SELF-REPROACH--THE CRISIS OVER--A STORM--RETURNING TO LIFE--GRATITUDE TO
DICK--A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING--TURTLE-CATCHING--GAINING STRENGTH--DICK'S
CARE REWARDED--AN AGREEABLE SURPRISE--SOMETHING TO READ--A REFRESHING
CHANGE--HAT-MAKING--HARDLY STRONG ENOUGH--GOING ON WITH THE CANOE--A
DESIGN ON THE PORKERS--PIG-DRIVING--COFFEE BERRIES AND SUGAR-CANES
DISCOVERED--AN EARTHQUAKE--GRAVE APPREHENSIONS--THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.
Richard Hargrave sat by Lord Reginald's cot, watching his sufferings,
with the anxiety and sorrow he would have felt for a brother and dear
friend. Not a spark of animosity remained. In his heart he fully
believed that the young lord would die, and was ready to accuse himself
of being his murderer. Only a short time during each day did he venture
to leave him, to set his traps, or shoot birds, or collect fruits, which
latter were more especially required by the sufferer. On each occasion
when he hurried back, he dreaded to find that his patient had expired
during his absence. Neptune was always left in charge, as Dick hoped
that the instinct of the dog would induce him to summon him should he be
required. He was well aware that it would be dangerous to give any
heavy food to the sufferer, and yet he dreaded, lest by taking too
little, he might die of starvation. There was, however, he hoped,
sufficient nutriment in the fruit to keep up his strength without
increasing the fever. Day after day went by, and the violence of the
complaint in no way appeared to abate, nor did the young lord recover
his reason except at long intervals, when the words he uttered showed
that he was fully aware of his own condition. His thoughts were
evidently of a gloomy character, as he was constantly uttering
expressions of self-reproach. No longer petulant or impatient, he
appeared sunk in the deepest despondency.
This change of ideas was more alarming even than his wild fits of raving
to Dick, who began to accuse himself of being the cause of much of the
young lord's conduct. He considered their difference of rank; he
recollected his own defiant looks and expressions, which had so often
aroused his rival's anger. "Had I treated him with respect, which of
course he thought his due, and avoided him as much as possible, he would
soon have forgotten a person so much beneath him in rank," exclaimed
Dick. "True, he abused his power on board the _Marie_; but how have I
behaved since we were thrown together on this island?"
At last one morning, Lord Reginald appeared to drop off into a more
quiet slumber than usual, and Dick was induced to go out in search of
game with his crossbow in his hand. Scarcely had he left his hut than
several deer, without discovering him, came bounding by. He shot a
bolt, one of the animals was struck, and immediately fell dead to the
ground. Thankful for his success, he quickly returned with it, and
having skinned it he cut up a portion into small bits, which he put into
a pot, with the intention of making some broth. Several times while
thus engaged, he returned to the side of Lord Reginald, who still slept
on. He had obtained from the rocks a small quantity of salt, sufficient
to flavour the broth. While it was boiling he roasted another piece of
meat, and hung up the remainder in his smoking-house, which had answered
beyond his expectations. Though the meat dried in the sun might keep,
yet it was hard and dry, and presented a far from satisfactory
appearance.
He had observed signs of a change of weather. Clouds had been
collecting for some time in the sky. Scarcely had he completed his
culinary operations, than the rain began to pour in torrents, while the
thunder rolled, and flashes of vivid lightning darted from the clouds.
