CONSEQUENCE OF LOSS OF LAUNCH--MRS MORLEY'S RESIGNATION--PREPARE TO
WINTER ON THE ISLAND--HOUSE-BUILDING COMMENCED--THE LADIES' COTTAGE
COMPLETED--MORE HUTS ERECTED--BIRDS SEEK SHELTER IN THE COTTAGE--THE
YOUNG LADIES' AVIARY--INDUSTRY OF THE SETTLERS--ANXIETY ABOUT
PROVISIONS--FISH CAUGHT--FISH-HOOKS MANUFACTURED--SEA-LIONS ATTACKED--
LIZARD CHARGED BY SEA-LION--ESCAPE OF TIPPO SAHIB--COW-SEALS' MILK--
YOUNG BROKE TAKES MILK TO LADIES--THE DOCTOR'S EXPEDITION INLAND--
SEAL-TRACKS UP MOUNTAIN--RIPE FRUIT FOUND--WILLY AND PETER CHASED BY A
SEAL--A CAVERN DISCOVERED--FIGHT WITH THE SEAL--BREAKFAST ON THE
MOUNTAIN--DIFFICULT TRAVELLING--ENVELOPED IN A THICK MIST--ENCAMP FOR
THE NIGHT--WILLY SEES A DOG--PROCEED ON JOURNEY--TRACES OF HOGS
DISCOVERED--A SHIP CLOSE IN-SHORE--THE PARTY HURRY FORWARD--THE SHIP HAS
GONE--THEIR SIGNAL NOT NOTICED--RETURN ALONG THE BEACH--A HUT IN THE
DISTANCE--A DEAD SAILOR DISCOVERED--PROCEED OVER THE HILLS--WILLY FINDS
NEST OF PARROTS--RETURN TO VILLAGE--DIGGING FOR ROOTS--WILLY'S
GALLANTRY.
When daylight broke, the whole harbour appeared covered with
white-crested waves, dancing and leaping wildly, while the beach was
covered with the fragments of the launch.
Harry felt very unwilling to communicate the disaster to Mrs Morley.
It must be done, however. As soon as she appeared, he told her of what
had occurred.
"God's will be done," she answered. "Any suffering we may be called on
to go through seems light compared with that others have had to endure.
I have sought for strength from on high, and it will not be denied me."
The rain had now ceased. In spite of the gale, fires were lighted; and
Mrs Rumbelow, with the aid of several of the men, set to work to get
breakfast ready. They had still some tea and coffee remaining, as they
had been enabled to use but little of it during the voyage; their only
other food, however, was the wild-fowl and seals' flesh. Of the latter
they had certainly an abundant supply, but would willingly have
exchanged some of it for the coarsest sea biscuit.
As soon as breakfast was over, Harry held a council of war with the
doctor, Captain Twopenny, and Mr Bollard. All hope of getting away, if
no vessel appeared, was now cut off. They might have to remain many
months--it was impossible to say how long. Winter would soon be upon
them; and as shelter from the cold and wet was indispensable, the first
thing was to build warm substantial huts, the next was to provide food.
The doctor was of opinion that they could not depend on the seals
remaining in the harbour, while he feared that the health of all would
suffer unless some variety of food could be obtained. He advised, in
the first place, that the seals' flesh should be salted and dried, so as
to have a store in reserve should the animals disappear. He volunteered
also to set off, when the weather moderated, on an exploring expedition,
to ascertain the natural productions of the country.
"We may find roots and fruits of some sort which may answer the purpose
of bread and vegetables, and we may discover the hogs and goats you
speak of, Dicey; and perhaps some other creatures," he observed. "In my
opinion, when people use their intellects, and exert themselves, there
are few parts of the world so utterly unproductive that they must of
necessity starve,--as we should certainly if we were to sit down in this
little nook with our hands before us."
"Very right, sir," observed the boatswain. "I have a notion that we
should also keep a look-out along the coast for any vessel which may be
passing. If we remain up here, any number might go by and not discover
us. As soon as the weather moderates, I'll therefore, with Mr Shafto's
leave, take the boat down the harbour, and search for some point where
we may establish a look-out place, and set up a flagstaff with which we
can signalise any ship coming in sight."
Harry at once agreed to Bollard's proposal, and Captain Twopenny
volunteered to accompany the doctor on his proposed exploring
expedition.
In the meantime, as the weather continued too bad to move to any
distance, it was arranged that all hands should turn to at
house-building. The spot selected for the little village was on the
driest piece of ground to be found at the foot of the hill; and it was
agreed that the first house put up should be for Mrs Morley and her
daughters, with another for Captain and Mrs Twopenny close to it. The
best axe-men at once commenced felling trees. They were not long or
thick enough, however, to form log-huts after the American fashion. It
was settled, therefore, that they should be put in upright, close
together, and the interstices filled with clay, while the outside walls,
as well as the roofs, were to be thatched with the long grass which grew
in abundance at the foot of the hills.
While the men were hewing down the trees, Mrs Rumbelow, with four of
the most active women, set to work to cut the grass for thatching. It
was no slight task, as it was evident that a large quantity would be
required. By the end of the first day, they had, however, formed a
stack of considerable size. In the meantime, Willy and Peter, with
young Broke and the other boys, collected all the fragments of the boat
which had been washed on shore. With some of the planks they proposed
forming a floor for Mrs Morley's cottage. The most perfect were kept
for repairing the cutter, and Willy suggested that others might serve
for manufacturing casks in which the seals' flesh could be pickled.
"But where are we to get the salt from, now that the doctor's still is
not at work?" asked Peter.
