When I awoke next morning the sun was just appearing above the cliffs
which bounded our basin on its eastern side, the sky was cloudless, and
the trade-wind had once more resumed its supremacy, sweeping in a gentle
breeze over the tree-crowned summits of the cliffs, though down in the
basin we only felt the mildest zephyr.
Calling Bob, who was still sound asleep, I proceeded to the deck to
enjoy the balmy freshness of the morning and await his appearance; and
as soon as he joined me we both jumped into the boat, armed with soap
and towel, and directed our steps to the cascade, which was hidden from
our present berth by a slight projection of the face of the intervening
cliff.
When we arrived at the spot we found that instead of falling sheer from
the top of the cliff to the bottom, as it appeared from the basin to do,
it was arrested at several points in its fall, by which the force of the
descending water was so much broken that I thought we might safely
venture to place ourselves beneath it, and thus obtain a most
magnificent shower-bath.
The rock upon which it fell had gradually been hollowed away by the
action of the descending water, and presented the appearance of a
gigantic shallow bowl, of nearly thirty feet in diameter, brim-full of
the purest crystal water, which gushed away over the western or lower
edge into the sea. The depth varied regularly from a few inches round
the edge to about three feet immediately under the cascade, and the
whole formed a most princely bath.
We lost no time in stripping and plunging in, when, after indulging in a
thorough ablution, I ventured upon the shower experiment. The shock was
tremendous, and as much as ever I could bear; but its after effects were
delicious. I felt braced and strengthened, refreshed, and ready for
anything; but more especially for a good breakfast, which of course we
found awaiting us in due course when we returned to the cutter.
As soon as the meal was over Ella packed up the washing she was so
anxious about, and I put her and Bob ashore, the latter trudging happily
along by the side of his light-hearted companion, and bearing her bundle
on his shoulder. I then returned to the cutter, hove up the anchor, and
ran her in under her jib, until she gently took the ground, when I set
about mooring her stem and stern to the beach with warps made fast to
stakes firmly driven into the sand.
Bob soon returned, and we then unbent the mainsail, struck the topmast,
cast adrift the boom and gaff, and ran in the bowsprit and unrigged it;
and, then, transporting these spars and all our sails to the beach, we
rigged up a couple of small but comfortable enough tents, into which we
transferred our several belongings, and such necessaries as we expected
we should require during our short experiment in camp life. We at the
same time availed ourselves of so fine an opportunity as was now
afforded us, to thoroughly air our spare suit of sails.
It took up the entire day to clear the cutter of everything, ballast
included; and, even then, we were compelled to leave our large
water-tank on board, from sheer inability to get it out of the craft
without breaking up her deck, which, of course, we could not think of
doing.
We succeeded, however, after a great deal of difficulty and trouble, in
shoring it firmly up close to the deck beams (having first of all, of
course, pumped all the water out) and this left us sufficient room to
get at the ballast, though with none to spare.
With everything out of her, the cutter floated a good three feet
lighter, and we at once hauled her in as close to the shore as she would
come, so as to work at her, if need be, without the boat, simply
standing in the water.
The next morning we ran our anchor the necessary distance away out to
seaward, broad upon our starboard beam, brought the cable on board, and
hooked it to the throat halyards, taking a good look, first of all, to
our shore fasts.
It was easy work heaving her down for the first half-hour but as soon as
we got her fairly down upon her bilge, we obtained an idea of how stiff
the little craft was, even without an ounce of ballast in her.
We hove and hove until everything cracked again; and I really was afraid
at one time that we should either spring the mast or carry its head away
altogether, but we succeeded at last in getting her past the point of
greatest resistance, without meeting with any casualty, and after that
she came down pretty easily.
An hour and a half of hard work saw us, at length, with the cutter keel
out, and an anxious scrutiny of her bottom immediately followed.
To our intense satisfaction, we now saw that she had struck, on both
occasions, on that portion of her keel which was loaded with lead, two
dints in the metal being distinctly visible. One was very trifling; the
other was a jagged notch of some five inches in depth, the lead being
bent upwards and outwards to starboard in a kind of lip.
Beyond these there were no other injuries even of the slightest kind
visible, at least on the port side, and the copper was as unwrinkled as
the day it was put on.
Half-an-hour's work with the hammer put the keel completely to rights
again; and whilst I busied myself about this, Bob employed himself in
diligently scouring the copper, and would not be satisfied until he had
made it almost as bright as gold.
