By the time that our fair guest had been on board a week or ten days,
she had put me in possession of probably every circumstance of
importance which had occurred in her past history, and had also touched
lightly upon her future, which, notwithstanding the natural buoyancy of
her temperament, she seemed to regard with considerable apprehension.
It appeared that, in the first place, she had but a very imperfect idea
as to the whereabouts of her relatives in England. She knew that her
grandfather had a place somewhere down in Leicestershire, and she
thought he also had a house in town; but, as her mother had never heard
from him since her marriage, Ella had been utterly unable to find any
clue to the old gentleman's address, after a most thorough search
through such papers belonging to her parents as had fallen into her
hands after her father's death.
Then, bearing in mind many conversations between her parents which had
occurred in her presence, she felt the gravest doubt as to whether any
of her relatives, when found, would even condescend so far as to
acknowledge her as a relative, much less assist her in any way. She
inclined to the opinion that they would not, and there were many
circumstances to justify this sentiment, notably one which had occurred
a short time previous to the departure of her parents from England.
Her father was at the time suffering from nervous debility and severe
mental depression, the result of over-work and incessant anxiety; and to
such a deplorable condition was he reduced that, for a considerable
time, he was completely incapacitated for work of any kind.
The family resources dwindled to a low ebb, the process being materially
hastened by heavy doctors' bills and other expenses connected with Mr
Brand's condition, and the wife and mother found herself almost at her
wit's-end to provide necessaries for her husband and child, utterly
forgetful of herself all the time. At last, in sheer desperation, she
wrote to her father describing her position, and entreating that
assistance which he could so bountifully bestow--and her letter remained
unanswered. She then wrote to her mother, and this time the letter was
returned unopened.
She then tried her two brothers in succession, and finally her sister,
and all her attempts to communicate with these unnatural relatives were
treated with the same cold-blooded silence. Matters would soon have
gone hard indeed with the Brand family had not a former suitor of Mrs
Brand's (who had been rejected in favour of the man she afterwards took
for her husband) chivalrously come forward at this juncture, not only
relieving their immediate necessities, but also using all his influence,
which was potent, to obtain for Mr Brand the appointment which the poor
fellow held until his death.
"And supposing," said I, after listening to this disheartening
recital--"supposing that your relatives will _not_ help you, have you
any plans laid to meet such a contingency? `Hope for the best and
provide for the worst' is a favourite motto of your friend Bob; and I
really think it is singularly applicable in your case."
"No," she replied rather despondently: "no very definite plan, that is.
I am fairly well educated, I believe. Dear mamma was most accomplished,
I have often heard papa say, and she taught me everything she knew. I
speak French, German, and Italian, and seem to have a natural aptitude
for music; and I sketch a little in water-colours. I have all my
materials with me, and a few sketches which I may perhaps be able to
sell when I reach home--I will let you see them some day--and I think I
may perhaps be able to get a situation as governess, or maintain myself
respectably by teaching music and drawing. And then, you know, I am not
absolutely destitute. I have about twenty pounds with me, and I sent
home three hundred, the proceeds of the sale of our furniture, to
England; and some friends of poor papa's in Canton say they are sure he
must have some money invested somewhere, and they have promised to find
out if it really is so, and to realise it for me; and I have given them
the necessary powers to do so; so you see I shall not land in England
actually a beggar."
"God forbid!" I earnestly ejaculated. "With regard to your landing in
England, I ought perhaps to tell you that you must not hope to do so
very soon. We are now in a part of the world quite out of the usual
track of ships, and I fear it may be some time before we shall fall in
with any, and when we do, it is questionable whether they will be quite
the class of vessel you would like to make the voyage home in. My great
hope is that we may soon fall in with a sandalwood trader, in which case
you would have an opportunity of returning to China, and re-shipping
from thence home."
"I hope we shall," she responded; rather dolefully, I thought. "You
have been very good to me, and,"--her eyes welling up with tears--"I
shall never forget you; but I know my presence must be a great
inconvenience and embarrassment to you."
