When Meri and Wal Jessop reached the village the chief explained to
his followers how the white men had recognised their friend, and the
natives were excited at such an unlooked-for occurrence. A stretcher
was quickly made of long poles and matting, and, accompanied by four
stalwart natives, Wal Jessop and Meri returned to the Sing-Sing ground
where they had left Edgar and Captain Manton. They carefully carried
Manton to the village, and Wal Jessop went out to the schooner to
obtain drugs from the medicine chest.
In the course of a few days Captain Manton was much better, and eager
to be gone from the island. The chief and the natives, however,
seemed loath to part with him, and Edgar thought there might be some
trouble in getting him away. To make matters easier they presented
Meri and most of the natives--men, women, and children--with gifts of
beads, cloth, and small ornaments. It amused them to watch the women
adorning their persons with bright red and yellow cloths, and they were
particularly delighted some with the strings of bright-coloured beads.
Edgar noticed the natives, even when going to walk in the plantations,
were armed, and Meri said they were always at war with one or more of
the neighbouring tribes. Even the women and children were armed, and
it was surprising with what accuracy of aim the smallest lads could
shoot their arrows. These natives were all fond of sports, and spent
the greater part of their time practising with the various weapons they
used.
Meri, at Edgar’s request, ordered some native sports to take place;
and the men, nothing loath, prepared for them in a very short time.
Wal Jessop promised the most successful should have prizes given them,
selected from the stock of trade goods on board the schooner.
Spear-throwing was first undertaken, and the natives aimed with
wonderful skill, far better than the Enooma blacks. They hurled their
spears with terrific force, and often buried them six inches deep in
the trunk of a tree the wood of which was almost as hard as iron.
Smooth stones were piled up on the beach, and the natives, using
slings, whirled them out to sea for such a long distance that the
splash made when they fell could hardly be seen. Club-swinging they
were clever at, and an attack with clubs, warded off by wooden shields,
made Edgar fearful for the result, so furious and excited did the
combatants become.
The boys and girls, all naked, ran races on the clear white sand, and
swam out to sea in the most daring manner. One lad, a son of the chief,
shot his arrow through Meri’s fingers as he spread the back of his hand
out wide against a tree. The girls were quite as active as the boys,
and ran as fast, and swam as well. These youngsters had very little
fear in them, and even a shark near the shore did not frighten them,
for the lads would swim out with spears in their hands and attack the
monsters.
The canoe-races caused much excitement, and the chief, Meri, paddled
dexterously--in fact, he was superior to the others in most of the
sports.
Edgar was much interested in watching the natives build a canoe. A
tree was felled, and the branches cut off. Then, for a common fishing
canoe, the log was hollowed out about fifteen feet long, and a rough
canoe was soon formed. The better-built canoes were made of separate
planks raised from the keel, and laid on in pieces from twenty-five to
fifty feet long. Gum of the bread-fruit tree was used instead of pitch,
and smeared over to make them water-tight. The inside and outside were
smoothed, and when finished the canoe looked a creditable craft.
Although Edgar enjoyed the experiences he was going through at Tana, he
was anxious to get away now Captain Manton had been discovered; but the
chief always made some excuse for detaining them, and Wal Jessop said
it would be safer to obtain his permission to leave. Captain Manton was
also in a hurry to depart, and once more get to sea. Wal Jessop gave
Meri to understand that it was necessary for them to leave, and the
chief said he would consider the matter.
A meeting was held under the banyan tree in the marum, and the three
friends looked on, much interested in the proceedings.
Wal Jessop gathered that there was considerable opposition to Captain
Manton’s departure, and that the chief did not care to resist the will
of the natives. When the meeting was over, Meri said his people were
not willing that Captain Manton should go with Edgar and Wal.
To this Wal Jessop made no reply, but after consulting Edgar and
Captain Manton, it was arranged they should make a bolt for it at
night, seize one of the canoes, and row back to the schooner.
Wal Jessop went to the schooner to give instructions for all to be
ready for sailing immediately they were on board.
Towards evening, when the natives were returning from the plantation,
there was a great row amongst them. They came forward shouting,
dancing, and gesticulating, and in their midst was a poor wretched
native, almost ready to drop with fright. Meri’s men had kidnapped this
man, who belonged to another tribe, and he knew, poor wretch! the fate
in store for him.
‘What will they do with that poor beggar?’ said Edgar.
‘Eat him probably,’ said Wal Jessop with a shudder. ‘The natives here
are cannibals.’
‘Horrible!’ said Edgar. ‘Can we do nothing to prevent it?’
‘I am afraid not,’ said Wal. ‘I will remonstrate with the chief, but it
will be all to no purpose. All we can do is to take advantage of their
absence when the poor wretch is killed, and make for the schooner.’
‘Speak to Meri,’ said Edgar. ‘We ought to stop it if we can.’
Wal Jessop went to the chief, who acknowledged it was the custom to
kill and eat prisoners of another tribe. Wal then tried to buy the
wretch off, but the chief was firm. He could not interfere with the
custom of the tribe.
That night a large fire was lighted in the marum, and they could see
the flames flashing in the darkness.