The fire was put out, but Dick managed to keep the broth warm. He
anxiously watched Lord Reginald, expecting that the roar of the thunder
would awaken him, but he slept quietly through the storm, and appeared
to be breathing more easily than before. At length the thunder-clouds
rolled off, the wind ceased, and the air appeared far purer than it had
hitherto been. Dick, who had opened the shutter, which he had kept shut
during the rain, went to the door to open that also and enjoy the fresh
air. He was standing inhaling it with much satisfaction, when he heard
Lord Reginald's voice exclaiming--
"What has happened? Is that you, Hargrave?" Dick hurried to the side
of the cot, and was thankful to observe a marked change for the better,
in Lord Reginald's countenance, which, though thin and pale, had a
composed appearance. "Do not be agitated, my lord," said Dick; "you
have been very ill, but I trust you may now recover, as the worst is
past I would advise you not to talk, but let me give you some broth,
which I have fortunately just prepared. It will assist to restore your
strength quicker than the fruits on which you have so long lived."
Saying this, without waiting for a reply, Dick poured some of the soup
into a shell, which he presented to the invalid.
"Hargrave, I can scarcely believe my senses!" said Lord Reginald. "I
don't deserve this kind treatment at your hands. Have you really been
watching over me all this time?"
"Do not talk about it, my lord," said Dick. "Here, take this; it may
not be first-rate soup, but I think it will do you good."
As he spoke he placed the shell to the lips of his patient, who taking
it in both his hands, drank off the contents.
"First-rate stuff, whatever it is," murmured Lord Reginald. "Pray give
me some more, I feel it putting new life into me. I have had a narrow
escape, I suspect. If it hadn't been for you, Hargrave, I should have
died; I am fully aware of that."
"I only did my duty, and I am thankful to see your lordship so much
better," said Dick.
"You are a generous, noble fellow, Hargrave, that I know, for, after the
way I treated you, I had no right to expect that you would trouble
yourself about me."
"I should never have forgiven myself if I hadn't done my best to look
after your lordship," answered Dick, turning away to make some of the
cooling drink, which had hitherto proved so beneficial to his patient.
"Hargrave, my dear fellow," said Lord Reginald, in a comparatively
strong tone of voice, "can you really forgive me?"
"My lord, I am sure I need your forgiveness, so pray don't ask me to
forgive you, though I do so most heartily. Let bygones be bygones. It
will be the happiest day of my life when I see you restored to perfect
health."
"Hargrave, I wonder I could have been guilty of persecuting a man
capable of such generous conduct," exclaimed Lord Reginald.
"Again I say, my lord, don't talk about it," answered Dick, observing
that Lord Reginald was becoming too much agitated. "I trust in a short
time that you will be well enough to say what you think fit; but I want
you to understand that not a particle of ill feeling, to the best of my
belief, remains in my heart."
"I must say what I have got to say, or I may never have an opportunity,"
replied Lord Reginald; "for what I can tell I may not have another
interval of reason. I wish to assure you that I die at peace with you,
and pray for forgiveness from all I have ever ill treated. When I am
gone, cut off a lock of my hair, and if you ever reach home give it to
my mother, and tell her that one of my greatest regrets was not being
able to see her and my brothers and sisters again, and confessing to my
father that I had attempted to misrepresent you to him. Again, I ask,
can you forgive me?" and Lord Reginald stretched out his emaciated hands
towards Dick, who gave his in return, as he answered--
"Yes, yes, indeed I do, most heartily." As Lord Reginald grasped his
hand, he pressed it to his lips, and burst into tears.
Dick felt a choking sensation, such as he had never before experienced,
and turned away from a delicacy of feeling, lest Lord Reginald should be
ashamed of the agitation he was exhibiting. He felt also very anxious
to calm the mind of his patient, who in his weak state was ill able to
undergo any excitement.
For a long time after this the poor young lord was unable to rise from
his cot, but every day Dick observed a change for the better, it being a
good sign that he evidently enjoyed the food provided for him.
Dick had now to leave him for a much longer time than before to the care
of Neptune, who never quitted his master's side during his absence.
One night, after his day's work was over, Dick had wandered down to the
sea-shore, with a thick stick in his hand, which he usually carried to
defend himself, should he encounter any savage beasts, as he thought
that such might possibly exist, though he had not hitherto seen them.