"Pray stop!" I interrupted. "You are under the greatest
misapprehension if you suppose your presence on board the _Water Lily_
is any other than a source of the most unqualified gratification to her
crew. You are evidently quite ignorant of the beneficent influences of
your presence here, or you would never have spoken of it as an
inconvenience. Your departure will occasion us the keenest regret
whenever it takes place, and were it not that our cramped accommodations
must occasion you very considerable discomfort, I should rejoice at
almost any circumstance which would necessitate your remaining with us
for the rest of the voyage."
"Do you really mean it?" she exclaimed, her sweet face brightening up at
once. "Oh, I am _so_ glad! Do you know I have thought your anxiety to
meet with a ship arose from my being in your way, and troublesome. And
you are really willing to let me remain, and go home with you? How very
kind it is of you! I will be quite good, and do whatever you tell me;
and, indeed, I will not cause you the least bit of trouble. And,"--her
face clouding over again for a moment--"I so dread arriving in England
an utter stranger, and having to search, quite unassisted, for
grandpapa; and it would be _so_ dreadful if he were to turn me away from
his doors. And I should feel, oh! miserably friendless and lonely if I
had really to go about from place to place seeking for a situation, or
trying to get pupils. But if you will let me stay here and go home with
you, I shall not feel it so much, for I am sure you will help me in my
search for my friends; and it is so delightful,"--brightening up
again--"to be dancing over this bright, sparkling sea day after day, in
this dear little yacht, and to see the kind faces of that darling old
original Bob and--and--and--the kitten."
"And the fowls," I suggested demurely. "But, in electing to remain on
board the _Water Lily_, you must bear in mind, my dear Miss Brand, that
it is not always with us as it is at present. Just now we are fortunate
in the enjoyment of a fair wind and smooth sea, but we have been exposed
to many dangers since we left England, and it is only reasonable to
suppose we shall have to encounter many more before we return; and if
you went home in a larger vessel, if you did not escape them altogether,
they would probably bring less discomfort in their train than they will
here."
"What would you advise me to do?" she asked, looking ruefully up into my
face.
"Well," I replied, "since you ask me, my advice is this. If we fall in
with a comfortable ship, bound to England, or to any port whence you can
trans-ship for England, go in her; if the ship is _not_ comfortable, and
it comes to a choice of inconveniences, you can be guided by your own
judgment, but do not leave us until you are sure of gaining some
advantage by the change."
So it was settled. That same afternoon, as I was lying down on the
lockers in our little cabin aft, I overheard the following conversation
on deck, between Bob and Ella.
"Bob," said Ella (she soon dropped the Mr in his case, but it was still
"Mr Collingwood" to me)--"Bob, are we likely to meet any ships very
soon, do you think?"
"Ships!" echoed Bob, in consternation; "no, missie, I hopes not. You
surely ain't tired of the little _Lily_ yet, are ye?"
"No, indeed," replied Ella; "and I hope you are not tired of _me_. Tell
me, Bob, am I very much trouble here, or very much in the way?"
"_Trouble! in the way_!!" repeated Bob; "Well, I'm--"--then a strong
inspiration between the teeth, as though to draw back the forcible
expression quivering on his lips--"but there, it's because you don't
know what you're sayin' of, that you talks that a-way. What put that
notion into your pretty little head?"
"Harry--Mr Collingwood, I mean--seems anxious that I should go home in
some other vessel," Ella replied, dolefully.
"Well, now, that's news, that is," answered Bob. "Since when has he
taken that idee into his head?"
"We were talking about it this morning," said Ella; "and he said it
would be more dangerous for me to go home in the _Water Lily_ than in a
large ship. _Is_ the _Water Lily_ dangerous, Bob?"
"Dangerous!" exclaimed Bob, in a tone of angry scorn. "Was she
dangerous in that blow off the Horn, when a big ship capsized and went
down with all hands, close alongside of us? Was she dangerous when we
had that bit of a brush with the pirates? If she hadn't been the little
beauty that she is, she'd ha' gone down in the gale and a'terwards ha'
been made a prize of by the cut-throats." (Bob, in his angry
vindication of the cutter's character, was wholly oblivious of the
"bull" he had perpetrated, and Ella seemed too much interested to notice
it.) "Dangerous! why, what's the boy thinking about, to take away the
little barkie's character that a-way?"