"We shall find plenty of it among the rocks if we get some sunshine,"
said Willy; "and if not, we must dig some salt pans. I heard him say
that if we could obtain plenty of salt, there would be no fear of our
starving."
Where people labour with a will, under good management, work proceeds
rapidly. Before the evening the timber for the first two cottages was
shaped, and trees for several others were cut down; while grass enough
had been stacked for thatching them.
The ladies were not idle. Fanny and Emma Morley insisted on carrying
the bundles of grass, and even poor Mrs Twopenny tried to exert
herself, but certainly did very little real work. When Mrs Morley was
seen accompanying her daughters, Mrs Rumbelow came up to her. "Please,
marm, I beg your pardon, but that must not be. What is play to us is
killing work for you. Let an old woman advise you, and don't go and
knock yourself up. Mr Shafto commands here, and I am sure he will say
I am right." It was not, however, without difficulty that the poor lady
could be induced to return to the tent.
The first two cottages were completed. They had fire-places composed of
stone and clay at the further ends, the wall being of sufficient
thickness to prevent the woodwork outside from burning; while the
chimneys were formed of wood coated inside with clay. The roofs were
made double; the lowest set of rafters were first covered with grass,
and a layer of clay placed over them: above this was a thickly-thatched
pointed roof, so that the snow and wet could not rest on it. Harry and
Willy, with the assistance of the doctor, put up a porch in the front of
Mrs Morley's house, which gave it a picturesque look. As there was no
planking to spare, the doors and window-shutters were formed of rough
frames and bars across, with grass thickly interwoven between them.
These served to keep out the wind and cold, and, as Willy said, looked
excessively rural. The bedplaces, fixed against the walls, were raised
some feet from the floor, and formed much after the fashion of the
doors. In the centre was a table constructed out of the planking of the
launch, with seats on either side. Bound the beds, with a sailor's
forethought, Harry had stretched some broad pieces of canvas, assisting
to keep off any draughts which might make their way in blowing weather
into the cottage. Captain Twopenny's abode, though smaller than Mrs
Morley's, was constructed in the same manner. He and Harry, with all
the men of the party, had been up by daybreak to complete them. As soon
as breakfast was over, they invited the ladies to take possession of
their new cottages. Mrs Morley and her daughters expressed themselves
delighted with theirs.
"You have indeed, Mr Shafto, laboured hard to secure our comfort," she
said, "and we feel most grateful. I little expected so soon to have
such excellent shelter."
"What a fearful place to have to live in during the winter," said Mrs
Twopenny, as she surveyed the abode to which her husband introduced her.
"Why didn't you build it of brick."
"Simply, my dear, because no bricks can be had," answered the captain,
not looking very well pleased; "and this you will, I hope, find warm and
comfortable. We might have been very much worse off, believe me."
Mrs Morley and her daughters at once set to work to arrange, with the
scanty means at their disposal, the interior of their cottage, assisted
by Mrs Rumbelow. Meantime, all hands were engaged in putting up the
other huts. One of larger dimensions was in a short time finished for
the women, into which they at once moved; Harry and the officers taking
possession of the tent; while two other huts, one for the men, and
another for themselves, were being erected.
The sun at length shone forth brightly on the little settlement: the
woods were alive with song-birds, numbers of which came fearlessly
flying up as if to ascertain what the strangers had been about. Their
notes were very sweet, though their plumage was somewhat sombre. They
seemed especially anxious to make the acquaintance of Fanny and Emma
Morley, who were standing at the porch of their cottage watching them,
and surprised at the bold way in which they approached. First one came
hopping up, and then another, and when the young ladies stooped down and
offered them some small bits of meat, the birds without hesitation took
the food out of their hands.
"How cruel it would be to kill any of our little confident visitors!"
said Emma. "We must beg Mr Shafto to allow no gun to be fired near our
village, lest it should frighten them away."
"I am afraid that if there is a scarcity of food it will be very
difficult to persuade the people not to do so," observed Fanny.
"But with so many seals and other large birds in the neighbourhood, I
trust we may never be reduced to such an extremity," answered her
sister.
While they were speaking, a large flock of birds came flying rapidly
towards them. Some darted through the open window, others made their
way over their heads through the door into the cottage, and others flew
round them, evidently in great terror. On looking out, they observed
the cause of the birds' alarm. Hovering in the air was a large hawk,
about to pounce down upon the little songsters. They called to Captain
Twopenny, who was approaching his cottage. He ran in for his gun, and
in another instant the savage pirate fell to the ground. Instead of
flying away at the report, the little birds seemed to comprehend the
service which had been rendered them, and kept flying round and round
the cottages, or settling on the roofs, as if perfectly satisfied that
no harm was intended them. Harry, who soon afterwards appeared,
promised to warn the people against injuring the little birds; and after
this they made themselves perfectly at home among their visitors, flying
fearlessly in and out of the cottages, no one attempting to interfere
with them. They were, indeed, frequently seen settling on the hands of
the children, who soon learned to make pets of the confiding little
creatures. On several occasions after this large flocks pursued by
hawks came for shelter among their friends, when the birds of prey
seldom escaped the captain's gun. Among their feathered friends was a
pretty little green bird, which sung very sweetly; another was exactly
like the English blackbird; and a third, with a red breast, came hopping
up with the familiarity of the winter visitor of old England, the dear
little Robin. One of the latter perched with perfect confidence on
Emma's hand, and seemed in no way disposed to fly away. After looking
up pertly in her face, it hopped off to the trellis work of the porch,
where it perched, apparently determined to take up its abode beneath
their sheltering roof. In a short time several others followed its
example; indeed, the porch looked like an aviary, except that the birds,
instead of being confined within wire bars, could fly in and out as they
pleased, and go off to the woods in search of the food they found most
suitable to their tastes.