As he approached the beach, he caught sight on the white sand of some
dark objects, which were crawling up slowly from the sea. Though he had
never before seen any, he at once guessed that they were turtles. He
remained concealed, so as to allow them, without being frightened, to
reach the upper part of the beach, where they began scratching away and
depositing their eggs.
"We shall have food enough now, without diminishing the stock of wild
animals on shore," thought Dick. "Those are just the things to do Lord
Reginald good. If we have to make a voyage, we can lay in a good store
of them."
He wisely waited until a number of turtles had deposited their eggs in
the sand, then rushing from his place of concealment, he turned over
half a dozen on their backs, thus effectually preventing them from
making their escape. Then, seizing one by the hind legs, he dragged it
up towards his hut, when he killed it. Lord Reginald was still awake.
He ran in and told him the good news.
"I wish that I could get up and help you, Hargrave," was the answer.
"Do not think of it, my lord," said Dick. "I can manage them by
myself," and away he again started, and dragged up in succession the
remainder of his captives. These, however, he did not kill. He
determined, if possible, to keep them alive until the flesh of the first
was consumed. They might exist on their backs, he knew, for a
considerable time, but he rightly feared that the heat would kill them,
unless he could bring up a sufficient quantity of water to pour over
them. This would be a severe task, and it appeared to him that the best
thing he could do would be to build a pen, and enclose these and any
others he might catch on subsequent nights. He accordingly at once, as
the moon was bright, set about carrying out his intention. By actively
plying his axe, he cut down a number of thick stakes, which he drove
into the sand just above high-water mark, so that by digging a channel
he might let the sea in at every high tide. As he had abundance of
rope, he lashed some cross bars along the sides, so as to keep the
stakes firm. He saw there was no necessity for putting the
perpendicular stakes close together, as the turtles were upwards of two
feet across, and could not manage to get through a less space. In a
couple of hours he had finished his task, and dragging back the turtles
he allowed them to crawl about in their natural position. He waited
until the next morning to roof in his pen, which was necessary, he saw,
for the sake of keeping the turtles cool.
"You have worked hard, my dear Hargrave," said Lord Reginald, when he
returned. "I should not have thought of attempting the task until
to-morrow morning. It would have taken me the whole day, or probably
longer. As soon as I am well, you must teach me how to use your tools,
and let me help you, for I have no desire to eat the bread of idleness."
"I have been accustomed to carpentering since I was a boy, so that what
your lordship would find difficult would prove easy to me," answered
Dick; "but I should be very thankful if your lordship will think fit to
work at the canoe which I thought of building before you were taken ill.
I haven't seen a single vessel pass since we have been here, and
perhaps none will come near us for many months to come. We might find
it necessary to quit the island to rejoin our ship or to get on board
some other vessel. In the mean time we may use our boat to go out
fishing, and thus obtain a change of diet."
"A boat! Do you really mean to say that you could build a boat?" asked
Lord Reginald in a tone of surprise.
"I intend to try and do so, for though I have never actually built one,
I have assisted in repairing several, and know how they are put
together," answered Dick, and he then explained the character of the
craft he proposed to build. "My idea is, that when your lordship can
take a part in the work, we may build one large enough to carry us to
Batavia, or to one of the other places of which the English have of late
taken possession."
"I really don't know that you ought to count much on my help, though
I'll do my best," said Lord Reginald; "but the idea is a capital one,
and I long to get well to be able to help you. But you must be pretty
tired by this time, and you ought to lie down and get some sleep. I
feel ashamed of keeping you so long out of your cot."
"Thank you, my lord. If I thought it worth while I would soon make
another for myself; but my bed is as comfortable as I want, and I beg
you will not think I miss the cot," was the answer.
Dick awoke early, and found Lord Reginald sleeping soundly and calmly.
As he watched him he began to hope that he might recover, and he knelt
down and prayed that he might be made the instrument of restoring him to
health.
