord Reginald to his own devices.
"He'll soon find out how well he can get on alone," he said to himself,
and turning on his heel he went back to his hut. "If the foolish fellow
chooses to starve, there's no reason why the poor dog should. If he
comes, I'll do my best to feed him, at all events."
Dick had now plenty of work before him. His spirits rose as he laboured
away, and he made good progress with his hut. It was almost fit for
occupation. As long as he could procure nourishing food without
difficulty, he devoted himself without interruption to the work.
Neptune paid his visits as before, and Dick fed him well, but would give
him no food to carry to his master.
"No, no," he said; "he boasts that he can feed himself, let him do so.
If he starve, that's not my look-out, but you, poor brute, deserve being
cared for." At length, to Dick's surprise, Lord Reginald made his
appearance. At first Dick hoped he had come with overtures of peace,
but the young lord's haughty bearing and outrageous remarks convinced
him that there was little hope of their living on amicable terms
together.
"Let him go and live by himself as best he can," said Dick. "I should
have liked to have had a companion, but I would rather be without one
than be compelled to associate with so ill-tempered a fellow as he is."
And he went on boring holes and hammering on the planks of his house.
Next day Nep made his appearance, begging for food, which Dick gave him,
but though he had several pigeons, he would not send one by him.
Nep stayed on, hoping to get it, but Dick was determined that the young
lord should be made to feel his own helplessness. "If he want food for
himself, he must come and ask for it," he said; "he chose to despise my
former presents, and I intend to teach him which is the best man of the
two."
Dick soon got his hut roofed in, so that should rain come on, he would
be under shelter. He had still to make furniture for it, and to build a
storehouse and other conveniences.
Before commencing these operations, he bethought him of the best means
of securing a supply of provisions, so that he need not be interrupted
in his work.
During two or three excursions he had made through the valley, he had
seen the number of birds and animals inhabiting it. The pigs, he
thought, he could catch in pitfalls, though it might be a task of some
difficulty without an iron spade to dig them in hard ground, but he was
not to be daunted, and he determined to form some instrument with which
to accomplish his purpose.
Then he thought, "I ought to have a canoe to go out fishing, while the
fine weather lasts." As he wandered about, he looked out for a tree to
suit his purpose. He found one of sufficient girth and length, with a
perfectly straight trunk, though whether the nature of the wood was
suitable for a canoe, he could not ascertain, except by cutting it down.
He had often felled trees at home, but without an axe he could do
nothing. He went back to the carpenter's chest, in the hopes of finding
one. Searching among the tools, at the bottom he discovered three spare
heads. He had, however, to fix a handle to one of them. The first
thing to be done was to find a piece of wood suited for the purpose.
After hunting for some time, he discovered a piece of oak, washed ashore
from the wreck. On measuring it, he ascertained that it was large
enough to form three handles. Before, however, he could use a saw to
his satisfaction, he considered that it would be necessary to form a
stool, which he did from a piece of plank, with four stout legs fixed in
the ground, close to his hut. He could now shape the handles without
difficulty. Having sawn out one, he set to work with chisel and plane,
and quickly formed a long handle which pleased him well. Fixing it
securely in the axe-head, he poised it, and found that it was all he
could desire.
Throwing off his jacket and waistcoat, rolling up his shirt sleeves, and
fastening a handkerchief round his waist, he set to work, and began
chopping away at the trunk of the tree, on the lee side, so that, the
last stroke being given on the weather side, it might fall without fear
of crushing him. He laboured away without cessation until he had cut
through nearly half the tree, when his arms began to ache. He stopped,
retiring to a little distance to contemplate his work. "Another two
hours will do it, and I should like to get it down before dark," he
exclaimed.
The wood was tolerably soft. This gave him hopes that he should be able
to shape it without difficulty. His first idea had been to form only a
fishing punt, which would enable him to go off a short distance from the
land, or to visit the various bays in the island, where fish might
abound. But as he considered the size of the tree, he thought it might
be as well to construct one large enough to cross to any of the islands
to the northward, which he knew to exist in that direction. For some
thirty feet the trunk was almost of the same circumference. By adding
weather boards, and decking over a portion of the stern and head, he
might form a boat of a size sufficient to venture on a long voyage.