The young ladies, however, did not give all their time to their pets,
for they were anxious to set an example of industry to the rest of the
women. They had found some long grass, which they set to work to plait.
They began by making some hats for the children; and these succeeding
well, they manufactured others for the women as well as for themselves.
Even Mrs Twopenny, seeing them employed, tried to make herself useful,
and succeeded beyond the expectations of her companions. As soon as the
huts were supplied with bedplaces, and tables, and seats, two or three
of the men employed themselves in making wooden bowls and cups and
plates, though, as they had no turning-lathe, the articles were somewhat
rough in appearance. However, as the supply of crockery which had been
brought in the boats was but small, they were very acceptable. Others
were engaged in making casks for preserving the seals' flesh. Mrs
Rumbelow had also carefully collected all the feathers from the
wild-fowls which had been killed. With these she made several warm
quilts, the first of which she presented to the ladies, telling them
that she hoped still to have enough feathers to supply all the women and
children.
Another important object, which Harry especially desired to succeed in,
was the manufacture of the seal-skins into leather. He was anxious to
have these to serve as bed-coverings for the men as soon as possible; he
foresaw, too, that their shoes and clothing would soon wear out, and
that the seal-leather would be the only material with which to supply
their places. On making inquiries among the men whether any of them
knew how to dress the skins, Dick Sharp said that he had been
apprenticed to a currier, and thought, if he could obtain some suitable
bark, he should be able to dress the skins, and make them fit for any
purpose which might be required.
"Very well," said Harry; "we must appoint you to that duty; and, doctor,
it must be your charge to look out for bark with tanning properties."
His chief anxiety, however, was to provide food for the party. The boat
had been sent over every day for seals, but they were already becoming
wary, and fewer were killed than at first. Some mussels had been found
on the rocks, but they were only to be obtained at low water, and in no
large quantities. The doctor and Captain Twopenny had also gone out
every day with their guns in search of wild-fowl; but they were
compelled to be very economical of their powder, of which they had only
a limited supply. Before long that must come to an end. What then was
to be done? Should the seals go away altogether, unless they could
entrap the birds by some means or other, they would run a fearful risk
of starvation.
While Harry was considering this important matter, Paul Lizard appeared
with a good-sized cod which he held up triumphantly as he came towards
the village. "I have brought this for Mrs Morley and the other ladies,
sir," he said; "and if I had some proper hooks I could get as many as
would serve all hands. I often used to catch fish when I was a boy; and
so I thought I would just knock out a couple of hooks from crooked
nails, and see, what could be done. I took young Broke down with me;
and before long we got plenty of bites, but not one could we hook, till
at last I caught this fellow."
"There will be no difficulty in getting the hooks," said Harry. "We
will set the armourer's mate to work to try what he can do for you."
The bellows had fortunately been kept in good order, the stove serving
as a forge, and a block of stone as an anvil. In the course of an hour,
under Paul's superintendence, a hook was produced which satisfied him
thoroughly. This served as a model for others. Some long sticks were
cut for rods, while the mussels made excellent bait. Taking two other
men with him, Paul hastened back to the part of the shore where he had
caught the cod. In the course of a couple of hours the party returned,
laden with as many fish as they could carry. The supply was indeed most
welcome, and they were received with warm congratulations from Mrs
Rumbelow, who forthwith set the women to work to clean and cook as many
as were required. The poor children especially were in want of a change
of food. Though they had apparently suffered but little from exposure
in the boat, several were now ill, and demanded the doctor's constant
attention. Little Bessy was among the invalids; and hoping that she
might benefit by being removed from the other children, the Miss Morleys
offered to take charge of her. From that day she became the inmate of
their cottage, and was a constant source of interest.
Paul and young Broke, with Tom Wall and another man, were now regularly
constituted the fishermen of the settlement. Next morning, at daylight,
they set out, hoping to get some fresh fish for breakfast. They made
their way further down the harbour than they had before gone, intending
to go out to the end of some rocks which formed one side of a small bay.
Peter and Tom Wall had carried clubs with them, on the chance of
falling in with seals. On climbing over the rocks above the bay, they
caught sight of a mob of sea-lions, apparently fast asleep.
Approaching, they were quickly in the midst of the animals, and had
killed three cows and their calves before the rest discovered them.
Most of the animals, on awaking and seeing their foes, scuttled off in
their usual fashion into the water. One old bull, however, a large and
savage-looking creature, indignant at having his family thus destroyed,
charged at Paul, who was unable to turn and defend himself. Supposing
that he could run faster than the sea-lion, he scampered off inland, not
a bit alarmed, but shouting and laughing at the idea of having to run
away from a seal. The other men followed, trying to attract the
attention of the savage beast, who appeared to have singled out Paul as
the object of its vengeance. Paul ran on as fast as his legs could
move; but the old seal kept way with him as long as he remained on the
level ground. Matters were becoming serious, and he saw that, should
the creature catch him, he might suffer severely. Fortunately, a high
and rugged rock appeared before him; he made towards it, and succeeded
in scrambling up its side just as the seal reached his heels. The
animal was not to be stopped, and made a great effort to follow, but a
sailor in climbing was not to be overtaken by a seal; and just as Paul
reached the top, the disappointed brute tumbled over on its back. Tom
Wall, with his companion, who had just come up, was on the point of
striking the seal when Paul cried out, "Let the old fellow alone; he
deserves to live for the pluck he has shown, and we have more meat
already than we want." The bull, on recovering himself, instead of
attacking his other foes, made off round the rock, and took refuge in a
wood a little beyond it, where they could hear him bellowing loudly in
his rage and disappointment.