I had very great hopes that we should find the starboard side in an
equally undamaged condition; but we determined, whilst we were about it,
to make our overhaul complete, so, as soon as dinner was over, we swung
the craft, and hove her down again, and soon had the gratification of
finding our hopes confirmed.
The copper on the starboard side, of course, received its due share of
scouring, for the sake of uniformity; and about an hour before sunset,
the tackles were eased up, and the little craft floated on an even keel
once more, with her slight damages made good, and everything in as
perfect condition (the ordinary wear and tear excepted) as when she came
out of the builders' hands.
The next day was devoted to a thorough cleansing of the little craft's
interior, fore and aft, so favourable an opportunity not being likely to
offer again until after our return to England, unless, indeed, we really
should prove fortunate enough to find our treasure; but she required it
even now, so we gave it her, finishing off with a coat of paint.
Before leaving her for the night, we unscrewed all the dead-lights in
the deck, took off the skylight-top, and left the companion wide open,
so as to ensure a thorough draught through her, this answering the
double purpose of drying the paint and removing its objectionable odour.
The following day saw us as busy as ever, getting things back into their
places, filling up our water, etc.; but we did not strike our tents that
day, a stronger smell than was quite agreeable still remaining from the
new paint.
To fill up our time, therefore, we turned to upon our fire-arms, and
gave them a thorough cleaning up, so that they might be in perfect
order, and ready for service at a moment's notice.
We were up betimes next morning; and, after our matutinal bath and a
good breakfast, dowsed the tents, got our spars on board and in their
places, bent the sails, and put the few finishing touches which were
necessary to make the cutter all ready for sea once more.
This done, it was time to see about finding a way out from among the
numerous reefs which girt the island, as we believed, entirely round.
We had come through, or, rather, over them once, it is true, but it was
in a fashion that I should have been very sorry to see repeated; and on
that occasion we had no choice; but as I had no fancy for the little
craft's again _scraping_ such rude acquaintance with the rocks, I
resolved to take the boat and make a trip in her along the western side
of the island, in search of a safe channel to sea.
Accordingly, Bob and I got the light spars and sails of the boat out,
rigged and stepped the former, bent the latter, and then we all sat down
to an early dinner.
It was my original intention to have gone away alone, but Ella begged so
hard to be allowed to come with me that I had not the heart to refuse
her, especially as there was no sufficient reason for so doing. So I
consented, promising her that after our exploration was over, if time
permitted, she should have a ramble on shore, on the southern side of
the mountain, when we would lay in a sea-stock of fruit at the same
time.
Bob said he would accompany us, and try his luck with the fishing-lines,
whilst Ella and I took our proposed stroll; and to this also there
seemed no objection, as the cutter was in a berth where the hardest gale
that ever blew could not have endangered her safety in the slightest
decree.
Accordingly, as soon as the meal was over, we shoved off, some instinct
prompting me, at the last moment, to take one of our revolving rifles
and a small supply of cartridges with me. We soon slid out of the cove,
and shortly afterwards rounded the north-western extremity of the
island.
This was the first trial of our _sliding-gunter_ mainsail upon our
singularly-constructed boat; and Bob and I were thrown into perfect
raptures at the truly marvellous speed with which it propelled the craft
along. The _Water Lily_ was wonderfully fast; but in smooth water and
light winds, her boat would have sailed round and round her.
We skimmed rapidly along the edge of the western reef, and when we had
run about four miles to the southward, found a good wide break, which
looked as though it led out to sea. I up with the helm at once, and
away we darted almost dead before the wind, down through it.
It was rather a circumbendibus sort of affair, and somewhat narrow in
places, though everywhere there was sufficient room to work the _Lily_
in; and after a run of about half an hour, we shot out between two
overhanging ledges, the extremities of which showed about six feet above
water, and found ourselves rising and falling on the long swell of the
open ocean.
So far, so good, and we now hove about to retrace our steps, I noticing,
as we passed in between the two ledges I have mentioned, that the rock,
instead of being of coral formation, appeared to be composed of a
lava-like substance; and I then became confirmed in an impression, which
had crossed my mind once or twice before, that this island was certainly
of volcanic origin, and that the mountain had once been the crater of an
active volcano.
And the conformation of the summit seemed also to suggest this, for it
did not taper away to a cone, but appeared to form a flat tableland of
some extent; this, however, might perhaps have proved on inspection to
be hollow, the flat appearance of the top resulting merely from
regularity in the height of the crater walls.