His patient gave no sign of waking. Dick, having first made up his fire
ready for cooking breakfast, went down to the shore, to see how the
turtles had behaved in their pen. He found to his satisfaction that
although they had turned up the sand, they had not escaped. He at once
cut a number of boughs to place over the top and the upper part of the
eastern side, so as to shade them from the heat of the sun, which rose
before he had completed his task. He then returned, and looking into
his hut, found that his companion was still sleeping.
He now set to work to cut up the turtle, and to cook some of it for
breakfast. He felt very doubtful as to how this should be done, but
thought he should be safe in putting some on to stew, and in carving
some cutlets, which he placed before the fire to cook, as he had done
the venison. He also kneaded some cakes as thin and delicate-looking as
he could make them. This done, he entered the hut, when he found Lord
Reginald sitting up in his cot.
"I should much wish, Hargrave, to get up and wash my hands and face, but
I feel so weak that I am afraid I could not accomplish it alone. May I
venture to ask you to assist me?" he said, in a hesitating tone.
"My lord, I should be delighted to help you; but I am sure you had
better not make the attempt. I'll get some water. I have a piece of
cloth which will serve as a towel, and as I have a comb which I found in
the carpenter's chest, I will, if you will let me, comb out your hair,
and try and make you comfortable."
"Thank you, thank you," answered Lord Reginald; "but I feel ashamed of
giving you trouble."
Dick smiled, and, going out, returned with a large clam-shell, which
made an excellent basin, filled with water. Lord Reginald in vain made
the attempt to wash his face. Dick, placing the shell before him,
performed the office, and having washed his hands and combed his hair,
with as much care as his mother might have done, the young lord repeated
his thanks, and assured Dick he felt quite another being.
"I hope you will feel still better," said Dick, producing several
clam-shells, one containing several nicely cooked cakes, another some
turtle cutlets, a third some stewed turtle, while a fourth was full of
the several fruits he had gathered. "I have cooked a variety of dishes;
but after your illness your lordship may fancy one more than another.
Just tell me what you like best, and I will try and prepare it for you."
"Thank you, Hargrave; I feel as if I could eat a whole turtle, or a deer
for that matter," answered Lord Reginald, laughing in a way which
greatly cheered Dick's spirits. However, on making the attempt, Lord
Reginald found that a very small quantity satisfied him, and Dick did
not press him to eat more.
Every day after this he made rapid progress, though Dick would not allow
him for some time to get up or do anything for himself. In the mean
time, Dick dug out of the sand a number of turtles' eggs, which he hung
up in bags in a cool place in the shade, hoping thus to preserve them.
He also caught several more turtles, which he turned into his pen. He
was never idle, sometimes working in his garden, in which he had planted
a number of seeds, some evidently of melons and pumpkins, from which he
hoped in a short time to obtain fruit. Of the nature of others he was
not acquainted, but he had little doubt that they would prove useful in
some way or other. Outside the hut he had built a storehouse, in which
he placed all the articles which had been cast on shore.
He had one morning taken his crossbow and gone out before sunrise in the
hopes of killing a deer or some birds, that he might afford a variety of
diet to Lord Reginald, knowing that such would contribute greatly to
restore his strength. The deer, however, were too wild, and he was led
further from home than he intended. At last, in despair of killing one,
he looked out for some of the feathered tribe, and succeeded in knocking
over a couple of white cockatoos and a green pigeon, with which he
hurried back to the hut. On his return, he was greatly surprised to see
Lord Reginald not only dressed, but employing himself in preparing
breakfast.
"I am sorry, my lord, that I was not back earlier," exclaimed Dick,
"that I might have helped you to dress."
"I regret that you should have had so long to undertake a task which I
ought to have performed myself, had I been able. Do not speak about it,
my kind Hargrave," answered Lord Reginald, smiling. "I feel myself
bound to take an equal share in all the work we have got to do. You
have hitherto toiled for me, and it is now my business to work for you.