After resting himself, he again set to work, until he had cut into the
heart of the tree. Having penetrated deeply into the tree on the lee
side, he now stood on the weather side, and prepared to give the
finishing strokes. After every stroke, he watched to see in which
direction the tree was bending, that he might spring out of the way, in
an opposite one to which it tended. At length, the wood began to crack,
and the tall tree hung over on the side he expected. He plied his axe
with redoubled vigour, when, tottering for a moment, down it came with a
crash, making the earth around tremble, and throwing up a cloud of dust
and leaves. He uttered a shout of satisfaction as he saw the first part
of his work accomplished. In his eagerness, he would have begun shaping
it out immediately, but darkness had come on, and prevented him from
working. He had been so engaged, that he had forgotten all about his
food. Hurrying to his traps, he found a couple of pigeons, which he
hastily plucked, and, having made up his fire, put on to roast. While
they were cooking, he kneaded some small dough cakes.
"I wish that foolish fellow had more sense; I would gladly have given
him some of these," he thought. "The chances are he hasn't been able to
kill anything. Hunger, however, will perhaps bring him to his senses,
and I shall have him here begging. I can't have the heart to refuse
him, though he ought to be made to feel his own helplessness." Having
finished his supper, Dick hung up the other bird, and put away his cakes
for breakfast, that he might set to work as soon as it was daylight.
He had not hitherto formed a bed-place for himself, being content to
sleep on the ground, with some canvas and cloth from one of the bales,
which he had first well dried in the sun, for a covering. Being very
tired, he lay down, but fancied that he felt creatures crawling over
him, so he resolved to make a cot before the next night, that he might
sleep more comfortably. He had noticed some palm needles and a quantity
of twine in the carpenter's chest, which would be of great service. He
awoke before daylight, but afraid of losing time, he remained awake,
thinking over his plans, until he saw the first gleams of dawn breaking
in the eastern sky. He then at once rose and went down to the beach to
take a bath, splashing about all the time he was in the water, and
looking out seawards, in case of sharks or other dangerous creatures
being near. Thoroughly refreshed, he returned on shore. Having
dressed, he went back to his hut to commence his work for the day. He
was so eager to get his boat finished that he would at once have begun
on that, but there were other things of more immediate importance. The
first was to see that his traps were properly set, as he knew that he
was more likely to catch birds in the morning when they came down to
feed, than at other times in the day. It took him, however, some time
to collect the nuts and other fallen fruits on which the birds fed. As
he was thus employed, he counted several different species, mostly of
beautiful plumage, while a number of monkeys played on the boughs above
his head, chattering furiously, as if to ask him where he came from.
"If the birds fly away, I shall be able to catch some of you fellows, at
all events," he said, looking up at them. "I have heard say that some
people do eat monkeys, though I would rather have any other meat. I'd
sooner have one of those deer or hogs I see scampering away there;
though, as I have not much chance of finding a gun and powder, I must
make a crossbow and arrows. I used to shoot pretty well with one; if I
can get the right sort of wood I have no doubt I could make one that
would carry fifty yards or so, and I dare say that I should be able to
kill some of those fellows, by lying in ambush, or creeping up to them.
I'm sure, at all events, that I can knock over as many monkeys as I
require." Having set his traps, he ate the remainder of his pigeon and
some of the dough cakes, which he washed down with a draught of pure
water.
He then began on his cot. He might have made a hammock with far less
difficulty, but it would require more space to hang than his hut
afforded, and would not be altogether so comfortable as a cot.
With two long poles and two short ones for the head and foot, he formed
a framework, to which he secured canvas. Then fastening on the
knittles, he secured a couple of blocks to the rafters of the hut, and
thus formed a satisfactory sleeping-place.
With some of the cloth he made a pillow and mattress, which he stuffed
with dried leaves, while another piece of cloth served as a coverlid of
sufficient thickness for that climate. "I shall want a table and stool,
and I must see if I can find any plates and dishes, mugs, or a
saucepan." He very soon had fallen into the habit of talking to
himself.
The day was wearing on. He had seen nothing of Lord Reginald nor of
Neptune. He was surprised that the dog had not paid him a visit, but
concluded that he had found sufficient food for himself and his master,
or that he would certainly have done so. Dick accordingly began to plan
his canoe. He had found pencils and paper in the well-stored
carpenter's chest. He drew the proposed shape of the stem and stern.
His chief doubt was about the length. He finally settled to make the
canoe thirty feet long. The tree was upwards of four feet in diameter.
He proposed to make the gunwale two feet above this by raising it all
round, and he thus hoped to get a craft of sufficient beam to carry
cargo and go through a considerable amount of sea. He had the whole
plan more clearly defined in his own mind than he could have designed it
on paper. His first business was to chop off the bark and to saw the
two ends even; then to level one side of the tree, cutting off rather
more than one-third. On the level thus formed, he drew a line from one
end to the other, carefully measuring it so that both sides might be
equal. He next marked off from his drawing the shape of the bow and
stern. By the time these operations were completed it was again night.