In about an hour after re-entering the passage through the reef, our
boat grounded gently on the beach, on the western side of the island. I
leaped ashore, and assisted Ella to land, desiring Bob, as I shoved the
boat off into deep water again, to meet us in the bay which I expected
he would find behind a low headland which lay about three miles to the
southward of us.
Ella took possession of my arm now, quite as a matter of course, without
waiting for me to offer its support, and together we sauntered leisurely
along in the grateful shade of the trees and giant plants with which we
were surrounded.
For the first half-hour or so, we had eyes for nothing but the varied
beauties of nature which lay spread before us in such luxuriant
prodigality.
The forms of the trees and plants were, for the most part, new to us,
but all were beautiful; and the occasional glimpses of scenery which
presented themselves through unexpected avenues, made glorious by the
adornment of all these varied forms and colours in foliage and flowers,
and enlivened by the presence of thousands of birds of brilliant
plumage, darting through the air like living gems, seemed like an
absolute realisation of fairy-land or Eden.
Time passed swiftly away with us in the enjoyment of so much loveliness,
especially as we made frequent pauses to admire at our leisure some more
than usually bewitching scene; and I was in the act of remarking to my
companion that Bob would certainly think we were lost in the woods, when
she exclaimed in a startled voice:
"Oh, Harry! there is an animal of some sort following us. I have
noticed the bushes moving rather strangely behind us once or twice
already, but I did not like to say anything, fearing you would think me
foolish and nervous; but this instant I distinctly saw a dark object
glide swiftly behind that large aloe-like shrub with the beautiful
purple blossoms, that we stood admiring so long."
"An animal?" I exclaimed. "Impossible, darling; you must surely be
mistaken. No animals are likely to be on an island like this. How
could they ever have come here, unless provided with wings?"
"That I cannot say," she replied; "but I am convinced I was not
mistaken."
"Stay here a moment then," said I; "I will go back and see whether any
creature really _is_ lurking there, as you seem to think."
"Oh no, Harry, dear! please do not," she exclaimed; "I feel so
dreadfully nervous, though I know it is very foolish. But it has
startled me, and I shall not feel at ease again until we are in the
boat. Let us hasten forward as rapidly as possible, please, for I
cannot enjoy the walk any longer."
"Come, then," said I, "we will go on at once; and since this animal is
behind us, you had better walk on a pace or two ahead of me."
We now stepped briskly forward, my companion evidently suffering from a
violent attack of nervous agitation.
I did not believe she had seen anything, and imputed her feeling to the
rather depressing sense of solitude which one is sometimes apt to
experience when wandering in a thickly-wooded locality. Nevertheless, I
took the precaution to glance at my rifle, and satisfy myself that all
its chambers were loaded, and also to verify the locality of my
cartridges.
We had proceeded in this way perhaps five minutes, and had just emerged
from among the trees upon an open lawn-like level of green sward which
sloped gently to the beach, there about half a mile distant, when
something hissed close past me; and the next moment I saw an arrow
quivering in the earth, a few yards beyond.
"Savages!" I exclaimed, and I felt my blood curdle and my heart sink
like lead for a moment, as I realised the dreadful nature of the danger
to which my poor little darling was thus suddenly exposed.
I turned abruptly, but could see no sign of a living creature near; and,
with such cheering words as I could find for the moment, I urged Ella to
hasten her steps towards the open, where I should be upon more even
terms with the enemy.
Poor child! she needed no urging; she would have taken to headlong
flight had I not restrained her: for I felt certain that such an action
would immediately be followed by a perfect shower of arrows were the
savages in force.
We had not advanced half a dozen yards before I felt a sharp stinging
sensation in my left arm; it was pierced by an arrow. I looked round
again, but the foe remained invisible, and there was nothing for it but
to push on. The next instant three or four more long slender shafts
hissed past us, confirming my fears and increasing my apprehensions for
my companion's safety.
She saw that I was wounded, and would have stopped to render me
assistance, but time was valuable now, and moments as precious as years
would be under other circumstances so I only urged her to press forward
as fast as she could without actually running.
On we sped, and again came another flight of arrows, one of which
pierced me in the fleshy part of the thigh, whilst two passed through
Ella's flowing skirts, but happily without doing the dear girl any
injury.