They shuddered as they thought of what was about to take place; but as
they were powerless to interfere they determined to steal away to the
schooner.
Cautiously they went down to the beach and secured a canoe. Captain
Manton sat in the bow, where there was a seat for the chief, and Wal
and Edgar paddled.
Before they were half-way to the schooner the natives saw them, and,
uttering loud cries, ran down to the beach. A large canoe was quickly
launched, Meri took his place in the bow, and the pursuit commenced.
‘They will overhaul us before we reach the schooner,’ said Wal. ‘Our
only plan is to frighten them. We have our rifles. You must send a
bullet or two in their direction, Edgar. Do not harm anyone if you can
help it, but strike the canoe somewhere near the chief. It will give
him a shock, and may hinder the pursuit.’
The natives were fast nearing them, their canoe skimming along the
water with wonderful swiftness. Meri stood up in the bow, spear in
hand, and signalled them to stop. His dark figure was plainly seen in
the moonlight which covered the sea with a soft, silvery glow.
Edgar put down his paddle and took up his rifle, which he levelled at
the chief.
Meri saw him, but did not flinch. He turned to his men and urged them
on.
Edgar took aim and fired at the bow of the canoe. It was a lucky shot,
for just as he fired the bow of the canoe rose slightly, and the bullet
splintered the wood under Meri’s feet.
This caused the chief to spring backwards, and in so doing he stumbled
and fell into the water. The natives at once ceased rowing, and
assisted him to get into the canoe.
Edgar, as soon as he had fired the shot, put down the rifle and grasped
the paddle. They gained on the canoe again, and reached the schooner
before the natives. Captain Manton was assisted into the schooner, and
Edgar and Wal quickly followed, taking good care to throw their rifles
to the men on deck.
Everything was ready for sailing immediately, but before the schooner
could get under way the canoe, full of natives, was alongside.
Meri was about to spring on the schooner when Edgar levelled his rifle
at him, and Wal Jessop shouted:
‘Get back, or we shall fire. We want to leave peaceably. Go back to
your island. You have had many presents from us.’
The chief said they wanted their white man back, and meant to have him.
‘Then you must look out for a row,’ said Wal.
The schooner was now under sail, and although there was but little
breeze, she made headway. Seeing the schooner gliding away, the chief
gave some order to his men, who stood up and hurled their spears at
those on deck.
‘Lie flat down,’ shouted Wal, who saw their intention; and they all
fell on the deck. The spears whistled harmlessly over them, one or two
striking the mast.
‘Give me the gun; I’ll give them a dose of shot for that,’ said Edgar.
Wal Jessop handed him a gun, and Edgar fired it at the canoe. The shot
told, and one or two of the natives were hit, but not severely. This
had the desired effect, and, seeing pursuit was both hopeless and
dangerous, the chief ordered them to paddle back to the island.
The travellers were all glad to get safely away from Tana, and decided
to sail direct to Sydney, as there was an ample supply of food on
board. Captain Manton seemed to recover every day at sea, and both
Edgar and Wal Jessop did all in their power to cheer him and make him
forget what he had suffered.
The voyage back to Sydney was uneventful, and the little schooner
entered the Heads sooner than was expected, and cast anchor in Watson’s
Bay.
Captain Manton, as they neared the Heads, had looked long at the fatal
rocks where the _Distant Shore_ went to pieces, and the tears stood in
his eyes as he thought of that awful night.
When they were in the smooth waters of the harbour, and snugly at
anchor in Watson’s Bay, his spirits revived at the prospect of meeting
his daughter again.
He wondered if she would know him, for he was much altered, and she was
a little child when last he saw her on that fatal night.
‘I am sure she will recognise you,’ said Edgar; ‘you look much more
like your old self now. When we found you at Tana you were a different
man.’
They landed at the jetty, and walked up to Wal Jessop’s cottage.
‘We shall give them a surprise,’ said Edgar.
‘A pleasant one,’ said Wal.
Captain Manton’s heart beat fast as he walked up the familiar road, and
hastened to meet the daughter he had thought he would never see again.
‘Perhaps it will be better for me to go on first,’ said Wal, ‘and
prepare her. The sudden joy may be too much for Eva.’
They agreed, and Wal walked on. He reached the cottage door, and
knocked. His wife opened it, and gave a cry of joy as she saw him.
After a hearty embrace, she said anxiously:
‘Where is Edgar? Is he well?’
‘Never better,’ said Wal. ‘Where’s Eva?’
Eva heard them talking, and came running into the room. She rushed into
Wal’s outstretched arms, and he kissed her tenderly.
‘Edgar has come back,’ said Wal, ‘and someone else--someone you love
best in all the world.’
‘Daddy?’ said Eva excitedly.
‘Yes,’ said Wal, looking from her to his wife; ‘daddy has come back.’
He heard footsteps outside, and said:
‘And here he is, with Edgar.’
Captain Manton came into the room. Eva looked at him for a few moments,
evidently in doubt.
‘Eva, my child, my little one, don’t you know me? Come to my arms, my
pet; come to daddy again.’
‘It is my daddy!’ said Eva, with a joyful cry, as she flew to
him. ‘Eddy said he would come back. I shall never let him go away
again--never, never, never!’