STORES LANDED--PARTY SENT TO KILL SEALS--A TENT RIGGED--WOODCUTTERS SET
TO WORK--TIGER-SEALS--A MOB OF SEALS ATTACKED--PETER CHASED BY
TIGER-SEAL--WILLY RESCUES PETER FROM THE SEAL--HARRY MEDITATES ON HIS
RESPONSIBILITIES--THE ENCAMPMENT AT NIGHT--A STORM THREATENS--RAIN COMES
THROUGH THE HUTS--INVADED BY SEALS--SEALS DRIVEN OFF--A HURRICANE--BOATS
IN DANGER--THE CUTTER HAULED UP--THE LAUNCH WRECKED--THE HUTS BLOWN
DOWN.
As soon as the thirst of the long sea-tossed party was assuaged, Harry
called the officers and men round him.
"We have an abundance of work before us," he said. "We have but a
scanty stock of provisions remaining, and must obtain more without
delay. We have wood to cut for fuel, and we must get up the best
shelter we can manage for the women and children before nightfall.
First, however, we must land our remaining stores, and secure them under
cover. For these purposes we will form three parties."
Dr Davis volunteered at once to go in search of seals; several, it
will be remembered, having been observed poking their snouts out of the
water as they came up the harbour. He had hopes also of finding more on
the islands or rocks within its circuit. Captain Twopenny offered to
accompany him, and Willy and Peter Patch begged that they might go also.
Harry told them that they might take the cutter as soon as she was
unloaded, with four of the men to pull. The boatswain and a large party
took charge of the unloading of the boats and putting up the huts, while
the remainder, armed with all the axes which could be mustered, were
directed to cut down wood for fuel.
"And, please sir, what are we to do?" asked Mrs Rumbelow; "there are
other hands here willing to work."
"I think the best thing you can do is to look after the children,"
answered Harry.
"Oh, sir, the ladies can do that; and they will pardon me for saying so.
I and several other women can manage to bring in the wood as the men
cut it, or to carry up the stores from the water. No one among us
wishes to be idle."
"I am not going to work," said poor Mr Holt, who was seated by himself
on a rock. "I was brought here against my will, and do not intend to be
made a slave of."
"Poor fellow," observed Harry, "he is not yet recovered from his attack,
Well, Mrs Rumbelow, I will accept your services; but what we have to do
must be done quickly, as night will shortly be upon us."
The wooding party under Paul Lizard, as soon as they had collected all
the axes and large knives to be found, went off to the wood at a short
distance from the landing-place. The cutter was quickly unloaded. The
doctor, in the meantime, had been surveying the island across the
harbour with a spy-glass. "I see several dark objects moving up the
bank," he observed. "I have no doubt they are seals; and, if so, we may
hope to obtain an ample supply of fresh meat. We shall find clubs of
more use than our guns," he added; "make haste, and get some ready." As
soon as the clubs were cut from some small trees growing near the beach,
the doctor, fearing that the seals might return to the water before they
could get up to them, hurried his companions into the boat, which pulled
away across the harbour. The launch had been hauled alongside the
rocks, and as soon as she was unloaded, Harry and the boatswain set to
work to erect a tent. The mast served as the ridge pole, and the spars
and oars formed supports over these, while the sails of the two boats
were spread and secured to the ground by stones placed along the lower
edges. Besides this, the canvas was made fast with lashings and ropes
to the poles. A tent of tolerable dimensions was thus formed,
sufficiently large to protect all the women and children.
"Should rain come on, there is something it wants," observed Mrs
Rumbelow, who had been very active in bringing up the things from the
boats. "We must spread a flooring of some sort. It will not do for
Mrs Morley and the young ladies to lie on the bare ground." Saying
this, and summoning the other women, she hurried off to the wood. In a
short time she and her attendants returned with loads of spruce
fir-tops. These were spread over the ground at one end of the tent.
The cutter's foresail had been triced up, and served as a partition.
"There, marm," she said, addressing Mrs Morley; "we have fitted up a
room for you, and the two young ladies, and Mrs Twopenny, where you may
be tolerably private; I wish it were a better one. You have not been
accustomed to this sort of rough life; but I and most of the other women
have seen something of it before, and can manage very well in the rest
of the tent. I only hope the children won't disturb you at night."
Mrs Morley warmly thanked her.
"Bless you, marm," answered Mrs Rumbelow, "we have only done our duty.
We could never do too much for our poor colonel's lady; so pray, marm,
don't talk of thanks."
