I awoke soon after sunrise the next morning, and, calling Bob, in
accordance with an arrangement made overnight, we both jumped on board
the boat, and, pulling to the opposite side of a tiny headland about a
mile away, stripped and plunged overboard, where we swam and dived, and
wallowed about in the deliciously cool element for a good half-hour,
enjoying our bath as thoroughly as though we were a couple of school-
boys playing truant. We were strongly tempted to make a small
preliminary exploring excursion inland after this, but Miss Ella had
solemnly bound us both down not to do so without her; so we returned to
the _Water Lily_ instead, wonderfully refreshed and invigorated by our
dip, and quite ready for the early breakfast which was to form the first
regular feature in the programme for the day.
As we rowed back to the cutter, I embraced the opportunity to pass once
more over the spot where I thought I had observed the oyster-bed; and,
on reaching it, and peering down in the shadow of the boat, I found I
was right: there lay beneath us a bed of several yards extent of what I
felt sure were oysters.
We described a short circuit round our little craft before stepping on
board again; and I felt so ashamed of her dingy, weather-beaten
appearance, that I resolved she should have a fresh coat of paint before
she went outside again. This we decided she should receive next day, I
undertaking to wield the paint-brush whilst Bob employed himself in
overhauling the rigging and examining the spars.
Breakfast was soon disposed of, as we were all equally eager to stand
once more on mother earth; and then, Bob providing himself with a few
biscuits, whilst I did the same, adding a few knick-knacks for my fair
companion, we jumped into the boat, and in a very few minutes reached
the shore.
The painter was made fast to the stem of a stout shrub which grew close
to the water's edge; and then Bob went straight towards the widest patch
of shade, and the softest turf he could find, and flung himself
forthwith upon the ground, asserting that it was his fixed intention to
remain there for the rest of the day, and enjoy his holiday in
accordance with his own peculiar notions.
After a few vain attempts to persuade him that he would find it much
more pleasant to accompany us in a ramble over the island, we gave him
up to his own devices; and, Ella accepting the support of my arm, we
strolled slowly away.
Our steps were directed, in the first instance, towards the northern end
of the island; our path being sometimes over the short tender grass with
which the ground was thickly clad, and at others along the sandy beach,
to which we were occasionally compelled to diverge in consequence of the
dense undergrowth, through which it would have been impossible for my
companion to force her way.
We picked up several very beautiful shells on the beach, and Ella
promised herself a long ramble before leaving the island, expressly for
the purpose of collecting a few of the choicest varieties.
I was rather disappointed to find such a scarcity of fruit, there being
none, as far as we could discover, beyond the cocoa-nuts and a few wild
figs: the latter rather insipid to the taste, though still a welcome
change after the food we had all been accustomed to.
Ella very thoughtfully collected a little of this fruit for Bob, when we
chanced to meet with a tree bearing figs of a superior flavour to the
average, and I promised her that on our return I would secure a few
cocoa-nuts, and treat her to a draught of the delightfully refreshing
cool new milk. We found walking to be far more fatiguing than we had
expected, after being pent up so long on shipboard, and I think I found
it even more so than my companion, she having had until recently the
comparatively wide range of a ship's deck upon which to take exercise;
whilst we of the _Water Lily_ could only boast of "a fisherman's walk,
two steps, and overboard."
I kept a sharp look-out for fresh water, intending to entirely refill
our tank and casks; and Ella was equally anxious for such a discovery,
as she gave me notice that she intended to hold a grand wash. We
strolled slowly along, chatting gaily together, until we had completed
the circuit of the island; but, unfortunately, failed to discover any
sign whatever of fresh water.
The boat still remained moored to the shrub, as we had left her, so I
concluded that Bob had grown tired of inactivity and had gone off, in
the opposite direction to ourselves, for a stroll. I therefore proposed
to Ella that she should rest awhile upon the soft, velvety turf, whilst
I returned to the cutter for a piece of rope, to aid me in my ascent
after the cocoa-nuts.