"I have heard tell of an old fellow in India, one Tippo Sahib, and to my
mind that's a good name for that old chap," said Paul. "If we ever come
across him again I shall know him by his ugly phiz."
While they remained in the neighbourhood Paul, however, could not help
looking round every now and then, expecting to see Tippo Sahib charging
out of the wood towards him.
On returning to the shore, they found young Broke by the side of the
cows. "Look here," he exclaimed, "the creatures have got first-rate
milk. If I had a bowl now, I might carry some for little Bessy. I
should not be surprised but what it would set her all to rights."
"Well, then, boy, you run back and get the women to give you a couple of
cans, and tell four or five of the men to come along and take the seals'
flesh to the village, while we three remain here fishing."
Young Broke ran off in high glee; and as the Miss Morleys came out of
their cottage in the morning, he appeared with a bowl of fresh milk in
his hands.
"Where have you got that, my boy?" asked Fanny.
"Please, miss, we killed some cows this morning, and I have brought it
for little Bessy," answered the boy.
"Some cows!" exclaimed Mrs Twopenny, who had just joined her friends.
"I had no idea there were any on the island. And could the men have
been so foolish as to kill them?"
"They are not real cows, please, marm," answered young Broke, "but those
fish sort of creatures. The doctor has tasted the milk, and he says it
is much better than goats' milk, and will do the little girl a great
deal of good. There's more than she can want, and I hope that you
ladies will take the rest. I must be off again, because I have to bring
some fish for Mrs Rumbelow to cook for your breakfast."
Without waiting to receive the thanks of the ladies, the lad hurried
away.
Mrs Rumbelow boiled some of the seals' milk, of which there was a good
supply, with sugar, in order to preserve it. So beneficial was its
effect on the children, with the assistance of the fish, that the doctor
was now able to commence his proposed exploring expedition. He and
Captain Twopenny, carrying their guns, set out at daybreak the next
morning, accompanied by Willy and Peter, with axes in their belts, and
Tom Wall and Dick Sharp, the two latter taking their clubs to do battle
with any seals they might encounter. The doctor had also a wooden spade
with a sharp point which he had manufactured, and carried like a sword
by a belt round his waist. Willy had a similar implement, which he had
made after the doctor's model.
"If I mistake not, Dicey, we shall find our tools of as much value as
our guns," observed the doctor. "By their means we may discover the
treasures hidden beneath the soil, and which we can at all times obtain;
whereas the birds may fly away, and the beasts, if any exist besides
seals, may not always be found."
The explorers soon began to climb the steep sides of a mountain which
rose beyond the harbour. "Why, surely this country must be inhabited,"
exclaimed Willy, as they got into a pathway which led up the mountain.
"It is very evident that such is the case, but we have already made
acquaintance with the inhabitants," said the doctor. "This is a
seals'-track; and, see, there are others leading up from the water. The
creatures are fond of travelling inland, though I should not have
supposed they would have made their way up the mountains."
They followed the track for a considerable distance, and still it
continued, till they calculated that they were at least four miles from
the shore. They were struck by the evergreen appearance of the trees
and the herbage generally. Some of the trees were in blossom.
"Here, here," cried Willy. "Look at these red berries. They seem quite
ripe, and I saw several birds perched on the tree eating them."
The doctor hastened up, and nibbled one of the berries in a cautious
manner, to ascertain its nature.
"Ah, yes, a subacid flavour; they are wholesome, I should think. Peter,
just eat a handful, and we will judge whether or not they are
poisonous."
"But suppose they prove the latter?" asked Peter.
"Why, then you will have the honour of suffering for the benefit of
science," answered the doctor, laughing. "But you need not be alarmed;
I will set you an example."
The doctor tasted another berry. Peter then ate nearly a handful,
acknowledging that, though the flavour was pleasant, they were very
acid.
"We will mark the spot," said the doctor, "and on our way back carry a
load down to Mrs Rumbelow to preserve."
"But where is the sugar to come from, doctor?" asked Willy; "we have but
a small stock remaining."
"Perhaps we may find some on our journey," said the doctor. "Numerous
roots possess saccharine qualities, and from the flavour of one I dug up
just now I have hopes that we may manufacture sugar from it. At all
events, it will form a valuable addition to our daily fare. What do you
think of this?" The doctor produced a good-sized root, which resembled,
on being cut open, something between a potato and a turnip, but of
rather a drier character than either. "This will serve us for bread, if
we cannot find anything better;" and the doctor tasted it two or three
times.
"Yes, there is an abundance of saccharine in it," he observed, "and I
have little doubt also that we can manufacture beer from it, which will
suit the tastes of the men better than cold water, and serve instead of
tea for all of us when our store runs short. If we find nothing else
during our expedition, we should be well satisfied. But remember that,
however insignificant a plant may look, we should examine it thoroughly
to ascertain its character."
"I have seen plenty of those leaves at no great distance from the
village," said Peter Patch; "but I had no idea that there were roots
under them."
"Ah! so much the better; we shall have a supply of food at our doors,
and when we return you shall go out and dig them up, Peter," said the
doctor, who perhaps, rather doubted the correctness of the midshipman's
assertion.