Mrs Morley and the other ladies gladly took possession of that portion
of the tent prepared for them, feeling truly thankful that they could
rest without the dread of awaking and finding the dark seas tossing and
foaming around them. As soon as the tent was set up, the boatswain and
most of the other men joined the party in the wood, to collect the
boughs and the thickest bushes they could find. With these they erected
a number of wigwams, within which all the men might lie down and find
shelter. Mrs Rumbelow would not yet let her attendants rest, but back
again they went to the wood, and returned laden with as much fuel as
they could carry. A large fire soon blazed up.
"I wish we had some seal-flesh ready for cooking," observed the
boatswain to her as she began busily to employ herself in roasting the
last of the penguins, and the few remaining eggs which had been brought
from the rock. "This sort of work makes one hungry."
"If the doctor and the rest have any luck, we shall soon have as much as
you and all hands can stow away," she answered. "We'll keep the fire
blazing for them."
The cutter had meantime made her way across the harbour towards the
island. As she drew near it, the doctor and his party distinguished
several large animals, apparently asleep, high on the beach.
"Why, I do believe they are lions!" exclaimed Peter Patch, as a huge
monster, one of the nearest, lifted up its head and stared at the
intruders with its large eyes. The creature's mouth was of a prodigious
size, furnished with teeth, four of which were of great length. It had
long bristles on its lips, and from the neck and shoulders stood up a
thick mane of coarse hair. As they continued to advance, it lifted up
its head just as a dog would do, opening wide its mouth as if ready to
attack them with its enormous teeth.
"I say, Dicey, surely the doctor is not going in to fight these savage
creatures," whispered Peter. "Why they will tear us to pieces and
gobble us up in five minutes."
"They look fierce enough," said Willy. "But they are only seals, and as
they have not got legs, I suppose we can easily manage to keep out of
their way." Captain Twopenny proposed shooting the sea-lion; but the
doctor warned him not to fire, lest he might alarm the remainder, who
might take to the water before they could land. He directed Willy,
therefore, to steer the boat further round, so that they might get on
shore at a little distance from the seals, and then, by creeping on them
unawares, kill as many as they might require.
They soon landed, and the captain and doctor led the way, club in hand,
followed by Willy, Peter, and three of the men, one having been left in
charge of the boat. Willy shortly afterwards missed Peter, who had
evidently no fancy for attacking the lions, as he still believed them to
be. After making their way through the bush for a short distance, the
rest of the party came upon an open space in which were at least a
hundred seals, apparently fast asleep, divided into three bands, which
the sailors called mobs, quite separate from each other. They were of
all sizes; some were huge bulls, others cows; and among them were a
number of young calves. The doctor told off two men to attack each mob.
Willy thought that it must be dangerous work to fight such formidable
creatures; still he was not inclined to flinch from it. The doctor
directed them to knock over the young ones, and not to mind the others,
unless the creatures should stand at bay, or attack them. "If they do,
we must give them a hard rap on the nose, which, depend upon it, will
settle them at once," he observed.
Having placed their guns against a tree, they grasped their clubs at a
sign from the doctor, who set them the example, and rushed in among the
seals. The animals waking up, stared at the intruders with
astonishment, while the doctor and his companions, wielding their clubs,
struck right and left at their heads. A single blow was sufficient to
kill the young ones, and in a few seconds more than a dozen were knocked
over. The larger animals, seized with alarm, instead of turning to
attack their assailants, scuttled off, moving themselves with their fins
at a rapid rate towards the water. Three, however, of the large seals
were killed, besides the smaller ones.
"Well done, my lads," cried the doctor, delighted. "We shall have
provisions enough to last all hands for several days. No fear of
starvation now, I hope. Dicey, do you and two of the men bring the boat
round to take the seals on board. Dick Sharp and Tom Wall, go with Mr
Dicey."
"Ay, ay, sir," said the men named.
Willy hastened off to obey the order, carrying his gun with him. He had
not gone far when a cry was heard. "Help! help! help! a savage brute is
at me." It was Peter Patch who was crying out. Willy and his
companions hurried on, and in another instant they caught sight of Peter
Patch scrambling up a tree, while a huge tiger-seal, as the sailors
called the creature, on account of the colour of its fur, was charging
at him with open mouth. Peter had barely time to draw himself up out of
the monster's way. The seal, seeing Willy and the other men
approaching, now came dashing on towards them, and they had to leap
actively out of its way to avoid its sharp tusks. So savage did it look
that they had no wish to approach its open jaws; indeed, with such
rapidity did it run and twist about in the thick bush, that they had
considerable difficulty in escaping from it.
"Take care," cried Peter; "he nearly killed me just now. If he catches
you, you'll repent it."
