"When will this fearful fighting end?" she said, sighing. "Though men
seem to delight in it, I am sure that it is against all Divine laws, and
brings misery and suffering to both parties."
"I hope that we shall escape fighting this time," I observed; "for Dick
says that he is sure the Spaniards will not attack us. Perhaps before
the morning we shall be able to get away from them."
No one turned in that night, and the crew were kept at their quarters,
to be ready for a sudden attack.
When the sun rose out of the ocean, his beams fell on the tails of our
foes, throwing a ruddy glow on the calm waters, which shone like a plain
of molten gold. Eager eyes were looking out for a breeze. Should it
come from the direction of our foes, they would have every chance of
catching us; but if ahead, we should have the advantage of them, and
thus be able to slip out of their way.
Several hours passed by. We were still the same distance as before from
the enemy.
I was on the forecastle with Dick, when I caught sight of a slight
ripple which played over the surface. I pointed it out to my companion.
"All right, Charley," he said. "Those catspaws are a good sign.
There's another and another."
Presently the sails gave a flap. In a moment every one was in activity:
the yards were braced sharp up, the royals filled, then the
topgallantsails and topsails bulged out, and away we glided. Looking
astern, we saw that the Spaniards still remained becalmed. The
captain's ruddy countenance beamed with satisfaction at the hopes of
carrying off his booty in safety.
"We shall give the Dons the `good-bye,'" he shouted out to his wife
below.
Kitty quickly came on deck, and I saw how thankful she felt.
Gradually our enemies' sails sank beneath the horizon, and at length we
had the satisfaction of losing sight of them altogether. Still the
captain observed, that as they would guess the course we had taken, they
might be after us; and until two days had passed by, he did not feel
altogether secure.
We now steered back to the whaling-ground, where we remained for a
couple of months, half filling the ship with oil.
After this we touched at two of the Society Islands. At one of them we
saw, as we came to an anchor at some little distance from the beach,
beneath a grove of cocoa-nut trees, a neat white cottage built in the
English style, with two larger edifices near it, and Dick remarked that
one of them looked very like a chapel. The numerous natives, who came
off in their canoes, bringing fruits, and vegetables, and fish, were
dressed in shirts and trousers, and all behaved in a quiet, orderly way.
Two or three of those who came on board spoke English.
"Why, what has come over you people? You are very different sort of
fellows to what you were a few years ago, when I was here," observed the
captain.
"We were then heathen savages; we are now Christian men," was the
answer. "There is our chapel, and there is our school-house; in yonder
cottage lives our good pastor, the missionary, Mr Newton, and he will
be very glad to receive any who like to visit him."
"I have no fancy for those sort of fellows," growled the captain; "they
spoil trade, and prevent our men enjoying their freedom on shore."
Kitty, however, on hearing the account given by the natives, expressed
her wish to go and pay a visit to the missionary, and Mr Falconer
offered to convey her on shore. The captain could not refuse his
request for a boat, though he granted it with an ill grace. Dick was
ordered to get one ready. Kitty desired to take me with her, and we
were soon walking up a neat pathway towards the cottage.
How beautiful and quiet it looked--everything seemed smiling around.
A gentleman, whom we at once guessed was Mr Newton, appeared at the
garden-gate, and cordially invited us into his house. Before entering,
we were joined by his wife, a sweet-looking young woman. I thought
that, next to Kitty, she was the most perfect being in the world: for
almost since I could recollect, I had seen no other females, except the
wild natives of the islands we had visited, besides Mrs Podgers. To
her she certainly was a very great contrast.
On entering, Kitty was placed on a sofa by our hostess, who removed her
bonnet and shawl, and spoke in the sweetest and kindest manner to her.
To my surprise, Kitty suddenly burst out crying.
Mr Newton asked her what was the matter.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "how peaceful and happy all around appears! Oh,
how I should like to remain here!"
Kitty then told her how she was situated. Mrs Newton replied that she
should be very glad to receive her, and that she hoped she would assist
in the work she was engaged in.
"Indeed, I would pray that I might be able to do so," said Kitty.
Mr Falconer looked agitated--a struggle was going on in his heart.
"I have engaged to serve on board yonder ship--my duty forbids me to
quit her," he said, in a husky voice. "Yet you will be far, far better
off here, and freer from danger, than on board."
"We must not deceive you," said Mr Newton. "Although the natives
around us are Christians, there are still many savage heathens in the
island, and many more in the neighbouring islands, and we are liable to
be attacked by them. It is our duty to be here, but we are not
altogether free from danger."
"I should be thankful to leave Miss Kitty in a place of safety," said
Mr Falconer, "but that information alters the advice I might have
given."