Willy and Peter in their eagerness frequently went ahead of the rest of
the party. The latter was a little in advance of his companion, when he
uttered a loud cry. "Oh! there is another of those horrid brutes." At
that instant a fierce bellow was heard, and a huge tiger bull-seal
started up and gazed fiercely at the midshipmen. They grasped their
axes to attack the seal; but the animal, rushing forward, warned them
that "discretion was the best part of valour." With such short weapons
they could not hope to strike it without the risk of being seized by its
formidable tusks.
"Run, Dicey, run," cried Peter; and Willy, brave as he was, felt that it
was prudent to follow Peter's example. The seal came after them at full
speed, bellowing loudly. His voice and their shouts brought the seamen
to their assistance; but the animal, seeing fresh foes in front, turned
aside, and before the men could reach it, dashed at a rapid rate through
the bush.
The doctor and captain now joined the chase, and away they all went, the
seal bellowing and the men shouting and laughing. The doctor, who was
not so active as the rest of the party, was soon distanced. The captain
in vain attempted to get a shot at the animal's head; he knew that a
wound in any other part of the body would produce no effect. On went
the seal, down the side of the mountain, following a well-marked track.
"Where he goes we can follow," cried Willy; "come on, come on." The
seal soon showed that he could not only run for a short distance faster
than they could, but that he could keep at the same speed for a longer
time.
"This beats coursing," cried Peter Patch. "The creature will give us as
good a chase as a hare. If we had but some dogs it would be fine fun.
We must have run a couple of miles already."
"We may have to run a couple more before we catch him," said Willy, "and
it won't do to give it up."
They were approaching the shore, or, rather, the head of a gulf which
ran up from it. Should the seal reach the water he would be lost. The
party doubled their speed, when the animal, then about fifty yards
ahead, suddenly disappeared. Willy and Peter could with difficulty
stop, and save themselves from falling into a deep narrow gully with
perpendicular sides which appeared before them. They leaned over the
edge. It was thirty or forty feet deep, a stream of water running at
the bottom. Had they gone over, they would probably have broken their
necks.
"He will escape by the end of the gully," cried Willy. "Sharp and Wall,
run round to the beach and try and stop him."
The men did as they were directed; while Willy and Peter scrambled down
with the assistance of some bushes which grew in the sides to the bottom
of the gully. On making their way towards the sea, they found that the
gully was arched over, and they now entered a spacious cavern, down the
centre of which the stream made its way. It was separated into two
parts by the stream; each part was about fifty feet long and fully
twenty wide, while the roof appeared to be nearly thirty feet above
their heads. A flood of light came through a round hole in the centre
of the roof, and enabled them to survey the cavern. The walls and
ground were perfectly dry, and they agreed that it would not be a bad
place to live in, provided the wind did not set through it. As they
were proceeding on, they heard the captain's voice shouting to them, he
wondering where they had got to. Looking up, they caught sight of his
head appearing through the hole.
"Here we are, all right," said Willy.
"Why, boys, how could you get down there?"
Willy told him.
"What has become of the seal?" asked the captain.
"I suppose he is somewhere not far off, if he hasn't reached the sea,"
answered Peter. "Yes, sure enough, and there he comes."
The seal at that moment appeared, rushing back, having encountered the
men at the outlet.
"Run, Dicey, run," cried Peter, "or he'll be upon us."
The midshipmen were caught in a trap. It was more easy to climb down
the side of the gully than to get up again. The monster came rushing
towards them with open mouth. Willy this time determined not to fly,
but, flourishing his axe, stood on the defensive. The consequences
might have been serious had not the captain, getting sight of the animal
at that moment, fired. The bullet struck it on the head, and though it
did not stop its course altogether, Willy was enabled to spring out of
its way, and Tom and Dick, coming up, despatched it with their clubs.
As no seals had been killed for several days, the meat was very
acceptable.
"We may have some seal-steaks for dinner, at all events," said Peter, as
the men prepared to cut up the animal.
Having performed their task, they were directed to carry the remainder
of the seal's flesh to the village, while the captain and midshipmen,
with a good supply of steaks, made their way up the side of the
mountain. Following the seal-track, they at length found the doctor,
who was sitting down, waiting their return.
"See, our island produces one species of ferae which I did not expect to
find," he exclaimed, holding up an animal by the legs.
"Why, it's a cat," cried Willy.
"Exactly so," said the doctor. "Our feathered friends will be much
obliged to me for killing it. Should these creatures increase and
multiply, they will in time nearly depopulate the island of its most
attractive inhabitants."
The explorers now proceeded onwards for some way over very rough and
uneven ground. As they were anxious to obtain a view of the whole
island, they climbed to the highest point in sight, which the doctor
calculated was about a thousand feet above the sea. Hence they could
look around in all directions. On every side appeared rocky and barren
heights, thrown up into all possible variety of shapes, while beyond was
the ocean, now blue and calm, and shining in the rays of the bright sun.
The cold, however, was considerable, and all the places usually
rendered soft by springs were frozen hard. This enabled them to proceed
over spots they could not otherwise have crossed.
The scene was full of wild and rugged grandeur. Here and there
perpendicular precipices and chasms, several hundred feet in depth, were
visible, while the summit of the central mountain was crowned by a ridge
of rock, which, from its appearance at a distance, they called the
Giant's Coffin.