At that moment the seal either heard Peter's voice or caught sight of
him, and again dashed up towards the tree. This enabled Willy and his
companions to get into a more open part of the bush. Peter shrieked
out, "Oh! oh! shoot him, shoot him, or he will be clambering up after
me."
Willy could not help laughing at his messmate's fright, not believing
that the creature could possibly climb the tree. He was now able to
stop and take aim. He fired, and though the bullet went through the
seal's head, it seemed in no way incommoded, but, finding that it could
not reach Peter, turned round and made again towards its other foes.
Willy, who had begun to load, had to scramble as best he could through
the scrub, to escape the charge of the enraged creature. The seamen,
observing the dangerous position in which he was placed, hurried forward
with their clubs uplifted. The animal turned towards Tom Wall, and
seizing his club, wrenched it out of his hand, biting it almost through.
Dick Sharp, however, at the same moment let fall his weapon on its nose
with such force that the creature staggered and sank to the ground, thus
allowing Tom to get back his club. Before, however, either of them
could repeat the blow, the seal, recovering, again dashed at Tom, who
had to leap out of its way, narrowly escaping an ugly gripe on the leg.
Willy had again loaded, but was afraid to fire lest he might hit either
of the seamen. The seal now stopped, seeming doubtful at which of his
assailants he should next rush. When they stopped the creature stopped
also; and directly they moved, either to one side or the other, it
charged as fearlessly as at first. At length Willy got another shot.
Again the ball entered the creature's head, but without producing any
apparent effect. Several times the brave old sea-lion charged, now on
one side, now on the other, till it again got into the open space. It
was now apparently beginning to feel the effects of the bullets, for,
raising itself up on its fore-flippers, it remained several seconds
glaring at its foes.
"Come on, Tom," cried Dick Sharp. "We are not going to be beaten by a
seal, I hope, though he does look more like an African lion than any
creature I have ever before set eyes on."
Peter, ashamed of his fright, now came down from the tree, and picking
up his club, which he had dropped, he with the rest advanced towards the
doomed seal. A well-aimed blow by Dick brought it again to the ground,
and in another instant it was deprived of life. As it was too far from
the boat to attempt to get it on board, they left it, and quickly pulled
round to the spot where the other slaughtered animals lay. In a short
time the boat was fully loaded. Just as they were shoving off, several
wild-fowl were seen.
"We ought to try and get some," said Willy, "for though this seal's
flesh will do for us and the men, the poor ladies require more delicate
food."
Captain Twopenny and the doctor at once crept up towards the birds, and
soon killed a dozen; for they, being evidently in happy ignorance of the
effect of fire-arms, were not frightened at the report of the guns.
Willy also succeeded in bringing down three with his gun. It was quite
dark, as the boat, with her welcome supply of provisions, crossed the
harbour, the light from the camp-fire serving as a beacon by which Willy
could steer his course.
The weather had been somewhat threatening, the wind freshened up, and
deeply laden as was the boat, they were afraid that she might be swamped
before they could reach the shore. At length, however, they got safely
to land, and found the party still busy in putting up huts. Mrs
Rumbelow was was among the first to welcome them. As soon as she saw
the wild-fowl, she begged for a couple, and began picking them on her
way back to the fire. The seals and the remainder of the birds were
quickly landed, and an ample supply of their flesh was soon either
boiling over the fire or roasting before it. Mrs Rumbelow prepared
with the birds a more delicate meal for the ladies than the seal-flesh
could afford. Willy had the satisfaction of taking it to them, with the
last plateful of biscuit crumbs which remained. One of the compass
lamps had been hung up to give light to the tent within which the four
ladies were seated.
"The doctor says that he hopes to-morrow to find some roots which may
serve instead of bread," observed Willy; "and he begs, Mrs Morley, that
you will accept the last apology for wheaten bread we are likely to have
for some time."
"Pray, thank the doctor, and we hope that you will share it with us, Mr
Dicey," said Mrs Morley.
"No, no, marm!" answered Willy, laughing at the bare thought of such a
thing. "Mr Shafto has determined that the officers and men shall share
alike, and we have all agreed to abide by his wishes."
The arrangement for the night had scarcely yet been completed, but the
people were so hungry that Harry Shafto allowed them to knock off work,
that they might cook the seal-flesh which had just arrived. Three fires
had been lit, round which eager faces were collected, some toasting
pieces of seal-flesh on the ends of sticks, others more scientifically
roasting them on spits, while Mrs Rumbelow was cooking more of the
wild-fowl reserved for the women. Close to these fires were the huts
just erected, of various shapes, some like Indian wigwams, others with
circular roofs, others of a more square form, as the fancy of the
architects had dictated; while beyond them was the more pretentious tent
composed of the boats' sails.