Just tell me what you want done, and I will do it to the best of my
power."
"Pray don't talk in that way, my lord," said Dick. "I wish that you
knew how much pleasure I feel in serving you."
"I am sure of that; but once for all, Hargrave, I want you to understand
that while we remain on this island I am `Reginald' or `Oswald,' and you
are `Hargrave,' the better man of the two. Don't `My lord' me any more.
I am not worthy of it. That sort of style may do very well in Old
England, or on board a man-of-war, though my messmates there treated me
as an equal, and took good care to make me feel that I was one, too.
Will you accept my services, and let me work under your orders?"
"I cannot refuse you anything," answered Dick; "but until you are as
strong and hearty as I am, you must let me work for you, and not knock
yourself up by attempting tasks for which you have not the strength."
"Well, well, my dear Hargrave, we understand each other, and while we
are talking the turtle and cakes are getting cold."
Dick at last, getting Lord Reginald to sit down on one of the
three-legged stools he had made, placed the breakfast on the table.
"There is one thing you are not provided with, Hargrave, that is tea and
sugar," observed Lord Reginald; "but perhaps we may find some
substitute. Coffee grows in these latitudes, and very likely we may
find sugar-cane in some part of the island."
"I saw some pods full of seeds, looking in shape _very_ much like coffee
berries, only they were white," said Dick.
"That was because they were unroasted," answered Lord Reginald. "I
should not be surprised if those seeds were really coffee berries, and
if so we shall soon have something to drink instead of this nectar, of
which I confess I am beginning to get very tired, delicious as it tasted
while I was suffering from fever."
Dick sighed as he thought, "Perhaps the young lord will get tired of
other things, as also of my society, when he regains his strength."
His companion looked at him, but made no remark. "What about the boat
you propose building?" asked Lord Reginald, when breakfast was over.
"Could not we begin on that? And if you will show me how I can best
help you, we will lose no time."
"I am very sure your lordship--I beg your pardon--you are not strong
enough to do any heavy work," answered Dick, "especially in the sun. I
must first make you a hat such as I wear, which will help to guard your
head, and we will then, in the cool of the evening, begin work. We must
first strip off the bark from the outside, then cut away the angles at
the bows and stern. By-the-by, I have just remembered finding some
books in an officer's chest, and though I cannot read them, as they are
in French, they may amuse you while I am at work."
"That is fortunate," exclaimed Lord Reginald. "Pray get the books, and
let me have a look at them. I shall be very glad to read while you are
at work, if you still insist on my not helping you."
Dick hurried out to his store-room, and soon returned with several
volumes. Two were on navigation, another on astronomy, and a fourth on
natural history; but Lord Reginald found that the others were not such
as were likely to prove edifying either to himself or Dick. He first
took up one, and glancing over its pages, said, "Throw that into the
fire." A second and a third were treated in the same way. He looked at
the last more carefully, but finished by saying, "Let that go, too. I
am very sure that it will be better not to read at all than to fill our
minds with the evil thoughts such works as these are likely to create.
I should at one time have been amused, and considered that there was no
harm in perusing such tales. After being so mercifully preserved, I
look at matters in a very different light. I am sure that allowing our
minds to dwell on any such subjects as those books contained, is
offensive to a pure and holy God. What would I not give for some really
well-written books, and more than anything for a Bible, which, after
all, as I have often heard my mother say, is the Book of books."
"I have heard my mother say the same," observed Dick. "I am very
thankful that you have put the temptation out of our way."
"What else did you find in the chest?" asked Lord Reginald.
"Some nautical instruments, which, although they are French, I dare say
you know how to use," said Dick. "And,--how stupid I was not to think
of it before!--some shirts and waistcoats and other articles of dress.
