NORTH BY WEST.
Besides Yawl and his helpers, we found on the beach about thirty men and
women, the saved of two thousand. Among them was one of the priests
ordained by the abbé. All had lived in the lower part of the oasis, and
when the volcano began spouting water, after the third earthquake, they
fled to the coast and so escaped. Though naturally much distressed (being
bereft of home, kindred, and all they possessed), they bore their
misfortunes with the uncomplaining stoicism so characteristic of their
race.
The immediate question was how to dispose of these unfortunates. I could
not take them away in the sloop, and I knew that they would prefer to
remain in the neighborhood where they were born. But the oasis was
uninhabitable. A few weeks and it would be merged once more in the desert
from which it had been so painfully won. Therefore I proposed that they
should settle at Alta Vista under charge of the priest. Alta Vista being
above the volcano no outburst of lava could reach them, and the _azequia_
being intact beyond that point they could easily bring more land under
cultivation and live in comfort and abundance.
To this proposal the survivors and the priest gladly and gratefully
assented. They were very good, those poor Indians, and seemed much more
concerned over our approaching departure than their own fate, beseeching
us, with many entreaties, not to leave them. Angela would have yielded,
but I was obdurate. I could not see that it was in any sense our duty to
bury ourselves in a remote corner of the Andes for the sake of a score or
two of Indians who were very well able to do without us. What could be the
good of building up another colony and creating another oasis merely that
the evil genii of the mountains might destroy them in a night? Had the
abbé, instead of spending a lifetime in making Quipai, devoted his
energies to some other work, he might have won for himself enduring fame
and permanently benefited mankind. As it was, he had effected less than
nothing, and I was resolved not to court his fate by following his
example.
Those were the arguments I used to Angela, and in the end she not only
fully agreed with me that it was well for us to go, but that the sooner we
went the better. The means were at hand. Yawl could have the yacht ready
for sea within twenty-four hours. There was little more to do than head
the sails and get water and provisions on board. I had the casks filled
forthwith--for the water in the channels was fast draining away--set some
of the people to work preparing _tasajo_, and sent Ramon with the mules
and two _arrieros_ to Alta Vista for the remainder of our clothing,
bedding, and several other things which I thought would be useful on the
voyage.
Ramon, I may mention, was my own personal attendant. He had been brought
up and educated by Angela and myself, and was warmly attached to us. In
disposition he was bright and courageous, in features almost European;
there could be little doubt that he was descended from some white
castaway, who had landed on the coast and been adopted by this tribe. He
said it would break his heart if we left him behind, so we took him with
us, and he has ever since been the faithful companion of my wanderings and
my trusty friend.
My wife and I slept in our tent, Kidd and Yawl on the sloop. As the sails
were not bent nor the boat victualled, I had no fear of their giving us
the slip in the night. In the morning Ramon and the _arrieros_ returned
with their lading, and by sunset we had everything on board and was ready
for a start.
The next thing was to settle our course. I wanted to reach a port where
I could turn some of my diamonds into cash and take shipping for England,
the West Indies, or the United States. We were between Valparaiso and
Callao, and the former place, as being on the way, seemed the more
desirable place to make for. But as the prevailing winds on the coast are
north and northwest a voyage in the opposite direction would involve much
beating up and nasty fetches, and, in all probability, be long and
tedious. For these reasons I decided in favor of Callao, and told Kidd to
shape our course accordingly.
"Just as you like, sir," he said; "it is all the same to Yawl and me where
we go. But it's a longish stretch to Callao. Don't you think we had better
make for some nearer place? There's Islay, and there's Arica; and I doubt
whether our water will last out till we get to Callao."
"We must make it last till we get to Callao," I answered, sharply; "except
under compulsion I will put in neither at Islay nor Arica."
"All right, sir! We are under your orders, and what you say shall be done,
as far as lies in our power."
Kidd's answer was civil but his manner was surly and defiant, and it
struck me that he might have some special reason for desiring to avoid
Callao. But I was resolved to go thither, so that in case of need I might
claim the protection of the British consul, whom I was sure to find there.
I was by no means sure that I should find one either at Islay or Arica. I
knew something of the ways of Spanish revenue officers, and as I had no
papers, it was quite possible that (in the absence of a consul) I might be
cast into prison and plundered of all I possessed, especially if Mr. Kidd
should hint that it included a bag of diamonds.
The sloop's accommodation for passengers was neither extensive nor
luxurious. The small cabin aft was just big enough to hold Angela and
myself, and once in it, we were like rats in a hole, as, to get out, we
had to climb an almost perpendicular ladder. Kidd and Yawl were to sleep,
turn and turn about, in a sort of dog-house which they had contrived in
the bows. Ramon would roll himself in his _cobija_ and sleep anywhere.
Before going on board I made such arrangements as I hoped would insure us
against foul play. I stitched one half of the diamonds in my waist-belt;
the other half my wife hid away in her dress. Among the things brought
down from Alta Vista was an exquisite little dagger with a Damascened
blade, which I gave to Angela. I had my hunting-knife, and Ramon his
_machete_.