"I wish, Bob, you would not keep calling Ha--, Mr Collingwood, a _boy_;
he is quite as much a man as you are, though of course not so old. I
don't like--I don't think it sounds respectful," exclaimed Ella rather
petulantly.
"Not call him a boy?" echoed Bob; "why, what _should_ I call him then,
missie? In course, now you comes to mention it, I knows as he _is_ a
man, and an uncommon fine speciment too; but, Lord, when I knowed him
fust he was quite a dapper young sprig; and it comes nat'ral-like to
speak of him as a boy. Hows'ever," continued he apologetically, "in
course, since you don't like it, I won't call him a boy no more. What
_shall_ I call him, so please your ladyship?"
"Now you are laughing at me, you horrid old creature," said Ella, with a
little stamp of passion upon the deck; "and I never said I did not like
it; I merely said that it did not sound respectful. Why do you not call
him captain?"
"Why not, indeed?" answered Bob. "He's got as good a right to be called
`skipper' as e'er a man as ever walked a deck; and dash my old wig if I
ain't a good mind to do it, too; my eyes! how he would stare. 'Twould
be as good as a pantomime to see him;" and the worthy old fellow
chuckled gleefully as his fancy conjured up the look of surprise which
he knew such a title on his lips would evoke from me.
"I declare," exclaimed Ella, in a tone of great vexation, "you are the
most provoking-- But there, never mind, Bob dear, I do not mean it; you
are very kind to me, and must not take any notice of my foolish
speeches. And so you really think the _Water Lily_ is _not_ dangerous?
Why then should Mr Collingwood wish me to leave her? He told me this
morning that he should be sorry if I did so, and yet he seems unwilling
to let me stay."
"Don't you believe it, little one," I heard Bob answer. "He don't want
ye to go; it's some kind of conscientious scruple as he's got into his
head that makes him talk that a-way. Between you and me,"--here his
voice sank to a kind of confidential growl, but I distinctly heard every
word, nevertheless--"it's my idee that he's got some sort of a notion as
we may yet fall in with that infarnal _Albatross_ ag'in; but, if we do,
we've got chances of getting away from the chap that large ships
haven't; and for my part, if I must be in their blackguard
neighbourhood, I'd a deal rather be in the _Lily_ than in a large ship.
Their best chance of getting the weather-gauge of _us_ is by surprise;
but in a little barkie like this here we larns the knack of sleeping
with one eye open, and they'll have to be oncommon 'cute that surprises
us."
"Oh!" exclaimed Ella, "I hope and pray that we may not see those
wretches; it would be dreadful beyond description to fall into their
hands. Do you think Mr Collingwood would send me away if I said I did
not want to go?"
"Not he, dearie," answered Bob; "why, can't ye see that he-- But there,
I mustn't tell tales out of school. If we gets a _good_ chance, perhaps
it _might_ be as well for ye to take advantage of it; but we ain't going
to get it, so I lives in hopes of having your sweet face to brighten us
up for the rest of this here v'yage. But it's eight bells, and time to
rouse the `skipper,' so just step down, dearie, will ye, and give him a
call."
Why he should send Ella to call me when he had a voice capable of making
the little craft's whole interior ring again, I could not imagine; but
as her light step touched the ladder I closed my eyes, feeling somehow
that I would rather the sweet little thing should not know I had
overheard the conversation just past.
I had scarcely composed my features when she stood beside me. I had the
feeling that she was stooping over me, and I certainly felt her warm
breath upon my face for an instant; then she seemed to draw back again,
and I heard a soft whisper of "Harry." Then there came a light touch
upon my arm, and she said, much louder, "Mr Collingwood, it is eight
bells."
"Ay, ay," I answered, rubbing my eyes. Then I started to my feet, but
the little fairy had gone fluttering away forward, so I took my sextant
and went on deck. In a minute or two she reappeared, and, seeing me
with the sextant in my hand, opened the chronometer and got the slate,
in readiness for taking the time.
I obtained three most excellent sights, and from them worked up my
longitude. I had obtained an accurate observation for my latitude at
noon, and, on going below and laying off our position on the chart, I
had the satisfaction of seeing that we were drawing well in with the
islands, and that, if the breeze lasted, we should be fairly within the
group by evening next day.
