WE QUIT THE SAND-BANK--A SAIL! A SAIL!--SAVED--DON LOPEZ'S
INDIGNATION--THE SHIP STRIKES--FIRE! FIRE!--CRUELLY DESERTED--THE WRECK
BLOWS UP.
We had marked the spot where we had landed on the sand-bank, and we
hoped therefore without difficulty to find our raft on the top of the
reef. Before starting, we swallowed as much water as we could collect,
and filled our handkerchiefs and pockets with oysters--which we took out
of the shells, for otherwise we could have carried but few. It was not
a time to be particular, but the oysters _did_ feel somewhat slimy, and
did not look very nice. How much we wished for a bottle in which we
could carry water!--but all our ingenuity could devise no means of
securing any for the future. We had an orange apiece remaining, and
that was all on which we could depend for quenching our thirst till we
could reach the shore; and perhaps even then we might be unable to find
water.
"Cheer up, cheer up!" cried Boxall. "We have thought sufficiently over
the dangers before us, now let us face them bravely." Saying this, he
led the way across the channel; Halliday and I followed, and Ben brought
up the rear. We were able to wade the whole distance, though in the
deeper part the water was up to our shoulders. We found the raft as we
had left it, for the tide, even at its height, did not reach the top of
the reef. At Boxall's suggestion, we took it apart and dragged the
pieces down to the edge of the water, so that when put together again it
might float as the tide came in. We also lashed it together more
securely and balanced it better than before, while from one of the
boards we cut out two fresh paddles; thus all hands were able to urge on
the raft. Judging as far as we were able--by throwing a piece of wood
into the water--that the current was setting to the southward, while we
wished to go round the north end of the reef, we determined to wait till
the tide slackened, which it would soon do; indeed, our raft was not yet
completely afloat. The water rising higher and higher, however, we at
last got on the raft and sat down. And while Boxall took the boat-hook
to shove off, the rest of us paddled with all our might.
"Away she goes!" cried Boxall; and we were fairly afloat.
Just at that instant Ben cried out, "A sail! a sail! away to the
north-west."
We looked in the direction indicated, and clearly made out the
top-gallant-sails and part of the royals of what was apparently a large
ship, standing almost directly towards us. Our hearts leaped with joy.
Instead of the weary paddling towards the arid coast, parched with
thirst and suffering from hunger, we might soon be safe on board ship,
with the prospect of returning to our friends and country.
"We shall easily cut her off, if we steer to the westward and make good
way," cried Ben. "But there is no time to lose, in case she should
alter her course."
"I cannot understand why she is standing in this direction," observed
Boxall. "Her commander can scarcely be aware of the existence of this
reef, or he would be giving it a wider berth."
The wind was against us, and the send of the sea drove us back almost as
much as we went ahead; so that we made but slow progress. The ship,
however, approached nearer and nearer, till we could see nearly to the
foot of her courses. When at length her hull came in sight, both Boxall
and Ben were of opinion that she was foreign,--either French or Spanish.
Boxall thought that she was the latter; and indeed we soon clearly made
out the Spanish ensign flying from her peak.
"I will get a signal ready," said Ben, taking off his shirt and
fastening it to the end of the oar which had served as a mast. It was
still too evident, however, that we were not seen.
"If that ship were to stand on an hour longer, or even less, she would
run right on the reef not far to the southward of this," observed
Boxall. "It will be a mercy if those on board see us, as we will be
able to warn them of their danger. Let us, at all events, do our best
to get up to her."
Cheering each other on, we paddled away as vigorously as we could.
"I think she will see us now. Let us hoist our signal," cried Ben; and
taking up the oar which lay along the raft, he waved it, with his shirt
at the end, as high as he could. Some minutes more passed. The ship
had got so far to the southward that we were directly on her beam. Ben
waved the signal frantically; and uniting our voices, we shouted as
loudly as we could.
"I am afraid our voices don't reach her in the teeth of the wind,"
observed Boxall.
"But our signal is seen, though," cried Ben; and as he spoke the ship's
head was turned towards us, while we energetically paddled on to meet
her.
In a short time she was up to us, and we got alongside; ropes were hove
to us (one of which Ben made fast to the raft), and several men came
down the side to assist us in climbing up. Among the most active were
two negroes--one a tall, powerful man, but about as ugly a mortal as I
ever set eyes on; the other, a young, pleasant-looking lad, though his
skin was as black as jet. The two seized me by the arms and dragged me
up, though I could have scrambled on deck without their help.
"Muchas gracias," (Many thanks), I said.
"I thought you English officer," said the young black.
"So I am," I answered. "How is it that you speak English?"
"I served aboard English man-of-war, and knew that you were English
officer directly I saw you," he answered.
This was said almost before I placed my feet on the deck--where we were
all soon standing, looking around us. The ship was apparently a
man-of-war; but there were a number of soldiers and people of all ranks,
evidently passengers, walking the deck, besides the officers.
"I say, Charlie, as you speak Spanish, you had better tell the captain
that he will be hard and fast on shore in a few minutes if he does not
alter his course," said Boxall to me.
Followed by my companions, I accordingly stepped aft to an officer whom
I took to be the commander, and told him that we had only just before
left a reef which ran north and south, and that he would soon be upon it
unless he steered more to the westward; also that, if he kept a sharp
look-out, he would see the sand-bank behind it. He seemed very much
astonished, and at once gave orders to port the helm and trim the sails
so as to stand off from the dangerous neighbourhood. I observed that
our raft was towing astern. "We will hoist it on board by-and-by," said
the captain; "it will serve for firewood, of which we have not too large
a supply."
I heard several people talking about the reef. One very
consequential-looking gentleman declared that we had not spoken the
truth, and that the reef must be much further off than we had said. I
took no notice of this; indeed, I thought that I might possibly be
mistaken, especially as I was not accustomed to hear Spanish spoken,
although, thanks to honest Andrew, I was able to express myself with
tolerable clearness on simple subjects. We convinced the captain,
however, that my account was true, by showing him the oysters with which
our pockets were filled, and which we were very glad to get rid of.
Being about to throw them overboard, the young negro stopped us and
begged to have them, as they would be very welcome at the mess to which
he belonged. "We no get too much food here," he observed; "very
different to English man-of-war."