As the atmosphere was remarkably clear, the whole group could be seen,
extending for about thirty-five miles in length from north to south, and
fifteen miles at the broadest part from east to west. Several deep
indentations forming harbours were observed, while a number of reefs,
over which, even on that calm day, the surf broke violently, extended
from the shore to a distance of ten miles. In the far north an island
of some size could be seen, while several smaller islands appeared close
to the rocky coast. The shores everywhere appeared clothed with scrub
and stunted timber, but on some of the hills the trees were of
respectable height and size.
"See," cried Willy, pointing to the north-east. "Is that smoke? Can it
be a burning mountain?"
All the party looked, and though their eyes were not so keen as Willy's,
they also distinguished a thick wreath of smoke ascending in the clear
air. Though it was at a considerable distance off, yet, eager to
ascertain its cause, they determined to make their way towards it.
After descending the mountain for some time, hunger compelled them to
stop, as they had eaten nothing since daybreak. A fire was soon
lighted, and their seal-steaks were soon spitted on sticks before it;
while the doctor, after scraping several of the roots which he had just
discovered, put them into the hot ashes. On being raked out, they were
found to be tolerably well done, though somewhat hard and dry; but to
people who had eaten neither bread nor vegetables for many weeks they
were very welcome.
"We shall find a better way of cooking them by-and-by," observed the
doctor. "We will try how they answer scraped or pounded; and though
they may not be very palatable, they will assist materially in keeping
us in health. Well, Peter, do you feel any uncomfortable sensations."
"I hope not," answered the midshipman, surprised at the question.
"We may then venture to make our desert on the berries," said the
doctor, laughing. "We are much obliged to you for having proved them
not to be poisonous, but I had my doubts, I confess."
"What a shame!" cried Peter. "Suppose I had died, what would you have
said?"
"Oh, there was no fear of that," answered the doctor. "In case of
accidents I brought some antidotes in my pocket, and should soon have
got you round again."
"The next time, please make your experiments on Dicey," cried Peter.
"It is not fair that I should be the only one to run the risk of being
poisoned. Suppose your antidotes had failed?"
"The doctor fixed on you, Peter, as the least likely to be missed of the
party," said Willy. "You know you have never done anything for the
common good." Peter had, in truth, generally preferred wandering about
the harbour, and scrambling over the rocks, to working.
"But I found the roots, and could have got any quantity," he exclaimed.
"Yes, but you dug none up, and told no one of them," rejoined Willy.
"Well, you shall see that I can be of as much use as you are, Master
Dicey," exclaimed Peter, bristling up.
"Come, boys, no quarrelling," cried the doctor. "It's time we were
moving."
Refreshed by their frugal repast, the explorers proceeded on their way.
They found the road far more difficult than they had expected, and soon
came to the edge of a steep precipice, down which it was impossible to
get; and they had, therefore, to scramble a mile or more before they
found a practicable path into the valley. They went along it for a
considerable distance, hoping to be able to climb up the cliff; but the
sides were perfectly perpendicular, and at last they determined to turn
back and make their way by the shore. Just then Willy, who had run on
ahead, shouted out, "I see a break in the cliff, and very possibly we
may get up by it." His advice was followed, and assisting each other,
they succeeded at length in reaching the higher ground. Another high
and steep hill appeared before them; but they, hoping to find the ground
beyond more easy for travelling over, commenced the ascent. It was,
however, steep and difficult, and in some places they came to
perpendicular precipices, down which a fall would have proved fatal to
any one who had happened to slip.
They had got about halfway down the mountain when a thick mist was seen
sweeping over the sea from the southward. It came on so rapidly that
before they could decide what path to follow they were entirely
enveloped in it. They could now only venture to move with the greatest
caution; any moment they might arrive at the edge of some frightful
precipice similar to those they had before passed. Anxious, however, to
escape the cold and damp to which they were exposed on the mountain
side, they descended by the only practicable route they could find. The
mist every instant grew thicker, and the short day was drawing to a
close. In what direction they were going they could not with any
certainty tell. At last the captain declared that he would proceed no
further. The doctor agreed with him. Just then they saw before them
the edge of the forest, which reached up the mountain side to a
considerable distance from the shore. They agreed that it would be wise
to camp here for the night; and while Willy and Peter cut down some
boughs to form a hut, and wood for fuel, the doctor and the captain
endeavoured to shoot a few birds for supper. They could hear them
singing in the woods in great numbers, but the mist shrouded them from
their view till they were close upon them. The birds were, however, so
tame that they succeeded in killing a few; and these, with some of the
roots which the doctor dug up close at hand, gave them a sufficient
meal.
As night came on, they made up their fire and crept into their leafy
bower for shelter.
"I suppose, doctor, we ought, to keep watch," said Willy. "We may have
a big tiger-seal poking his nose in among us, or there may be other wild
beasts, though we have not seen them."
The doctor agreed to the wisdom of this, and when supper was over they
drew lots as to who should keep the first watch. It fell upon Willy.
After they had sat up some time, the rest of the party went to sleep.
Willy had some difficulty in performing his duty, but by running out
every now and then to throw a log on the fire he managed to keep his
eyes open. As he did so on one occasion, he saw an animal scamper by
him. "It looked very like a wolf," he said to himself. He got the
doctor's gun to have a shot at it, should it again appear. There was no
use, he thought, in waking up his companions. In a short time
afterwards he heard a loud bark. He listened. The bark was repeated.
"Why, it's a dog. I wonder if there are people in the neighbourhood,"
he said to himself. "If there are, they will find us out; but they are
not likely to be otherwise than friendly. However, when I call the
captain I'll tell him to keep a sharp lookout." When at length his
watch was over, he roused up Captain Twopenny and told him what had
occurred.