When I announced this intelligence to my companions, they were both
delighted, Ella especially, she having seen no land since leaving the
Sandwich Islands, which, she declared, was "_ages_ ago." The last land
we had seen was Staten Island, though we caught the _loom_ of land, or
thought we did, when about abreast of the western end of Magellan
Straits.
We were all longing for a run ashore; and, as I had resolved to
thoroughly search the group, from end to end if need be, for traces of
my father, I decided that we would commence with the eastern end,
examining every island which in the slightest degree answered to the
description given us of the spot on which the _Amazon_ had been cast
away.
Our little lady guest spent much of her time on deck--sitting in a deck-
chair, within easy conversational range of whichever had the tiller; and
she favoured me with her company during the whole of the first watch (it
being my eight hours out that night); but she was unusually silent
gazing in an absent, dreamy manner for the most of the time, far away
over the tranquil starlit sea, and softly humming a bar or two of some
of her favourite songs occasionally. I made one or two attempts to draw
her into conversation, fearing she was in low spirits, but she answered
at random and in monosyllables; and, seeing after a while that I had no
chance, I gave it up.
The next morning, when Bob came on deck to wash down, I said:
"Bob, what is the matter with Miss Brand? have you any idea?"
He looked curiously at me for a moment, and then said:
"Matter? Nothing, as I knows on. What _should_ be the matter with the
little dearie?"
"Nothing _should_ be the matter with her," I answered, rather tartly
perhaps; "but she seemed unusually silent and unlike herself last night:
and, as you seem pretty deep in her confidence, I thought you might know
the cause."
"Ay, ay," he returned; "she _do_ speak pretty free to me, I'll allow;
which I accounts for by my being an old man--at least, _she_ seems to
think me so, if I may judge by what she said yesterday; and as to
knowing the cause of her being out of sorts like, perhaps I do, and
perhaps I don't. I has my suspicions, and pretty strong ones they be,
too; but it ain't for the likes of me to say a word. Axe no questions,
Harry, my lad, but just leave things to work theirselves out; she'll be
all right again shortly, you take my word for it."
"Is she ill, do you think, Bob?" I inquired in some anxiety.
"Ill? do she look like it?" queried he with a loud laugh. "No, no,
she's well enough; but women's most oncommon difficult to understand,
boy; and the only way is to let 'em alone and take no notice when they
seems queer. Now, don't axe me no questions, for I don't know anything
about it, and what I _guess_ I ain't going to tell."
What the old fellow surmised it was quits impossible for me to imagine,
and equally impossible to extract from him, for he was as stubborn as a
mule, and if he made up his mind to a certain course, nothing earthly
had the power of turning him from it; so, with the unpleasant sensation
that there was a mystery somewhere, I was obliged to hold my tongue and
console myself with the reflection that, at all events, it could be
nothing which concerned me personally.
Shortly after the conversation Ella made her appearance at the head of
the companion-ladder, and, bidding us both a cheery "Good-morning,"
summoned me to breakfast.
As soon as the coffee was poured out, and we had fairly commenced the
meal, she said:
"If you ever have any secrets to discuss, Mr Collingwood, I would
advise you to seek some other place than the deck of the _Water Lily_.
You sailors appear to have the habit of talking loudly in the open air,
and I was awakened by your voices this morning, and quite
unintentionally heard much, if not all, of your conversation. I am
sorry that my quiet mood of last night should have given you any
uneasiness, but I hope you will be relieved when I assure you that there
was nothing whatever the matter with me. I am singularly susceptible to
surrounding influences; and the solemn beauty of the night excited
within me a feeling of--not sadness altogether, but of gravity almost
amounting to it, which has now entirely passed away. Your best plan
will be to follow Bob's advice, and take no notice of my varying moods,
for they really have no significance. I have not the least idea what it
is that the worthy fellow suspects as being the matter with me; but,
whatever it is, he is quite mistaken, for I am happy to say I am
perfectly well both in body and mind."
I felt greatly relieved at this explanation, and said so; and Ella, as
though to make up for her silence of the previous night, was rattling
away in a more lively strain than ever, when Bob shouted from the deck,
"Land ho!"