I must get you to put them on at once, while I wash out your own linen:
they will add much to your comfort, and though they may be damp, the sun
will soon dry them." Dick immediately hung out the French officers'
clothing, and then brought a clam-shell, larger than an ordinary
foot-tub, full of water, that Lord Reginald might enjoy a bath, which he
had hitherto been afraid of taking.
"I feel quite like a new man!" exclaimed the young lord, after he had
dressed himself. "If you will not let me work to-day, I hope by
to-morrow to show that I can do something. It won't be for the want of
will if I don't succeed."
Dick, who had before this gone out, had returned with a supply of palm
leaves, and sat down to make a hat, while Lord Reginald opened one of
the books, and with considerable fluency translated a portion of its
contents. Dick listened attentively while he plaited away at the hat,
stopping every now and then to ask for an explanation.
"I am glad to see you take interest in the subject," said Lord Reginald,
"and if we continue it, I shall not only improve myself, but be able to
give you a good notion of navigation. The instruments, which are the
same as we use, will help us, and in a short time you will become as
good a navigator as I am, as this book is evidently a capital one."
Dick looked up and smiled. "You see, you can instruct me in some
things, as well as I can teach you how to handle a saw or a plane."
"All right!" said Lord Reginald, laughing; "so much the better; we are
quits, as I said."
Dick was longer than he otherwise might have been in making the hat.
When it was finished, his companion declared that it was capital, and
that it would thoroughly defend his head from the rays of the sun. Dick
had made the top very thick, while the sides were strong and light, with
openings all round, which allowed of ample ventilation. He then
insisted on Lord Reginald lying down while he went out to attend to his
turtle-pens and garden, and to prepare a large saw to use on the boat.
In the evening Lord Reginald declared that he felt quite able to
commence work.
"I don't want to hinder you," said Dick; "but I am afraid that you will
find your strength not equal to the task."
Lord Reginald, however, insisted on trying, and Dick, notching the wood,
fixed the saw ready for work, he taking one end and Lord Reginald the
other, but before the latter had pulled it backwards and forwards a
dozen times he had to confess that he could not go on, and sat down
completely exhausted. Dick instantly ran and got some broth he had
prepared for supper. Though the young lord revived after he had
swallowed some of it, Dick insisted that he should not again make the
attempt, and persuaded him to sit down in the shade, while he, with his
axe, began stripping off the bark.
Dick pursued the plan followed by boys when cutting out a model boat.
He first carefully planed the upper surface, using a level, until he was
satisfied that it was perfectly even. He then began pencilling out the
form of the upper works, so that both sides might be exactly even,
avoiding the risk of making the boat lop-sided.
"You seem to me, Hargrave, to bestow a great deal of pains on the work
you are about," observed Lord Reginald. "You will have to scoop out the
whole centre part; what can be the use of polishing it down in that
fashion?"
"If I don't do that I may run the chance of not having the sides even,"
answered Dick. "Now, all we have got to do, when we have formed the
upper part, will be to turn it over, so that the log may lay quite flat,
and, with the aid of some forms which I propose making, shape out the
two sides. Though by using the forms we shall take longer than if we
did without them, it will be better than trusting only to the eye."
Before dark Dick had made some progress, but as he could not expect much
help from Lord Reginald for some days, he determined in the mean time to
prepare the wood which he would require for the gunwale, and also the
forms. For the latter purpose he used some flat boards, which, as the
canoe was four feet wide, required only to be a little more than two
feet broad. This latter work he was able to carry on indoors during the
evening, while Lord Reginald assisted him in drawing out the plan. They
agreed that it was important to give the boat a flat floor, though she
might be made more seaworthy by having a deep keel, which could be
easily bolted on.
Before they lay down to rest that night, they had in their minds' eye
completed the craft. Dick saw Lord Reginald busily drawing on a blank
page in one of the books.