In front, the two boats floated in the bay, with a dark outline of the
shore and hills of the other side of the harbour, while behind the camp
rose tree-covered heights, some towering up towards the sky, out of
which numberless stars were now shining forth. Harry had walked a
little way from the camp, where he stood, considering what was next to
be done. He felt the full responsibility of the position in which he
was placed.
"We may still," he thought, "reach New Zealand in the boats; but the
risk of the passage across the stormy sea which intervenes is very
great. We may be unable to make the English settlements in the northern
island, and it is uncertain what reception we may meet with from the
natives on any other part of the coast. It may be wiser to remain where
we are; but, then, with regard to the matter of provisions? Do the
seals frequent the harbour at all times of the year? If not, we shall
have only the birds, and any wild animals which may exist, to live on.
Perhaps even wild-fowl may not be found at all seasons, and then are
there any other animals besides seals? I think I have heard that hogs
and goats have been landed; but they may have been destroyed by the
severity of the climate, or the want of proper food."
Such and many more thoughts passed through the young officer's mind.
His meditations were interrupted by the shrill whistling of the wind in
the trees. Dark clouds gathering to the northward had begun to course
rapidly across the sky, soon obscuring the stars overhead, warning him
that he must hasten back to the camp, and urge the men to hurry on with
the huts, which might afford them some shelter from the coming storm.
He found them seated round the fires, discussing the seals' flesh. Most
of them had been too hungry to wait till it was thoroughly cooked, and
even the officers had been unable to refrain from beginning supper till
he joined them. He, however, took but a hurried meal, and then went in
search of the boatswain, who was seated at one of the fires.
"We have put up some huts for you and the other gentlemen, just in front
of the ladies' tent," said Mr Bollard. "The men refused to build their
own till they had made them pretty comfortable as things go. They will
soon, however, have theirs ready, as we have plenty of boughs cut down
for the purpose."
Harry thanked the boatswain, and told him to hurry the men on with the
work.
All hands were soon again busy, and in a short time the huts were
finished, those of the men extending on either side of the little group
intended for the officers. The three fires, with fresh fuel added to
them, burned up brightly in a row between them and the beach.
Scarcely were the arrangements for the night completed, when the rain
began to fall in torrents. The women hastened to their tent, which kept
it out pretty well, but the leafy bowers, it was soon found, formed but
a very imperfect protection. The men, however, wearied with their day's
exertion, were glad to get within, and coiling themselves up on the
rough boughs which served as couches, most of them were soon fast
asleep. Harry had Willy and Peter Patch as his companions; Captain
Twopenny and the Doctor took charge of poor Holt. Willy could not help
telling Harry of Peter's adventure with the seal, and they had a hearty
laugh at the fright he had been in.
"And so would you," exclaimed Peter. "How could I tell that the beast
was not going to swallow me up; he had a mouth big enough, at all
events."
It was some time before the inmates of the midshipmen's berth (as they
called their hut) could get to sleep. Though the leafy wall around them
sheltered them from the wind, yet the rain penetrated in all directions;
and they had to turn their collars up, and sit as close together as
possible in the centre of the hut to avoid being wetted through. For
some time they had sufficient light from the blazing fires to see, and
were able to stop up some of the gaps in the roof; but by degrees the
torrents of water which came down from the higher ground put them out,
and they were left in almost total darkness. It was hopeless, while the
rain continued, to relight them. Overcome by fatigue, Willy and Peter
dropped off asleep, while Harry, though kept awake some time longer by
the thoughts which occupied his mind, at length followed their example.
As no human beings nor wild beasts inhabited the island, Harry had not
thought it necessary to place a watch. He had been asleep for some
time, when he heard Peter, who was nearest the opening of the hut,
shrieking out loudly, "A lion! a lion! Oh! oh! the brute, he will eat
me up!"
Harry naturally thought that his messmate was dreaming. "What is the
matter, Peter?" he cried out. "Wake up. There is nothing to hurt you."
"I am awake, and there is a huge beast shoving his snout right against
me."