"Where away?" queried I, springing to my feet and leaving my breakfast
unfinished.
"Right ahead, and up among the clouds, by all that's wonderful!"
answered Bob.
I put my head above the companion, and there, sure enough, directly
ahead, and about ten or twelve degrees above the horizon, appeared an
island apparently floating in the air. It was low and, judging from a
small grove of trees which distinctly appeared, of no great extent. I
took the glass, but through it everything presented a wavering
appearance, as though the island and all upon it consisted of an
infinite number of separate and distinct particles, each revolving in a
spiral direction upwards. I called Ella on deck to see the singular
phenomenon, for it was a more perfect example of mirage than I had ever
before witnessed or could have believed possible. As we continued to
gaze upon the curious spectacle, a faint foamy appearance revealed
itself between us and the island, but still in the sky; and about half
an hour afterwards this distinctly took the form of flying spray from
breakers beating upon a reef. The mirage lasted rather more than an
hour, and then faded gradually away.
"How far d'ye reckon that island is away, Harry, lad?" queried Bob, when
we had finished breakfast and were all mustered on deck once more.
"Really," said I, "it is a very difficult matter to decide. By my
reckoning we ought not to see it until about three this afternoon, with
the wind as it is; and I hope we _shall_ see it by that time, so as to
get inside the reef to-night. If it looks very enticing, we will stay
there a few days, and give the little craft an overhaul in hull, spars,
and rigging; and Miss Brand will have an opportunity of getting a few
runs on shore meanwhile, and perhaps a little fruit as a change of
diet."
My reckoning proved correct, for about three o'clock that afternoon, as
I was sitting aft with the tiller-ropes in my hand, I saw the tops of
the cocoa-nut trees appearing above the horizon. As I did not wish to
disturb Bob (not feeling sure of our being able to lie at anchor all
night without a watch), I requested Ella--who, as usual, was _assisting_
to keep the watch on deck--to take the tiller whilst I shortened sail.
The spinnaker and gaff-topsail were got in and rolled up, the spinnaker-
boom run in and topped up, and by the time that eight bells had struck,
and Bob had come on deck, we were near enough to render it necessary to
haul up and look out for a passage through the reef.
At first sight it seemed as though we were not to be permitted to
approach the island, for an unbroken line of heavy surf extended north
and south to a distance of fully nine miles, completely barring our
passing through the eastern side of the reef; and I began to believe
that if a channel existed at all (and I felt sure there must be one
somewhere), it must lie on the western side. However, I did not want to
run to leeward if I could help it, for though the _Lily_, being fore-
and-aft rigged, was better suited to turning to windward in a narrow
passage than any other class of vessel, I did not wish to risk the boat
by the performance of such a hazardous operation, for I had heard that
the channels through these reefs were, some of them, so contracted that
there was positively _no_ room for even a small vessel to tack in many
of the reaches. _So_ I made a bowline in the end of the gaff-topsail
halliards, and went aloft in it, with the intention of remaining there,
if need be, to con the craft in.
We had hauled to the wind on the starboard tack, with our head to the
northward, and the _Water Lily_ was now, with her fore-sheet to
windward, jogging quietly along towards the northern extremity of the
island. I kept a careful watch on the reef close to leeward, but we
traversed its whole extent to the northward without any sign of a
channel revealing itself, so I shouted to Bob to go round and stand to
the southward again.
From my elevated position I was enabled to make a tolerably complete
examination of the island, which exhibited no traces whatever, as far as
I could see, of being inhabited. It appeared to be about six miles in
length by about three in width at the widest part, though its coast-line
was very irregular, and, in some places, I estimated that it was not
much more than half that width.
It trended about north-north-east and south-south-west, and was very
low, no part rising apparently much higher than forty or fifty feet
above the level of the sea; whilst for the most part it did not appear
to be higher than perhaps ten or twelve feet. Vegetation was extremely
luxuriant, a small grove of cocoanuts occupying a very nearly central
position, but on the western side of the island; whilst the remaining
portion was pretty thickly covered with less lofty trees, the ground
being clothed with deliciously fresh green turf, and an endless variety
of shrubs.