"There, Hargrave; that's what our craft will be like," he said, when he
had finished, handing him the paper. "You see, I give her three lugs,
with a flying main-topsail, so that we can carry plenty of sail, if
required, or get her quickly under snug canvas. By raising the gunwale
two feet all round, and decking over the fore and after ends, we shall
have plenty of room to stow away our provisions, and be able to go
through a pretty heavy sea. She'll be a fine craft, depend upon that,
and I shall feel quite proud when we run alongside the old _Wolf_ and
hail her, to ask `What ship is that?' as if we didn't know her."
"I am afraid it will be many a long day before we get the boat to look
like that," observed Dick. "Digging her out will be a tedious business,
I suspect, and it will take a considerable time, after the lower part of
the hull is finished, to raise the gunwale and put on the deck. Then,
remember, we have to fit her with outriggers, which we must make as
strong as possible, or they may chance to be carried away."
"Oh, you don't know how hard I shall work when I once begin," answered
Lord Reginald. "I can fancy myself already chopping and sawing and
chiselling away under your directions, for I shall leave all the more
delicate work to you, though, as I improve, I may be able to help you in
that also."
Notwithstanding Lord Reginald's eagerness to begin, Dick saw the next
day that he was far too weak to do any work out of doors. He could sit
only in the shade, with a book in his hand, or watching him as he
laboured at the bench.
"Why, Hargrave, you ought to have been rated as one of the carpenter's
crew, for you work as well as the best of them could do. However, I
hope, when we return on board the frigate, that you may have a far
higher rating than that. You will have learned navigation by that
time."
"I'm afraid that will not be of much use to a man before the mast,"
observed Dick.
"But, my dear Hargrave, I hope you won't always remain before the mast,"
answered Lord Reginald.
"I don't see any chance of my ever being anywhere else; and pray do not
raise my expectations, as I should never have thought myself of being
promoted, except some day, perhaps, after I have more experience, I may
become a warrant officer," said Dick.
"Well, well, perhaps I ought not to have spoken of my own hopes and
wishes," replied Lord Reginald. "I let out a thought which has been in
my head for some days, and I would on no account try to raise hopes
which may never be realised."
Eager as Dick was to work at the boat, he was compelled to make
excursions in search of game, and he seldom returned without two or
three birds or a small deer. Besides opossums, he had occasionally
caught sight of a tiger-cat, which, however, was not of a size to make
him fear that it would venture to attack him, savage as it appeared
while climbing a tree or leaping from bough to bough. Though he had no
wish to interfere with the tiger-cat, he had a great fancy for catching
some of the pigs which scampered about beneath the trees, picking up
fruits and nuts, and digging for roots. His bolts, though capable of
penetrating the more delicate skin of the deer, glanced off the thick
hide of the pigs. He bethought him, therefore, after watching their
runs, that he would make a pitfall in which some might be caught without
difficulty. Finding the ground tolerably soft, he set to work
immediately with a wooden spade, and dug a hole four feet square and the
same in depth, which he covered over carefully with bushes and earth.
His success was greater than he expected, for the very next day, on
visiting the pit, he found two fat porkers grunting away at the bottom,
and tumbling over each other, in vain endeavouring to extricate
themselves from their prison. Running back to the hut for a rope, he
managed to get it with a slip-knot over the hinder leg of one of the
pigs, which he quickly hauled out. He took the precaution of having a
thick pointed stick in readiness, should the pig attempt to charge him.
At first the animal lay on the ground, astonished at the unusual
treatment it was receiving. Dick then getting his stick ready in one
hand and the rope in the other, gave a pull away from the hut. The pig
instantly jumped up and dashed off at full speed, in the direction Dick
wanted it to go. He followed, laughing, every now and then giving a
pull at the rope, which he kept as tight as he could, at the same time
holding his stick ready for his defence. With loud squeaks and angry
grunts, on it rushed towards Lord Reginald, who was quietly reading,
seated on the ground in the shade, while Dick shouted and laughed in
addition. The noise aroused the young lord, who started up with looks
of astonishment in his countenance. He was just in time to leap out of
the way, when the pig charged full at the spot where he had been
sitting, Dick being only just able to check the brute's progress, but he
managed to bring it up by making the rope fast round small tree which
came in his way. No sooner was the pig thus brought to a stand, than,
looking round, it espied its captor, who, however, springing back,
avoided the onslaught. The pig, after making several strenuous efforts
to escape, grunting and squeaking terrifically all the time, exhausted
by its exertions, lay down, with its keen eyes watching for an
opportunity of revenging itself.