Harry now sat up, and there, sure enough, he saw by the dim light the
large head of an animal at the entrance of the hut. At the same instant
cries and shouts burst forth from the inmates of the other huts, and the
camp, till then so quiet, was in a complete uproar. Willy, awoke by the
noise, jumped up. "Why, it is a huge seal," he exclaimed. Fortunately
he had brought his club into the hut, and telling Peter to stand aside,
he dealt the animal a heavy blow on the nose. The poor seal, not
expecting such a reception, began to back out, when another blow laid it
lifeless. The midshipmen, on going outside their hut, saw the whole
ground covered by huge black forms moving in all directions, while the
seamen, armed with clubs or whatever they could pick up, were running
about, striking right and left at the astonished creatures. The seals
apparently had landed at one of their usual places of resort, not at all
expecting to find it occupied by human beings. In their fright several
charged right into the middle of the camp, and two of the huts were in a
moment levelled to the ground. They paid dearly for their mistake, for
the seamen, some frightened and others angry at being roused from their
slumbers, killed ten or twelve of them before they made their escape.
Some were seen moving at a rapid rate inland, bellowing loudly, while
others crawled quickly down into the water. Harry, fearing that the
ladies would be alarmed, hastened to their tent to assure them that
there was no danger.
Once more, the seals having taken their departure, order and quiet was
restored to the camp. In case they might return, a watch, however, was
placed, that due notice might be given of the approach of the intruders.
Sailors have happily a knack of going to sleep at times when other men
would be kept awake, and in a few minutes all hands, with the exception
of the watch, were again wrapped in slumber. Harry had hoped to get a
good night's rest, to be enabled the better to go through the duties of
the next day. He had been asleep some time, when he was once more
aroused by hearing Paul Lizard's voice.
"It's coming on to blow very hard, sir; and from the way the sea is
breaking into the bay, I am afraid the boats, if we don't look after
them, will be knocked to pieces."
"Call Mr Bollard, and we will see about it," said Harry, springing to
his feet.
It was indeed blowing a regular hurricane, and it did credit to the
builders of the huts that they should have withstood its force. The
waves, crested with foam, came rolling in from across the harbour,
breaking with great violence against the rocks. The seamen, aroused
from their sleep, hurried out of their huts, encountering as they did so
thick showers of spray, which, driven by the wind, broke over them. The
first thing to be done was to haul up the cutter, which, dashed about by
the foaming seas, ran the risk at any moment of being knocked to pieces
on the rocks. So violently, however, did the waves break on the shore,
that the seamen could not without much difficulty get hold of her.
"Now, my lads," cried Bollard, "we will make a dash at the boat. A
strong pull, and a pull altogether, and we will have her in safety."
Inspired by his and Harry's example, the men succeeded in getting hold
of the boat, and as the next sea lifted her, they hauled her up on a
level part of the rock. The launch meantime was tossing about at her
anchor; the foam-topped seas now breaking on board her, now lifting her
up as if they would send her bodily on shore. The sailors watched her
anxiously; for should no vessel appear to take them off the island, she
would afford them the only means of escaping. The hurricane was
apparently not yet at its height. The wind howled and whistled louder
and louder through the woods, the sea, breaking in white masses along
the shore, every instant roared more fiercely; first one hut, and then
another was overthrown, and their materials scattered over the ground;
but the men were too anxious watching the boat to care about the matter.
Another and another foaming sea came rolling onwards. It was evident
that they would either swamp the boat or drive her from her anchor.
"The cable has parted," cried several voices. The boat rose to the top
of a sea, and then came hurrying on towards the shore. All felt that
there was but little hope of saving her. Notwithstanding this, they ran
to the point towards which she was driving. Before they could reach it,
she was thrown with tremendous violence against the rocks, rebounding a
short distance, to be driven back again with greater force than before.
The crashing of her planks and timbers could be heard as she was driven
again and again against the pointed rocks. Those who endeavoured to
reach her ran a great risk of being crushed or swept off by the receding
sea. Harry, fearing for their lives, ordered them to desist, having a
faint hope that she might be thrown high up on the rocks before her
total destruction had been accomplished. He hoped in vain, for she
continued beating with increasing violence against the rocks, till every
timber and plank on one side were stove in, and in a few minutes, being
driven again and again on the rocks, scarcely two of her planks remained
hanging together, the fragments strewing the beach in all directions.
With a heavy heart at the serious accident that had occurred, Harry
returned to his hut, which, having been built more strongly than the
rest, had hitherto escaped destruction. The ladies' tent had also
withstood the gale; but how long it would continue to do so it was
difficult to say. The seamen, in no way disconcerted by the disaster,
were laughing and cutting jokes with each other as they endeavoured to
rebuild their huts in the dark; but scarcely had they tried to fix the
boughs in a proper position than another gust would again scatter the
whole structure far and wide. The sea, too, was making its way higher
and higher up the beach, sending deluges of spray over the spot where
the huts had stood, and reaching occasionally up to the tent. As may be
supposed, no one in the camp got more sleep that night.