The rope was soon obtained; and, returning to the shore, I passed it in
a loose band round the trunk of one of the trees, leaving room in the
band for the introduction of my own body.
By bearing against this whilst I raised my feet and then slipping the
band up the tree, I was easily and quickly enabled to reach the fruit,
from which I selected an abundant supply.
Whilst thus engaged, Bob hove in sight, and when I reached the ground
again he reported that, having soon grown tired of doing nothing, he had
started away on a walk to the southward, about half an hour after we
left him, and had gone to the extreme end of the island; that he had
enjoyed his walk amazingly, was excessively tired, and, like ourselves,
had failed to find any fresh water.
Under these circumstances poor little Ella was compelled to postpone her
washing-day, I promising that she should have the necessary time allowed
her at the first suitable island we might reach.
By this time the dinner-hour was approaching, and Ella desired to be put
on board the cutter to make the few slight preparations for the meal
which were necessary.
As soon as we had put her on board, and whilst she was thus engaged, I
took Bob away with me in the boat to try for a few oysters. We had no
means of trawling for them; but I estimated that they lay in not more
than about two and a half fathoms of water, and I considered myself
quite diver enough to reach that distance.
As soon as we arrived at the spot, I stripped and plunged in, taking
down with me an old canvas clothes-bag, which I slung round my neck.
I soon found that I had been deceived, by the crystal transparency of
the water, into under-estimating the depth. It was fully four fathoms
to the bottom; and this, together with the difficulty I experienced in
keeping the mouth of the bag open, necessitated four plunges before I
had obtained half the bag full. There was not time to do more just
then, so I dressed, the bag was hauled up, and we returned with our
prize to the cutter.
We resolved to commence dinner with a course of oysters, and I forthwith
proceeded to open some, a task which gave me a very considerable amount
of difficulty.
Imagine, if you can, my surprise and delight when on opening the second
oyster I found that it contained several small pearls; the third was
opened, and it also contained several; the fourth had none, but the
fifth on being opened revealed three beauties, each as large as the top
of my middle finger. To be brief, I was soon satisfied that I had
stumbled upon a bed of pearl-oysters, about half of the bivalves
yielding when opened more or less pearls, the greater quantity being
small, such as are set in rings; but several good-sized pearls were also
found, and one magnificent fellow, as large as a cherry.
As may easily be imagined, we were all excitement after this; and I
proposed that, as soon as dinner was over, we should move the cutter
down and anchor her upon the bed, and devote the remainder of the
afternoon to systematic pearl-fishing. The proposition was rapturously
received, Ella declaring that she had often read of pearl-fishing, and
should very much like to witness the operation.
Accordingly, dinner was no sooner over than we weighed and stood down to
the spot under our jib, and having reached it, the cutter was anchored
as nearly as possible over the centre of the bed. I had hit upon a plan
by which, I thought, some of my difficulties of the morning might be got
over; and, as soon as we were brought up, Bob and I got our floating-
anchor on deck, stretched the canvas upon it, and rigging out our
spinnaker-boom, a rope was passed through the sheave in the outer end of
it, and bent to the crowfoot of the floating-anchor, which thus hung
suspended, like a large tray, over the water. It was then lowered to
the bottom; a small pig of ballast was got on deck and slung to another
rope's-end, and I then went below and changed my dress for an old white
shirt and duck trousers, buckling a belt round my waist, to which, as it
happened, a strong sharp sheath-knife was attached.
Being now ready to descend, I looked over the side, and satisfied myself
that our floating-anchor lay all right at the bottom, and in such a
manner as properly to perform its new functions as a tray. I then
slipped over the side into the water, grasping firmly the rope to which
the piece of ballast was attached; and, having well filled my lungs with
air, I waved my disengaged hand. Bob let go the rope, and the ballast
dragged me swiftly to the bottom.
Still retaining my hold upon the sinker with one hand, I now rapidly
shovelled the oysters into my "tray" with the other, as long as I could
hold my breath; and I was satisfied, at the first experiment, that my
expedient was a complete success, thrice as many oysters being deposited
in the tray at one dive as I had obtained altogether in the morning.
