ON THE CORAL
Captain Bergen and Abe Storms, as may be supposed, greeted each other
ardently when the latter stepped upon the deck of the schooner, clad
in his diving-suit.
"I was growing very anxious about you," said the captain, "for I could
not understand what kept you away so long."
The eccentric New Englander, removing his headgear, but leaving the
rest of his armor on, laughed and asked:
"Tell me what took place after I went down."
The captain hurriedly related his experience, which has been already
told the reader.
"We took a good deal of risk, as you know," said the mate, "and when I
went down in the water, I was a great deal more uneasy than I seemed
to be. I was expecting a signal from you, and when it did not come I
started for the surface. The shore is rough and craggy, you know, so
that it was something like climbing up stairs.
"Well, I had got pretty well up when the pipes were cut. I understood
what it meant, and, holding my breath, with the water rushing down the
two hose-pipes, I scrambled for the top.
"It may have been a perilous thing for you that the rascals pursued
you with such enthusiasm, but it was fortunate for me, for, although I
had a dry revolver under my armor, it was several minutes before I was
in a condition to use it.
"As soon as possible, however, I made ready, believing you were in
sore need of help. Crawling forward on my hands and knees, I took a
quick look over the bank, and saw you and Inez walking off in the
direction of the schooner, with the three scamps sullenly watching
you.
"I suspected what you tell me was the truth, and I was on the point of
rushing forward and making short work of them with my revolver, but it
flashed upon me that they possessed a fearful advantage over us.
Redvignez and Brazzier are as cunning as serpents, and one of them,
more than likely, would have caught up the little girl and held her in
front of him as a screen.
"Inez would have proved an effectual armor, indeed, and, with her in
their possession, they would have been masters of the situation, and
could have dictated whatever terms they chose to us. Pomp would have
been transformed into a bitter enemy at once, and the chances of
disaster to us all were so great that I remained quiet, but watchful,
ready to dash forward to your assistance should it become necessary.
"I lay down in a secluded place to rest, when--shall I confess it?--I
fell asleep, and did not wake up until half an hour ago. After
thinking the matter over, I decided still to deceive the rascals. I
was quite certain that the water in the lagoon was not very deep, so I
fastened the upper ends of the hose to floats, and walked out here on
the bottom."
"Did you see anything of them?"
"No; I don't know where they are; but you can feel sure they'll never
take their eyes off the schooner."
After further discussing the exciting events of the day, they
considered the all-important question as to what should be their own
line of action. The decision which they reached was a most remarkable
one, being no less than to make a direct proposition to the mutineers
to turn over the schooner to them, with a portion of the oysters, and
to allow them to depart, while the captain, mate and little girl were
left upon the island.
The captain was not convinced that this was altogether wise, and he
said:
"Since your plan is for us to stay on the island, and allow them to
leave with the schooner, will you tell me how we are to depart, when
ready?"
The mate indicated the inlet, where the mast was still pointing toward
the sky.
"We've got to run our chances. We may be taken off in a week, and
possibly not for years; but, with all these probabilities before us, I
am in favor of surrendering the schooner, and allowing them to leave
us forever, if they will agree to do so."
"But, if we make the proposition, will they not suspect our purpose,
or take it as a confession of weakness on our part?"
"We must prevent that. But, captain, I've had all the sleep I want,
and you are in need of it. Better secure it, therefore, while you can.
Go below in the cabin and take your rest. I will stand guard here, and
you need have no fear of my dropping into slumber again."
The captain remained some time longer, and even then was loth to
leave, but he consented to do so, and finally descended into the
cabin, where he threw himself upon his hammock without removing his
clothes.
The incidents of the day were exciting enough to keep him awake, and,
despite the exhaustion of his body, he lay a long time before he
closed his eyes in slumber. Even then his sleep was haunted by
horrible dreams, in which he lived over again the scenes through which
he had passed, when, but for the piteous pleadings of little Inez, he
would have fallen a victim to the ferocity of the mutineers, and he
awoke more than once with a gasp and a start, which showed how
disturbed his mind was.
He had not slept long when he suddenly awoke again, and looked around
in the gloom. The lamp overhead had been extinguished, and he was in
utter darkness, though the silvery glow of the moonlight outside was
perceptible through the windows and partly-open door. He could hear
the dull booming of the breakers on the outside of the atoll, but all
else was quiet, except the gentle breathing of Inez, in the berth
beneath his.
"God protect her and us all!" he prayed, his heart, in the solemn
stillness and solitude, ascending to the only being who could assist
him and his friend in their dire extremity; for Captain Bergen was
sure that no one could be placed in greater peril than were he and Abe
Storms, so long as they remained among the Pearl Islands.