I suffered a few moments to elapse, and then suddenly faced about,
bringing my rifle to my shoulder as I did so; and there, in the centre
of the path between the trees, which we had just quitted, knelt a savage
upon one knee, in the act of drawing his bow.
I was always very fond of shooting, and had acquired the reputation of
being a good snap-shot among the rabbits, and my skill now stood me in
good stead.
The kneeling figure was instantly covered; I pulled the trigger, and he
leapt convulsively to his feet, staggered forward, and fell upon his
face. I had no sooner fired than some twenty natives sprang from their
cover, and ran towards us. They seemed, I thought, to have seen
fire-arms before, for their advance was made with the confidence of
those who know that their enemy has just emptied his piece; but they
were about to make the acquaintance of a new and terrible weapon, of the
properties of which they were doubtless hitherto ignorant.
Levelling again, I fired at the foremost, and then quickly turned my
piece upon one close beside him. The reports rang out sharp and clear
one close upon the other, and both the savages fell. Their companions
paused an instant in evident surprise; and that pause proved a serious,
if not fatal, matter to a fourth, whom I immediately afterwards brought
down.
This was too much for them. They saw that to stand exposed to view was
to court death, and with a yell of disappointed rage, they sprang back
into cover.
I instantly profited by this retrograde movement on the part of the
enemy to make a push for the beach, hoping that Bob would hear the
rifle-shots (especially the double report, which I had arranged with him
on a former occasion should be a signal of warning or a call for
assistance), and hasten to the rendezvous which was now clearly within
sight, or would be as soon as uncovered by an extensive screen of bush
which lay a couple of hundred yards on our right.
I also reloaded with all dispatch the emptied chambers of my rifle, with
which I hoped to be able to keep the savages at bay until we were fairly
afloat once more.
But the fight was by no means over yet, for we had not gone far when a
shower of at least thirty arrows flew about us from a point on our left,
showing that the savages were following us up under cover, evidently
with the intention of heading us, if possible.
I was wounded thrice by this discharge: one arrow sticking in the back
of my neck, and causing me the greatest uneasiness, a second lodging in
my left shoulder, and a third completely piercing the calf of my leg. I
succeeded in removing some of these annoyances by thrusting them right
through the flesh, breaking off the heads, and drawing out the broken
shafts; but those in my neck and shoulder were firmly imbedded in the
muscles, and I found I could not remove them without some sort of
surgical assistance.
Ella had fortunately escaped again, and as soon as I had rid myself as
far as I could of the arrows, we pressed on once more, I keeping as much
between my companion and the cover of the foe as was possible. The poor
girl was nearly fainting with terror, but she made a brave effort to
keep up her spirits, and really behaved wonderfully well.
There was now a pause of a minute or two in the attack, and this enabled
us to reach a point where we were not only nearly out of range of the
arrows, but where we were also enabled to get a clear view of our goal.
We passed beyond the cover of the intervening bush, and there lay the
beach, with no less than fifteen canoes drawn up on it. They were of
various sizes, some large enough to carry perhaps thirty men, others not
capable of accommodating more than four or six.
The headland I had indicated to Bob lay about a mile on our right; but
the boat was nowhere to be seen. Fortunately there seemed to be no one
left in charge of the canoes, and I at once made up my mind to take the
smallest (if I could succeed in gaining the beach), and push off in it,
and finish the fight afloat, trusting that Bob would yet arrive in time
to lend us his aid in effecting our escape.
I told Ella, in a few hasty words, what I intended, directing her to get
into the smallest canoe the moment we reached the beach, and then lie
down flat in the bottom of it. We hurried forward, for increasing
weakness and an occasional swimming of objects before my sight, warned
me that my strength was rapidly failing with the blood which was
trickling from my wounds.
I had just communicated my intentions to Ella, when I saw something
passing swiftly along beyond the low point which formed the northern
extremity of the bay, which I knew at once to be the head of the boat's
mainsail, and presently she shot clear of the land, and headed well up
for the very spot where the canoes lay.
The savages no doubt saw her too, for a shower of arrows was immediately
let fly at us; but by this time we were out of their range. A second
shower followed, but with no greater success; and then, with a savage
yell, at least a hundred blacks sprang forth into the open, apparently
_determined_ to prevent our escape.
I at once faced round, for, though we were beyond the reach of their
arrows, they were by no means beyond the reach of my bullets; and,
quickly levelling my rifle, I took deliberate aim, calling on Ella to
make the best of her way to the canoes as I did so, covered the nearest
savage and fired. Without lowering the rifle from my shoulder, I
quickly selected another mark, which, in my haste and eagerness, I
missed, hitting a man close behind him however, so that my shot was not
thrown away; then another, and another, and a fifth.