"Perhaps there may be natives on the island, after all," observed the
captain. "Depend upon it, I will not be taken by surprise."
Willy, who was longing to go to sleep, lay down, and before another
minute had passed was far away in the land of dreams. He was awoke by
Peter Patch, who had had the last watch. Daylight was already breaking;
the dogs had been heard barking during the night, and Peter said he had
seen two or three creatures, which seemed from their movements to be
like cats, stealing by; but each time, before he could get a shot, they
had disappeared. Nothing else had occurred.
As the sun rose the mist cleared off; and as soon as they had
breakfasted the doctor proposed that they should once more climb the
mountain, in order to ascertain what direction to take. They had not
gone far when some footmarks were observed on the soft ground over which
they were crossing. The doctor examined them. "Hogs," he exclaimed.
"We shall have pork for dinner soon, I hope. They, at all events, are
always in season, and will not take their departure like the seals and
wild-fowl. We shall not starve here if like wise men we exert our wits.
Cats and dogs may serve us at a pinch; I prefer bacon. Captain, I
daresay you will manage to shoot a porker before long."
This discovery put the whole party in spirits, the doctor was so
positive about the matter. Willy had gone on as usual some way ahead,
when, looking out in the direction the smoke had been seen, he caught
sight of a large vessel hove to close to the shore. He could scarcely
believe his eyes. He rubbed them again and again. There was no doubt
about it. He waved to his companions, who made their way up to the rock
on which he was standing. He pointed in the direction of the vessel.
"She is a long way off from this," observed the doctor, after looking at
her for some moments. "We must get down to the beach as fast as we
can."
"What has brought her in here, I wonder?" said Captain Twopenny.
"Probably the smoke we saw yesterday may have something to do with the
matter," observed the doctor. "At all events, there is no time to be
lost."
He gazed as he spoke over the intervening country. There were deep
valleys to be passed, and steep hills, with rugged rocks and precipices,
to be scaled. Having taken the bearings of the vessel, they set out.
They first had to descend the mountain side. They soon came to a soft
boggy ground, and were obliged to make a wide circuit to avoid it. Not
without considerable difficulty did they at length reach the bottom of
the valley. A stream was to be crossed; they waded through it,
regardless of the cold. Now they came to a precipice. Considerable
time was spent before they could find a way to the top. Then they were
involved in a labyrinth of huge rugged rocks. The sun shining brightly
enabled them to keep a tolerably correct course, otherwise it would have
been difficult to determine in what direction they were going. On and
on they went. The hope of obtaining relief for themselves and their
friends kept up their spirits; but Peter Patch at length cried out that
he could go no further. They had brought some baked roots and cooked
wild-fowl with them. A stream which came trickling down the side of the
hill afforded a refreshing draught of water. They would not stop to
light a fire, but, taking a hurried meal, again pushed on. The doctor
himself confessed that he was beginning to get knocked up; still they
thought that they must soon reach a height from which they could make a
signal to the ship. For the last hour or more, however, they had been
unable to get sight of her.
"Had she been at anchor, I should have had more hopes of doing so," said
the doctor; "but still we must not despair."
"That's the hill," cried Willy; "I know it by its shape. If we can get
to the top of it we shall reach the shore in a short time."
The rest of the party thought Willy was right, and thus encouraged, made
their way with renewed ardour. The summit of the hill was free of
trees. They gained it at length. Willy was the first to reach the top.
A cry escaped him. "She is gone! she is gone!" he exclaimed. He waved
his cap frantically; he shouted as if his voice could reach across the
intervening ocean. The rest soon joined him. A ship under all sail was
standing away with a fresh breeze from the land, from which she was
already some three miles distant.
"The smoke of a fire might still attract the attention of those on
board," said the doctor. Willy and Peter ran down the hill, and began
hewing away at the driest bushes they could find. A fire was soon
lighted. More bushes were brought; a thick column of smoke ascended in
the air. How eagerly they gazed at the receding ship. Still she stood
on. No attention was paid to their signal.
"They either do not see it, or think that it is the result of accident,"
observed the doctor.
More bushes were thrown on the fire, and then they hurried down the
hill.
"Perhaps she may be a sealer, and landed some of the crew to catch seals
from the shore. If so, she may return," remarked the captain.
"She does not look like one," said Willy.
The bottom of the hill was reached. They made their way along the
beach. In a sheltered spot a hut was seen. It was rudely constructed
from the wreck of a vessel. Outside there were the ashes of a fire
still smouldering; within were several bedplaces covered with leaves.
Other signs showed that it had been lately occupied. Whoever the people
were, they had just been taken off by the ship,--probably part of the
crew of some vessel wrecked on the shore. They looked about in the
neighbourhood, and discovered six or seven mounds which had the
appearance of graves.
"Well, my friends, I am very glad that the poor fellows, whoever they
were, got away; and for ourselves, we are not worse off than we should
have been had we not discovered them," observed the philosophical
doctor. "Don't let us be cast down. If one vessel comes, so may
another; and next time we may be more fortunate. And now I advise that
without loss of time we make the best of our way back to the
settlement."
As the shore appeared for some distance tolerably free of rocks, they
agreed to keep along it till compelled by the rising tide to take their
way over higher ground. Still, as they walked along they could not help
every now and then turning round to watch the receding ship. Gradually
her hull disappeared, her courses sank beneath the horizon, the topsails
followed, and then Willy alone could discern a small dark speck, which
soon faded from view. He heaved a sigh. "I should like to have sent
home news, at all events, that I was safe, and perhaps Charles and the
girls may by this time have reached New Zealand. They will be very
sorry when they hear that the ship has been lost, and of course they
will think that I was lost in her." Willy seldom allowed himself to
give way to thoughts like these.