A narrow strip of clean white sand bordered the whole island, and
outside of this again extended the placid waters of the lagoon, barely
ruffled by the evening breeze. This lagoon was, as my readers will
probably know, the belt of water which surrounded the island,
intervening between it and the encircling coral reef, on which the heavy
swell expended all its force, without being able to reach and disturb
the still water inside.
We were within a mile and a half of the southern extremity of the
island, when I detected a thin line of unbroken water tortuously
threading its way across the reef, and extending clear into the lagoon.
Its mouth would never have been observed from our deck, or indeed from
the deck of a ship, for the channel entered the reef at an acute angle;
and the surf broke so heavily upon the outside and overlapping ledge
that the foam and spray were carried quite across the narrow opening,
and mingled with the broken water on the opposite side.
But from my elevation I could see that there the channel was, and having
satisfied myself, as we drew down towards it, that it was unbroken, I
decided to run in through it.
Had the _Lily_ been a moderately large vessel or square-rigged, she
could not have been taken through, for there was one point about midway
across the reef where I believed the passage could not exceed thirty
feet in width, and it was at a very awkward bend; and there were so many
sharp _turnings_ (to use a shore phrase) that a square-rigged vessel's
yards could not have been handled rapidly enough to meet her frequent
and quickly succeeding changes of direction. But it was very different
with us.
I directed Bob to haul aft his weather-jib-sheet and lee-fore-sheet,
thus providing for the keeping of one of the head-sails always full, and
to trim his mainsail with a moderately flowing sheet; after which he
might leave the canvas to take care of itself, whilst he gave his
undivided attention to the helm.
This was soon done, and we bore away in the direction I indicated. The
look-out ahead from the deck must have been alarming enough, for great
as was Bob's confidence in my judgment, and steady as were his nerves,
he could not forbear hailing me.
"I hope, Harry," shouted he, "that you're quite sartain about that there
passage. I sees nothing ahead, or anywheres else for that matter, on
either bow but surf; and mind ye, lad, if we but touches _once_, the
little barkie 'll be knocked into match-wood. We may still claw off if
there's any doubt."
"Port, hard!" answered I, too intent on the channel to enter into any
explanation just then. "Steady!"
"Steady!" responded Bob. "You stay close to me, dearie, so's to be
within reach if anything happens, and mind you don't get knocked
overboard with the boom. Ah! all right; I sees the opening."
The _Water Lily_ shot in past the overlapping ledge; and my companions
on deck were treated to a copious shower-bath of spray for a few
seconds, and then we began to feel the shelter of the reef.
We shot along the first reach, and soon approached a sharp elbow.
"Look out on deck!" I shouted; "we are about to jibe; and you, Bob,
stand by to give her the helm smartly. Steady starboard! now starboard
hard! ram the helm down! so, steady! Now port a little! steady again!
luff you may, handsomely; not too close! And now stand by for a half-
board! Luff! let her come up! luff and shake her! so! Now hard up!"
And so on, and so on. Luff, and keep her away; then jibing; now on one
tack, now on another; until, after about ten minutes of most ticklish
navigation, the cutter shot clear of the reef, and glided rapidly over
the smooth water of the lagoon.
Bob let draw his jib-sheet, and we stood away towards the southern
extremity of the island, which we soon rounded; I remaining still aloft
to look out for any sunken rocks that might chance to be lying about.
But the bottom was quite clear, the sand being distinctly visible from
my post at the mast-head.
We were now on the western side of the island, and I observed that the
grove of cocoa-nut trees before referred to stood upon the border of a
pretty little bay, or cove rather, for it was very small; and as this
spot promised very snug anchorage close to the shore, I directed Bob to
steer for it, and then descended to the deck and got the anchor over the
bows in readiness for letting go.
As we drew closer to the land, our sails became partially becalmed under
the lee of the trees and shrubs which densely covered the southern end
of the island, whilst the water was undisturbed by the faintest ripple
save that which streamed away on each side of our sharp bow.
As I stood forward, looking down into the clear transparency of the cool
green depths, I could discern here and there a few large branches of
splendid coral projecting through the sand, with multitudes of
strangely-formed fishes darting round and about them; and in one spot I
observed what appeared to be a small bed of oysters of which I instantly
took the bearings, resolving to pay it a visit and try for a few.