I soon had to rise to get a fresh inhalation; but by hauling up the
sinker every time, so as to have the benefit of its assistance in taking
me to the bottom, I was enabled to reserve all my breath and energy for
my work at the oysters; and so successful was I, that, in three
descents, I managed to place upon the tray as many oysters as it would
hold. It was now hauled up, its contents carefully transferred to the
cutter's deck, and the anchor or tray again lowered to the bottom.
This operation had been repeated five times, with the result that a
goodly pile of bivalves now graced the deck; and I had gone down a
second time on the sixth _round_ (if I may so express myself), when
suddenly a dark shadow fell upon the spot on which I was at work. I
glanced upward, and, to my unspeakable horror, saw an enormous shark
floating motionless within a fathom of and directly above me.
Why he did not attack me at once I could not imagine; but I conjecture
that it was because, lying flat upon the ground as I was, he had not
room to turn, as sharks invariably do when seizing their prey. My blood
seemed fairly to congeal in my veins as I realised my appalling
position.
I _must_ rise to the surface in a very few seconds, or drown where I
was; and I felt convinced that the moment I was far enough from the
bottom to permit of the monster making his rush, he would do so.
Suddenly, the remembrance of my sheath-knife flashed across my brain.
There was no time to hesitate; my powers of endurance were almost
utterly exhausted, and I felt that I could hold my breath but a second
or two longer; so I quickly drew the knife, and darting suddenly
upwards, succeeded in grasping the shark with my left hand by his
starboard fin, whilst with my right I plunged my weapon to the hilt in
his gleaming white belly, extending my arm to its full length as I did
so, and thus inflicting a wound nearly _or_ quite two feet in length.
Remembering the wonderful vitality of the shark, I did not content
myself with this; but thrusting my armed hand into the gaping wound, I
drew the knife two or three times rapidly across his interior
arrangements, inflicting such severe injuries that in less than a minute
after I rose to the surface blood-stained from head to foot, and
speechless with exhaustion, the shark also appeared, floating dead
within a dozen yards of the cutter.
Bob's strong and ready hand was promptly extended to assist me in over
the cutter's low gunwale; but so thoroughly exhausted was I, that I felt
utterly unable to make the slightest effort in aid of my shipmate's
exertions, and he was obliged to drag me bodily inboard, where, after an
unavailing effort to stand, I sank upon the deck, gasping for breath,
and utterly unable to utter a word.
Ella's eager face blanched deadly white at the horrifying spectacle I
presented as I lay prone at her feet, but her evident alarm quickly
vanished upon my assurance that I was absolutely unhurt.
"Now, lad," said Bob, "give an old friend a shake of your flipper. I'm
right down glad to see ye well and hearty, my dear boy," he continued,
with strong emotion. "We both saw that doubly and everlastingly cursed
brute range up and take a berth close above ye; and, to own the plain,
honest truth, I put ye down as good as done for. There warn't no time
to do anything by way of warning ye, or lending ye a hand anyways; for,
afore I could collect my scattered wits, we saw ye let go the sinker,
and next minute the water alongside was like a biling pot; and then we
seed the blood, and bust me if I didn't turn that sick and queer I
couldn't see a thing, just for a moment; and when I hauled ye aboard, I
couldn't for the life of me tell whether you was dead or alive. Now
let's get up them few h'isters that was like to have cost us all so
dear, and get away from the spot as soon as we can."
We were not very long in getting the remainder of the oysters on board,
and soon afterwards we had the cutter back at her old berth. Our first
task, as soon as the craft was at anchor again, was to transfer our
booty to the shore, where we spread them out on a large tarpaulin on the
sand to die. The method pursued by the regular pearl-fishers, I
believe, is to allow the fish to remain until they are in an advanced
stage of decay, when the pearls are sought for amongst the putrid mass.