He determined that nothing except what was absolutely necessary should
stop him until he could finish it. He intended to fix on a keel and
stern, so that the boat might carry sail. While on board the _Wolf_, he
had often heard the warrant officers discuss the best form of boat. The
carpenter described the canoes in those seas with outriggers, which
would prevent them upsetting. Dick had comprehended the object of
these; indeed, the carpenter had shown him some prints in Captain Cook's
voyages, which enabled him still better to understand the use of such
contrivances. Though Dick was highly proud of his proposed craft, he
was fully sensible of the importance of procuring food.
Next morning when he went to his traps, he found that no birds had been
taken. He concluded that, seeing so many of their companions caught,
the rest had become wary, but he saw many others of different species,
which he hoped either to trap or shoot. To do this he must manufacture
his proposed crossbow. Without loss of time, taking an axe and saw with
him, he set out in search of the necessary wood, for none of that from
the wreck was likely to answer the purpose. He went on through the
broad valley, until he arrived at the smaller one, in which was the
spring whence Lord Reginald procured his supply of water. He looked
out, but could see nothing of either the young lord or his dog. As he
passed through the wood, he observed several birds; they had large feet
and long curved claws, and were about the size of a small barn-door
fowl. Their plumage was mostly of a dark olive colour, with tints of
brown on the other parts. They were busily employed in eating fallen
fruits, and picking up worms and insects, running about here and there
at a great rate. Curious to observe them, he hid himself behind a tree,
when he saw some, evidently hens, hopping to the top of a large mound,
where having scraped away the earth to a considerable depth, they each
deposited an egg, covering it up again with the greatest care.
"Oh, oh!" thought Dick, "if your eggs are fit to eat, I shall have a
good store of provision," and going to the mound he soon shovelled away
the earth, beneath which he found a good number of eggs. These he
deposited carefully in a handkerchief, wrapping them up with leaves, to
prevent them breaking.
The birds were a species of megapode, which are found chiefly in
Australia and Borneo and the intermediate islands. They are allied to
the gallinaceous birds but differ from them in never sitting upon their
eggs, which, thus buried in vegetable rubbish, are left to be hatched by
heat and fermentation. It is said that a number of birds unite in
forming these mounds, and lay their eggs together, but take no further
care of their offspring. As soon as the little birds are hatched, they
run away from the mound, and at once begin picking up food suitable to
them, trusting to their speed to escape from their foes. Dick, of
course, knew nothing of this, but was well satisfied at finding so large
a supply of fresh-laid eggs. He was also not aware that it was the very
mound from which Lord Reginald had obtained the only food, besides
shell-fish, he had been able to procure since his arrival in the island.
Dick would certainly not otherwise have carried them off. Reaching the
sea-shore, he turned back, for fear of encountering Lord Reginald, as he
had no wish to have another interview with one who received his advances
so ill.
"I suppose that he will manage to kill or trap some of those birds for
himself," he thought, "or, if he is hard up, that he'll come back and
ask my assistance. Meantime I must see what I can do for myself."
After hunting about and trying a number of trees, he selected four
branches of wood, on which he meant to try experiments to ascertain
which was most suited for a crossbow. The stock and string he would
have no difficulty in forming. He had the whole plan clearly in his
head, and now he had got the eggs, which would last him for two or three
days, he was in no hurry to finish it. He found a piece of deal, which
could be easily worked, and he immediately commenced cutting it into
shape, using his saw, plane, and chisel. The first piece of wood he
tried for the bow broke. He had to take another, which bent easily
enough, but had not sufficient spring. With the third he was more
successful, and was fully satisfied that it would answer his purpose.
He formed a string by twisting several lengths of twine tightly
together, and he found that he could send a bolt of wood between thirty
and forty yards. By the light of his fire he worked away until late in
the night, when he was compelled from sleepiness to turn into his cot,
with which he was well pleased. It formed a comfortable couch, and
neither crabs, nor beetles, nor centipedes, nor other creeping things
came near him. Still, he could not go to sleep. His thoughts
constantly reverted to the poor young lord, who was resting in his
cavern with dry sand, or a bed of leaves, at best, for his couch.
"Though he treats me with disdain, I ought not in consequence to allow
him to perish. He is proud and obstinate, but, of course, he hasn't
liked the way I have spoken to him. I hope to-morrow morning he'll
think better of it, and will come to me for assistance, or will send
Neptune. It is hard that the poor dog should starve because his master
and I have fallen out."
Notwithstanding these thoughts which passed through Dick's mind, he did
not feel inclined just then to set out in search of Lord Reginald.
After thinking over what he would say to him if they met, satisfied with
his good intentions, he fell asleep.