"I say, Hargrave, I might try my hand at building a pig-sty," said Lord
Reginald. "I doubt that I am capable of any higher style of
architecture, but I think I can accomplish that."
"At first it occurred to me that we might build one," answered Dick;
"but I now think that it would occupy too much of our time, as it must
be a very different style of structure to our turtle-pen. This fellow
would soon knock down any building, unless very strongly put up. I
should be sorry to see your lordship engaged in such work."
"`Your lordship,' you should say, `is not capable of so stupendous an
undertaking,'" remarked Lord Reginald, laughing. "But I say, Hargrave,
you are forgetting our compact. Call me `Reginald' or `Oswald,' which
you please."
"I beg pardon," said Dick; "but if this fellow cannot be taught to
behave himself, the sooner we turn him into bacon the better, and we can
keep his companion in the pit until we want him to undergo the same
process."
As the boat was now really begun, their work could be carried on without
interruption. Dick, the next day, took another excursion in search of
the coffee berries he had seen, as well as of any other vegetable
productions of the island. After searching for some time at the further
end of the island, he discovered the pods he had before seen, which were
now completely ripe. Examining them carefully, he was convinced that
they were coffee berries. He accordingly collected as many as he could
put in the sack he had brought, thankful that they would afford a useful
and agreeable beverage to his companion. A short time afterwards, he
came upon a wilderness of canes, which he had before mistaken for
bamboo, and on tasting them, he was convinced that they were sugarcanes,
probably the remains of a plantation, long ago deserted. He cut a
bundle, hoping that he and Lord Reginald might design some plan for
extracting the juice and turning it into sugar. He was about to set off
with his burden--a pretty heavy one--when to his astonishment, and no
small dismay, he felt the ground shake beneath his feet. This unusual
circumstance was followed almost immediately afterwards by a deep hollow
sound, and on looking up, he saw, in the direction of the cave dense
masses of smoke issuing forth, followed by lurid flames, while several
streams of lava began to flow down the hill. As the lava, however, took
a course towards the sea, in an opposite direction to where he was
standing, he watched for some moments the eruption, instead, as some
people might have done, throwing down his load and running away from the
neighbourhood. Satisfied, at length, that it was not increasing, he
turned his steps homewards. He found Lord Reginald, who had felt the
earthquake, and had been watching the volcano in activity, very anxious
about him.
"I am thankful to see you back, Hargrave," he said. "Though no harm has
happened, one thing is certain, that it will be wise in us to try and
get our boat finished as soon as possible, so that, should the hill have
another blow up, we may make our escape."
"I hope that matters will not come to such a pitch as to drive us off
the island," answered Dick; "but if you are well enough to-morrow, we
will begin work in earnest."
"I am well enough to begin it at once," was the answer. "What have you
got there?"
Dick showed the contents of his sack.
"Coffee berries, to a certainty," said Lord Reginald, tasting one of
them. "All we have now to do is to roast and grind them. I am capable
of doing that, at all events, and now let me taste one of those canes?
Sugar, no doubt of it. Why, if that burning mountain doesn't drive us
away, we may live on here in luxury for months to come."
"I shall be glad enough to remain, and never was so happy in my life,"
answered Dick, who spoke from his heart. "I am very glad to hear it,
Hargrave. I may say the same for myself, and I really think that I
shall be sorry when the life we are now leading comes to an end."