"I will continue on board, and share the dangers the ship may have to go
through," exclaimed Kitty, suddenly. "I am, however, deeply grateful
for the kind offer you, my friends, have made to me; and do not suppose
that it is because I fear to run the risk you speak of, but," and she
looked up at Mr Falconer, "I have another reason, which I must ask you
not to press me to name."
I do not know whether the missionary and his wife suspected what that
reason was, but they did not again urge Miss Kitty to stay with them.
She and I, however, spent the three days the ship remained in the
harbour at the missionary's house, and they were the happiest I could
ever remember.
How rough and profane appeared my shipmates when I returned on board.
Kitty, too, evidently felt the difference between the quiet abode she
had left and the cabin of the _Dolphin_.
The _Dolphin_ had been several months at sea, and during the time five
or six more whales had been caught, when we touched at the Sandwich
Islands, where we took on board ten natives, to assist in navigating
her. We had also put into the Gallipagos, to refit. They are the most
dreary group of islands I have ever visited, dark rocks rising up
everywhere round their coasts, with wild black beaches, and huge
tortoises, with legs resembling those of elephants, and serpent-like
heads, and long lizard-like guanas crawling over them. As no water was
to be procured there, we sailed northward till we came in sight of a
beautiful island, with hills rising here and there into the blue sky,
covered with the richest tropical vegetation.
Directly after, we brought up in a sheltered bay. A number of large
canoes came off to us, filled with natives, the skins of the older
chiefs almost black, from the elaborate tattoo marks with which they
were covered. Those of the younger people were, however, of a light
brown hue, the skins of some indeed being quite fair. The heads of the
chiefs were decorated with crowns made of long feathers; they wore long
loose cloaks of native cloth over their shoulders, and carried in their
hands elaborately carved clubs.
The captain, through one of the Sandwich Islanders who could talk
English, told them that his object in coming to this island was to get a
supply of water, and to cut some spars to make yards for the ship. They
replied in a friendly way that he was welcome to do as he wished, and
that they would show him the trees likely to suit his purpose.
A number of them were parading the deck, examining everything they saw.
When Kitty appeared, they gazed at her with astonishment, she being the
first white woman they had probably ever seen. All the people appeared
to be very friendly, and anxious to induce our men to go on shore in
order to trade, but there being plenty of work on board, the captain
would not allow this. At night the natives took their departure,
promising to return the next day.
The following morning, several canoes came round the ship, and the
captain proposed landing, to select the trees which he wished to have
out down. Mr Falconer asked Miss Kitty whether she would like to go on
shore. She answered that she did not like the appearance of the
natives, and that, though they might profess to be very friendly, she
did not trust them, but that she should be very glad to take a sail in
the bay, and to make some sketches of the island from the water, and
especially of some picturesque rocks which we had passed when entering.
The mate gladly undertook to do as she wished, and ordered a boat, with
four of the steadiest men in the ship, who were always ready to obey
him, to be got ready.
As they expected to be away for some hours, he put some water and
provisions into the boat. The steward, not knowing this, had filled a
basket, which he also lowered down to the crew. Mr Falconer had
intended that Dick should go, but the first mate had directed him to do
some work, which kept him occupied, and had told me to attend on him. I
knew that Miss Kitty would gladly have me with her, and felt
disappointed when I saw the boat sail away down the harbour. The
natives seemed to take little notice of the boat's departure, probably
they thought she had gone for a short distance only, and would soon
return.
The captain, with the carpenter and his mates, and a boat's crew, now
went on shore. Dick and I were at work on the bowsprit, I sitting by
him, holding the rope-yarn and grease-pot. As soon as the captain was
gone, the natives began to invite our men on shore, and several of them,
declaring that it was very hard that they should be kept on board,
slipped into the canoes, and allowed the savages to carry them off.
Others followed their example. The officers shouted to them to return,
but their orders were not attended to. More canoes now came off, full
of savages, who, as they got alongside, clambered on board, till the
deck was crowded with them, so that the crew who remained at their duty
could scarcely move about. The first mate, seeing this, ordered the
natives back into their canoes. I had, while the mate was issuing his
orders, turned my glance aft, when, at that moment, he cried out to
Lieutenant Pyke, who was below, to get his men under arms, and then
signed to the natives crowding the deck to return to their canoes.
Thinking, apparently, to make the savages understand him better, he
incautiously gave a shove to one of the chiefs who was standing near
him. The savage, uttering a fearful cry, whirled round his heavy club
and struck the poor mate dead on the deck. It was a signal to his
followers. In an instant every club was upraised and aimed at the head
of the nearest seaman.
Dick, hearing the savages shout, looked up from his work, and seeing
what was taking place, laid hold of me by the collar and dragged me
along to the jib-boom end, whence we witnessed the dreadful scene
enacted on deck.