I felt no inclination, however, for such a task, and, moreover, did not
care to expend so much time as this process involved. I conjectured
that, the fish once dead, they might be opened with comparatively little
difficulty; and I thought that by the time our overhaul and painting was
completed, the oysters would be in a fit state for operating upon.
After tea was over, I took occasion to inform Ella that I had somewhat
to say to her, and requested her to accompany me on shore and take a
short walk on the beach, that I might speak without being embarrassed by
Bob's presence.
She stepped silently into the boat, and in a few minutes more we stood
together on the strand. Taking the arm which I offered her, she said:
"Now, Harry, what is it you wish to say to me?"
"It is a question of the utmost importance to _me_ that I have to ask
you," I replied. "Tell me, Ella, tell me, my darling, may I dare to
hope that at some time in the distant future, when you shall have had
opportunities of becoming better acquainted with me--"
"Cease, Harry," the dear girl interrupted, with deep emotion, "cease, I
pray you, to agitate yourself with causeless fears. Why should I
hesitate to avow a feeling that I fear I have already permitted to
appear all too plainly. If you are _quite sure_ that you really wish
it, I will be your wife; and _never_ was there a truer or more devoted
wife than I will be to you, if it please God to permit us to become
united."
And saying this, my little darling turned, and with unaffected confiding
simplicity, wound her soft arms about my neck, and raised her sweet lips
to mine.
The conversation which followed, deeply interesting as it was to the
parties engaged, need not be reproduced here: I will leave the reader to
imagine it all, and push on with my story.
There are some women in whom a fresh trait of character is always
revealing itself, so that, just when you think you have at last
succeeded in thoroughly understanding them, you discover that you are
just as far off any reliable knowledge of their character as ever.
But with Ella it was very different. There was a child-like openness
and ingenuousness of manner about her which quickly revealed to the
observer not only the salient points, but also the finer gradations, of
her character and temperament; and I believe that I had a clearer
insight into both at the time that I thus hastily offered myself, than
many men who do the same thing after an acquaintance of a "season."
At length we returned to the cutter, where we found Bob, with his pipe
still between his teeth, sitting aft fast asleep. I wished Ella "good-
night," and then roused Master Bob up; and whilst we smoked a final pipe
together, communicated my good fortune to him.
"Ay, ay!" said he, as soon as I had told him, "you may thank `Jack
Shark' for having it come upon ye so soon, lad; it was _bound_ to come
sooner or later. I've seed it clearer and clearer every day, but it
warn't for me to say a word one way or t'other; but the narrer squeak
you had for it this a'ternoon just took the little lady flat aback, and
afore she could pay off, you see, she let run a whole string of lovin'
words that there warn't no way of hauling aboard and coiling down out of
sight ag'in; and so she hadn't no ch'ice but just to haul down her
colours as soon as you opened fire. Well, you've made a pretty prize,
Harry, and I congratulate ye with all my heart. A trimmer model, or
_one_ better ballasted with the right sort of feelin's and idees, no man
need wish to sail the v'y'ge of life in company with, and as to her
being fond of ye, why, she couldn't help showing of it, try all she
would. She couldn't talk of nothing else from morning to night but you.
It don't matter what the conversation started with, whether 'twas
ships, or flyin'-fish, or hurricanes, waterspouts--_anything_ in heaven
or airth, she'd bring it all round in a sort of great-circle-sailing
fashion to you. And now that you've got her, lad, I hope as you'll be
able to sail her properly. Women is very ticklish craft to handle, you
must bear in mind; as tender in a squall as a racin' cutter with all her
flyin'-kites aloft; and you'll have to keep a sharp look-out to win'ard,
and have the halliards and sheets all ready for lettin' run at a
moment's notice, or you'll maybe get something ser'ous carried away, or
have a reg'lar downright wrack altogether afore you knows where you
are."
I could not help smiling at this characteristic speech of congratulation
and caution of Bob's, to which I of course made a suitable reply; and
then, shaking hands, we went below and tumbled into our respective
hammocks.