This checked their rush, and a sixth shot stopped them altogether. My
rifle was now empty. I glanced over my shoulder, and saw that Ella was
within a few yards of the canoe I had indicated, and that Bob was coming
up at a rattling pace; so I suddenly dropped the rifle from my shoulder,
and turned and ran for the beach as fast as my now rapidly failing
strength would permit, reloading as I ran.
This, as I expected, proved the signal for a general chase, the savages
rushing after me two feet to my one, uttering the most terrific cries
and yells, brandishing their clubs and spears, and sending an occasional
arrow after me.
I was soon unpleasantly informed that I was once more within reach of
their missiles, one of the arrows entering my left shoulder and piercing
the shoulder-bone, a second sticking in my left arm, close to the former
wound, and three entering my right leg almost simultaneously, taking
effect about six inches above the knee. I still staggered on, however,
and, in about two minutes more, which spread themselves out to the
length of ages in that exhausting and agonising race, I reached the
canoe in which Ella had already placed herself as I had directed.
I had succeeded in reloading all six chambers of my rifle, and I now
turned to open fire upon my pursuers once more, in the hope of checking
them long enough to get the craft afloat. As I did so, the whole earth
appeared to rock and heave about me; my eyes became dizzy and my sight
failed, so that I could see nothing but a vast dark crowd of savage
faces scowling upon me, and surging to and fro before my reeling vision.
Into this heaving crowd I discharged the contents of my rifle rapidly,
but without any attempt at aim, and then turning and flinging the
now-useless weapon into the canoe, I concentrated all my fast fleeting
energies into one supreme effort to launch her.
I faintly heard Bob's shout of encouragement, and earnestly prayed that
he might succeed in saving my darling. I felt that _I_ was lost, and,
as the cheering cry rang across the water, I threw myself with all my
weight against the light craft, which was already half afloat, braced
myself against the stem, and felt her move. A spear at this instant
pierced me in the back; but its effect for the moment was but to
stimulate me further, and with another violent effort I succeeded in
getting her fairly afloat.
I saw, or fancied I saw, the boat within a few yards' distance, and Bob
in her, with a rope in his hand ready to heave and plunging heavily into
the clear cool sparkling water, I gave the canoe one final desperate
outward impulse, and at the same moment felt a crashing, stunning blow
at the back of my head--a million stars seemed to dance before my
darkening eyes--a momentary feeling of the intensest agony surged
through my brain and I sank insensible into the ankle-deep wavelets
which came rippling merrily up to the shore, Ella's despairing shriek
ringing in my ears as the last faint glimmering spark of consciousness
faded away.
When consciousness at length returned, it was accompanied by a sensation
of almost unendurable agony from my numerous smarting, inflamed, and
stiffening wounds; and to this was added the torture of a burning
thirst.
I was lying, completely naked, upon the scorching sand, a few yards
distant from the water's edge, whither I had been dragged, apparently
for the purpose of being stripped of the poor spoil of my clothing.
The sun, now nearing the horizon, poured his fiery beams full upon me,
still further increasing the tortures from which I was suffering; but I
believe that to this circumstance alone am I indebted for my
preservation from death, for the glowing rays dried and hardened the
blood as it oozed from my wounds, and thus prevented my bleeding to
death.
To my great surprise, I was entirely alone. The sand around me was
impressed with numerous footprints from unshod feet; and, on looking
more intently about me, I saw that they had all left me in the direction
of the beach, and the canoes were gone.
This circumstance excited within me anew the direst apprehensions; for I
had not the slightest doubt that the savages were away in pursuit of the
boat, and I every moment dreaded to see her reappear, and to hear the
triumphant shouts proclaiming our enemies' success.
But the moments, laden with excruciating mental and bodily torture, wore
slowly away, and nothing appeared to disturb or break in upon the
solitude which surrounded me; and now, urged by the desire for a cooler
spot, I sought to drag my agonised frame from the burning sand to the
cool, fresh, verdant greensward, which was but a few yards distant.
Slowly, and writhing at every movement with the keenest anguish, I
crawled foot by foot upwards along the beach, and at length, after half
an hour of intense torment, sank utterly exhausted upon the utmost verge
of the grass-covered plain.