At length we slid gently into our little cove. Bob put his helm down;
the cutter luffed into the wind, and, as soon as her way was deadened
sufficiently, I let run the anchor; after which, with one accord, Bob
and I took off our hats and gave three joyous cheers. It was the first
time we had brought up since leaving Madeira.
We soon had our canvas furled, and, whilst Ella busied herself with the
preparations for tea, Bob and I got our "boat" on deck, and set about
putting her together.
Whilst thus engaged, my companion remarked, "Well, Harry, I must say I
didn't like the looks of things, for a minute or two, whilst we was
running down upon the reef outside; but you piloted us in in capital
style. Did ye happen to think, however, how we're going to get out
ag'in, now that we're here?"
"Certainly I did," replied I. "You surely do not imagine that I would
run in here, without being satisfied beforehand that we could get out
again all right. There was no time for explanation whilst I was aloft;
but, just before I caught sight of the channel through which we entered,
I distinctly saw one on _this_ side of the island, through which we
could have beaten the little craft without much difficulty. It appeared
to have only two reaches, and I think we might have laid up one of them
on the port tack, and the other on the starboard tack; and as to getting
out, it will be a run with the wind free all the way. But what do you
think of our berth?"
"Snug and comfortable as heart could wish," responded he, with an accent
of keen enjoyment; "and I _do_ hope as you'll give us all, and the
little craft, a holiday of a day or two, now we're here. 'Twon't do any
of us any harm; and I really feels as though I could go ashore and lie
down under the shade of them trees all day, and do nothing but just
enj'y the rest and the coolness, and ease my old eyes by looking up at
the beautiful green leaves, with the clear blue sky peeping between 'em
here and there."
I had a very similar feeling; for, though the island had nothing very
specially attractive about it, to us who had looked on nothing but sky
and sea for so long, it appeared but little short of a paradise. So I
very readily acquiesced in his proposal, the more so as I felt that our
health would be very greatly benefited by the change.
By the time that we had our boat put together and hanging astern by her
painter, tea was ready; so, after a comfortable ablution, by way of
bringing the day's work to a close, we all seated ourselves at the small
cabin-table, and discussed our meal with a luxurious enjoyment of the
perfect steadiness of the cutter, and of the absence of all anxiety of
every kind, which was quite a novelty. We finished the meal by
lamplight, and then adjourned to the deck, where, as was our regular
custom, Bob and I smoked our evening pipes.
Those only who have endured the monotony of a long sea-voyage can
understand the pleasure with which we regarded our surroundings, and
compared them with those of many an evening past. The night had
completely closed in, and the deep, unclouded purple vault above was
thickly studded with stars, which, unlike those in the northern
hemisphere, instead of _glittering_ spark-like and cold, beamed with the
deep, mellow lustre of the softest lamps, each being clearly reflected
in the mirror-like surface of the unruffled lagoon.
We were, as I believe I have said before, on the western or lee-side of
the island, so completely sheltered from the wind by the thick-
clustering trees and shrubs which covered its surface, that only the
faintest zephyr could approach us, though it swept briskly through the
topmost branches of the cocoa-nuts, gently agitating their leaves, and
producing a soft rustling sound, above which the loud roar of the surf
beating on the reef to windward could be distinctly heard. Mingling
with this, there issued from the shore a continuous chirping and singing
from innumerable multitudes of insects, which, swelling shrill and high,
merged into one vast wave of sound, which completely filled the air.
Tens of thousands of fire-flies flitted to and fro, their tiny sparks
gleaming brilliantly against the dark background of dense foliage; and,
if we looked over the side for a moment, we saw the deep obscurity of
the tranquil ocean constantly flashing into sudden brightness, as a long
trail of pale phosphorescent sparks, or a momentary halo, betrayed the
movement of some finny denizen of the deep.
We remained on deck until nearly midnight, when, having observed nothing
whatever to excite the slightest apprehension as to our absolute safety,
we resolved to dispense with the formality of a watch; and therefore all
retired below, with an understanding that the morrow was to be observed
as a strict holiday by all hands.