I laid it down as a rule from which there was to be no departure, that
Ramon and I were neither to sleep at the same time nor be in the cabin
together, and that when we had anything particular to say we should say it
in Quipai. As it happened, he knew a little English; I had taught my wife
my mother-tongue, and Ramon, by dint of hearing it spoken, and with a
little instruction from me and from her, had become so far proficient in
the language that he could understand the greater part of what was said.
This, however, was not known to Kidd and Yawl; I told him not to let them
know; but whenever opportunity occurred to listen to their conversation,
and report it to me. I thought that if they meditated evil against us I
might in this way obtain timely information of their designs; and I
considered that, in the circumstances (our lives being, as I believed, in
jeopardy), the expedient was quite justifiable.
We sailed at sunset and got well away, and the clear sky and resplendent
stars, the calm sea and the fair soft wind augured well for a prosperous
voyage. Yet my heart was sad and my spirits were low. The parting with our
poor Indians had been very trying, and I could not help asking myself
whether I had acted quite rightly in deserting them, whether it would not
have been nobler (though perhaps not so worldly wise) to throw in my lot
with theirs and try to recreate the oasis, as Angela had suggested. I also
doubted whether I was acting the part of a prudent man in embarking my
wife, my fortune, and myself on a wretched little sloop (which would
probably founder in the first storm), under the control of two men of whom
I knew no good, and who, as I feared, might play us false?
But whether I had acted wisely or unwisely, there was no going back now,
and as I did not want Angela to perceive that I was either dubious or
downcast, I pulled myself together, put on a cheerful countenance, and
spoke hopefully of our prospects.
She was with us on deck, Kidd being at the helm.
"I have no very precise idea how far we maybe from Callao," I said, "but
if this wind lasts we should be there in five or six days at the outside.
Don't you think so, Kidd?"
"May be. You still think of going to Callao, then?"
"Still think of going to Callao! I am determined to go to Callao. Why do
you ask? Did not I distinctly say so before we started?"
"I thought you had maybe changed your mind. And Callao won't be easy to
make. Neither Yawl nor me has ever been there; we don't know the bearings,
and we have no compass, and I don't know much about the stars in these
latitudes."
"But I do, and better still, I have a compass."
"A compass! Do you hear that, Bill Yawl? Mr. Fortescue has got a compass.
Go to Callao! Why, we can go a'most anywhere. Where have you got it,
sir--in the cabin?"
"Yes, Abbé Balthazar and I made it, ever so long since. It is only rudely
fashioned, and has never been adjusted, but I dare say it will answer the
purpose as well as another."
"Of course it will, and if you'll kindly bring it here, it'll be a great
help. I reckon if I keep her head about--"
"Nor' by west."
"Ay, ay, sir, that's it, I have no doubt. If I keep her head nor' by west,
I dare say we shall fetch Callao as soon as you was a-saying just now. But
Bill and me should have the compass before us when we're steering; and
to-morrow we'll try to rig up a bit of a binnacle. You, perhaps, would not
mind fetching it now, sir?--Bring that patent lantern of yours, Bill."
I fetched the compass and Yawl the lantern, made of a glass bottle and a
piece of copper sheeting (like the rest of our equipments, the spoil of
the sea).
Kidd was quite delighted with the compass, the card of which was properly
marked and framed in a block of wood, and said it could easily be
suspended on gimbals and fixed on a binnacle.
After a while, Angela, who felt tired, went below, and I with her, but
only to fetch my _cobija_ and a pillow, for, as I told Kidd, I intended to
remain on deck all night, the cabin being too close and stuffy for two
persons. This was true, yet not the whole truth. I had another reason; I
saw that nothing would be easier than for Kidd or Yawl to slip on the
cabin-hatch while I was below, and so have us at their mercy, for Ramon,
though a stalwart youth enough, could not contend with the two sailors
single-handed.
"Just as you like, sir; it's all the same to me," answered Kidd, rather
shortly, and then relapsed into thoughtful silence.
I felt sure that he was scheming something which boded us no good, though,
as yet, I had no idea what it could be. His motive for desiring to take
the sloop to Islay or Arica, rather than to Callao, was pretty obvious,
but why he should change his mind on the subject simply because of the
compass, passed my comprehension. We could make Callao merely by running
up the coast, with which, despite his disclaimer, I had not the least
doubt he was quite familiar; and even if he were not, there was nothing in
a compass to enlighten him.
But whatever his scheme might be I did not think he would attempt to use
force--unless he could take us at a disadvantage. Man for man, Ramon and I
were quite equal to Kidd and Yawl. We were, moreover, better armed, as so
far as I knew, they had no weapons, save their sailors' knives. In a
personal struggle, they might come off second best; were, in any case,
likely to get badly hurt, and unless I was much mistaken, they wanted to
get hold of my diamonds with a minimum of risk to themselves. Wherefore,
so long as we kept a sharp lookout, we had little to fear from open
violence. As for the scheme which was seething in Kidd's brain, I must
needs wait for further developments before taking measures to counteract
it.
When I had come to this conclusion I told Ramon, in Quipai, to lie down,
and that when I wanted to sleep I would waken him.
I watched until midnight, at which hour Yawl relieved Kidd at the helm,
and Kidd turned in. Shortly afterward I roused Ramon, and bade him keep
watch while I slept.