My exertions caused all my wounds to burst open afresh, and I now became
aware that I had received several in addition to those inflicted in the
fight; these last being doubtless the result of wanton cruelty and
savage delight on the part of my enemies at finding me in their power.
But I was still as far as ever from the means of slaking my burning
thirst, for there was not a drop of fresh water within miles of me, as
far as I knew; and had there been, my strength was by this time so
completely gone that I could not have crawled another half-dozen yards
to save my life, or even to quench that thirst which was now to me
almost worse than death.
Stern, stubborn endurance was therefore my only resource, and I sank
back upon the cool grass to await, in bitter helplessness, the death
which I felt must soon come to my relief.
I now relapsed into a state of semi-consciousness, my thoughts wandering
away from my present condition and fixing themselves, with strange
pertinacity, upon subjects of the most trifling import; now plunging
into vague speculations, and anon indulging in all sorts of fantastic
fancies, as fever began to assume its burning sway over my tortured
frame.
From this state I was aroused by hearing a joyous shout in the tones of
Bob's well-remembered voice; and, raising myself with difficulty, only
to sink back in utter feebleness, I caught a momentary glimpse of the
boat in the act of grounding on the beach.
In a few brief seconds more Ella and Bob were beside me, the former
raising my head upon her knee, and gazing into my face with an
expression of the fondest pity and concern, as her fingers swept the
hair gently off my forehead, wet with the clammy dew of suffering.
Bob, too, knelt at my side, uttering expressions of sympathy and
encouragement, expressed, as usual, with true nautical figurativeness of
speech. Seeing that I was conscious, however, he speedily changed his
discourse, and informed me that it was necessary I should be immediately
removed; for, though he had succeeded in decoying the whole of the
savages away in pursuit of the boat, and had led them to such a distance
as to admit of his evading them and returning in search of me, they were
still in chase, and no time must be lost in getting away from the
present spot, and returning to the cutter, or we should again be brought
into dangerous proximity with them.
Having explained thus far, therefore, he at once proceeded to raise me
in his powerful arms; and though he did so with the utmost gentleness,
the agony attending the movement was so intense that I swooned away.
When I recovered, we were afloat and under way, standing off, with
flowing sheets, for the headland I have mentioned as forming the
northern extremity of the bay.
Ella was seated on the boat's platform or deck, with my head in her lap,
and was bathing my face and neck with her pocket-handkerchief, wetted
from a pannikin of water which stood by her side, and which was supplied
from a small breaker we had brought with us.
As soon as I opened my eyes the dear girl bent over me, and asked, with
the tenderest solicitude, whether I felt any better.
"Yes, darling," I answered; "but, for the love of mercy, pray give me
some water. I am dying for want of it."
She handed the pannikin to Bob, who immediately filled it, my eyes
drinking in, in eager anticipation, every cool, sparkling drop of the
precious liquid, as it gurgled crystal-clear out of the bung-hole of the
breaker; the next moment the pannikin was drained to the bottom, and I
was craving for more. Oh, what a delicious draught was that to my
parched and burning lips and throat!
Surely the man who first dreamed of nectar must have been thinking of
water, clear and cool, tasted under similar circumstances to those in
which I was then placed. My thirst at length temporarily assuaged, Ella
once more resumed the bathing of my wounds, tearing up the skirt of her
white cotton dress to bind them up with afterwards. I begged her to
desist, alluding as delicately as I could to my naked condition, and the
shock to her modesty which it must occasion and assured her I could and
would wait until we reached the cutter, when Bob would have leisure to
attend to me and enact the part of surgeon.
"I know what you mean, Harry, love," she answered; "but do not feel any
distress on my account. I am, I trust, as truly and perfectly modest as
any woman living; you will never have the slightest reason to complain
of me in that respect. And you know, dear, that to the pure in thought
all things are pure; and I can look, as I have already looked, upon your
naked body, without one thought save that of sorrow and deepest pity for
the cruel wounds with which it is covered. My modesty is not of the
spurious kind which would cause me to turn away my face and hide it with
simulated blushes, leaving those gaping wounds to remain uncared for;
and I hope you will not think the worse of me if I say that I intend,
not only to dress every one of them _now_, but as often as they require
it, until, with God's blessing, you are completely restored. And am I
not your promised wife? That alone, and apart from any abstract
question of humanity, is sufficient to justify my resolve, in my own
eyes, as I trust it will in yours, dearest. Bob is well enough, he is a
dear old fellow in many ways; but utterly unfitted to exercise the
delicacy and care, and ungifted with the lightness of touch, necessary
in your case. Besides, it is woman's peculiar province to--What are you
smiling at? Ah! I know. You are laughing at what you have styled my
`pet phrase' but never mind! I am rejoiced to see that you _can_ smile
at _anything_ in the midst of your pain, my poor darling."