The doctor was very anxious to get back that night; so, although pretty
well knocked up himself, he urged his companions to proceed as fast as
they were able. For several miles they continued along the beach,
occasionally having to climb over high ledges of rocks which jutted out
into the water, or to go round bays or small inlets. Still, after the
experience they had had of the interior of the island, they considered
that this road was less fatiguing than the way they had come. Seeing a
succession of rocks running out into the ocean, they were at length
about to strike across the country, when a small hut was discovered at
the head of a little bay just below them.
"Why, perhaps, after all, there are human beings besides ourselves on
the island," exclaimed Willy.
"If such is the case, we will make their acquaintance," observed the
doctor, and they descended into the bay. They hurried towards the hut.
On reaching the entrance, even the doctor started back. Part of the
roof had been blown off, allowing the light to strike down into the
interior. On a rude bed, raised a couple of feet from the ground, lay
the body of a man. He was fully clothed, but the eyeless skull and
parchment-like cheeks showed that he had been long dead. He was dressed
as a seaman. A sou'-wester was on his head, and a woollen muffler round
his neck, while a blue serge vest and a dark jacket and trousers clothed
his body. Several pairs of woollen socks and stockings were on his
feet, one of which was tied up with rags, as if it had received some
injury. His legs were crossed, and the arms and fingers stretched out
straight on either side. Had it not been for the light which struck
down on the head, the body lay in so natural a position that the man
might have been supposed to be asleep. Close by was a small heap of
limpet and mussel shells, and within his reach were two bottles--one was
empty, but the other was full of water. Another object attracted their
attention. It was a piece of slate, on which were scratched several
zigzag marks, which had apparently been formed by the hand of the dying
man, who had probably in his last moments attempted to write his name
and give some account of his sad history.
The doctor, after examining the body for some minutes, observed, "He has
died of hunger, poor fellow. Probably he belonged to the crew of some
hapless vessel wrecked near this, the survivors of whom were taken off
by the ship we saw this morning. Poor fellow, we must come back and
bury him another day, but we must delay no longer."
The sad spectacle they had just witnessed made the explorers turn their
thoughts from themselves.
They pushed on as fast as they could go, but were often nearly dropping
with fatigue. Marshes had to be passed, and frequently they were
plunging across boggy ground, running the risk every instant of sticking
or sinking beneath it; several streams were forded, and rugged heights
climbed similar to those they had traversed on the previous day.
Just before sunset they stopped to dig a quantity of roots, which the
doctor was anxious to carry with him, while Captain Twopenny shot
several birds. While Willy was hunting about, he heard a low clattering
sound. Searching more narrowly, he found in a small bush a large nest
with five young birds. "Here, here," he cried to Peter, who ran up.
"Why, I do believe they are parrots. They are nearly fledged. How
delighted the Miss Morleys will be to have them."
"But how can we carry them?" said Peter.
"See, I will tie them up in my handkerchief, and sling them round my
neck," said Willy, securing the nest as he proposed. The young parrots
were, as may be supposed, a constant care to him for the rest of the
journey. Peter every now and then looked into the handkerchief as it
hung at his back, declaring that the birds were getting on very well,
only opening their mouths as if they wanted to be fed. They seemed to
like the berries which had been found, and meeting with another bush,
Peter collected a supply to feed them with.
At length it grew so dark that they could with difficulty see their way.
They were about to encamp, when Willy caught sight of the lights in the
village, far below them. Just then they got into a seal-track, along
which they proceeded.
"Look out, Peter, lest we should find a lion in the path," said Willy.
He had scarcely spoken when a bellow was heard close to them. It was
repeated in all directions.
"I don't quite like it," exclaimed Peter. "Can those horrible noises
really be made only by seals?"
"No doubt about that," said the doctor. "They are not likely to attack
us, and the best thing we can do is to push on."
To those not aware of the cause, the loud bellows which resounded
through the woods would have indeed seemed terrific. Once or twice one
of the monsters was seen scrambling among the bushes, but was soon out
of sight, and none appeared to be combatively disposed.
At length the lower ground was reached, and in a short time they were
welcomed by their friends at the village.
Harry Shafto was especially thankful when he received the report of the
doctor; and it was arranged that the next morning, as soon as some more
spades could be manufactured, a party should set out to dig roots, while
Captain Twopenny volunteered to lead another in search of hogs.
"At all events, I trust we need have no fear of dying of starvation,"
Harry remarked in a tone which showed the relief he felt. "Had it not
been for you, doctor, however, I confess we should have been badly off."
Willy awoke at early dawn to feed his parrots, which were chattering
away at his ear. As soon as breakfast was over, he took them up to the
Miss Morleys. "I have brought an addition to your menagerie," he said,
exhibiting his prizes; "but as they are nearly fledged, you must find
some means of preventing them from flying away."
"Oh, I hope we may tame them sufficiently to make them wish to stay with
us," said Emma. "What pretty little lively creatures. We are so much
obliged to you, Mr Dicey."
"Perhaps Mrs Twopenny would like to have one," said Fanny. "And do you
not wish to retain one yourself?"
"I am afraid that I should not have time to attend to it," said Willy.
"But I will take one to Mrs Twopenny; and if you will bring up one for
me, I should like to carry it home with me for my sisters." Mrs
Morley, who heard the remark, smiled faintly. She was thinking,
perhaps, of the little probability there was of their ever returning to
the shores of England.