We were by this time rounding the point, and the savages had been
visible some five minutes about three miles to the southward, paddling
away most furiously, so Bob said, in the vain hope of overtaking the
swift boat.
It was not a very long journey from this point back to the cove, in
which the _Water Lily_ was lying, and in about three quarters of an hour
we were alongside.
To transfer me on board and below was a most painful operation, and I
again swooned away soon recovering, however, under Ella's gentle
ministrations. To my surprise I found she had caused me to be placed in
her own cot forward, a proceeding against which I at once protested as
strenuously as my feeble powers would allow.
"Dearest, dearest Harry," said she, leaning over me, and pressing her
quivering lips passionately to mine, "do not, I pray you, exhaust
yourself and distress me by saying a single word. You are far better
here than you would be in your hammock. There you would have no room to
turn, whilst here you have plenty there it is close and stifling hot,
whilst here there is a cool and refreshing draught from the open
deck-light; and here, too, I shall have more room to move round and get
at your numerous wounds to dress them. And here I can remain at your
side and watch you constantly, whilst I could not do so very well in the
other cabin, without turning poor Bob out of it altogether."
"But," said I, "I protest against your devoting yourself to me so
completely as these arrangements imply; you will be ill--"
"Not another word, Harry," she interrupted, stopping my lips with a
kiss; I will not listen to it. I am already your wife in the sight of
God, and He knows that no wife can love more fondly than I do; so in
this dreadful time I shall perform all a wife's duties towards you,
dearest, as in that way only is there any hope of saving you. You are
now still under the influence of excitement, and do not know the extent
of your injuries; but you will find all that out by-and-by, when you
become more calm, and then you will need the most vigilant watching and
the utmost care to save you from sinking under the effects of
exhaustion.
"Oh! Ella, what can I do to repay you for all this?" I exclaimed,
deeply moved by the dear twirl's devotion.
"Live, Harry," she replied passionately; "live, my dearest; recover, and
bless your poor little Ella with such love as her heart now feels for
you. But this will never do," she added quickly, and with a powerful
effort to regain her self-control; "I must lose no time in getting these
dreadful wounds bound up, for they are all bleeding afresh; and,
remember, I forbid you to speak another word."
It was time, for I was so utterly exhausted that I felt doubtful whether
I should ever recover; so I lay passive whilst Ella tripped about,
procuring basins of warm water, bathing my wounds, and binding them up
carefully and tenderly with soft lint and ample bandages. I had heard
Bob's heavy tread bustling about on the deck above for a short time, but
I now missed it, and endeavoured to inquire where he was gone; this,
however, my nurse would not permit, assuring me that I should learn all
that it was necessary to know in due time, and when I was stronger and
better able to listen.
The work of dressing my injuries was a long and tedious one, for I had
no less than seventeen wounds in different parts of my body, the most
serious of which were the spear-wound in my back, and three, close
together, in my right breast; the blow at the back of my head; the
arrow-wounds in my neck and left shoulder where the weapons had been
dragged violently out, lacerating the flesh terribly, no doubt when I
was stripped; and a spear-thrust in my right thigh, which completely
pierced the limb and seemed to have severed some important artery, from
the quantity of blood which gushed from it and deluged the bed on which
I lay.
It was quite dark, or as dark as it _could_ be with a full moon riding
in cloudless beauty overhead, before the painful task was over; but the
soothing effects of the bathing and the bland and cooling properties of
the ointment applied to my smarting wounds were such that I soon felt at
ease and free from pain, compared with what my condition had been an
hour or two before, and I sank into a feverish doze, in the midst of
which I still remained conscious of the frequent application of cool wet
cloths to my burning brow, and of the constant moistening of my parched
lips with a cool refreshing beverage of some kind.
Gradually I dropped off into a sounder sleep, from which I awoke but
once in the night, to find my gentle nurse half-sitting, half-reclining,
in a chair beside my cot, fast asleep, with one soft round arm
encircling my neck and her fair head resting on the pillow close to my
own.
Volume Two, Chapter VI.