EXPLORING EXPEDITION--A STRANGE BIRD--A NIGHT ENCAMPMENT--CATCH A
TURTLE--A FEARFUL STORM--TAKE REFUGE UNDER A ROCK--PROVISIONS WASHED
AWAY--NEARLY OVERWHELMED BY THE SEA--JOURNEY CONTINUED--BRUSH-TURKEYS
CAUGHT--REACH HOME--THE BOAT GONE.
Alice and Walter were up betimes, eager for the intended expedition. As
it was uncertain whether fresh water would be met with, they all carried
bamboo casks slung over their backs, with a small quantity of smoked
fish,--the doctor's plan having been found to answer admirably. Each
one of the party also carried a supply of sago flour packed in cases of
the invaluable bamboo. Walter had one evening, for his amusement, cut
out a fork of bamboo for Alice, and his example had been followed by the
rest of the party. The bamboo likewise made very fair dinner-knives;
and he had contrived some spoons by putting a piece of wood at one end--
though, seeing they had as yet no soup for dinner, they were not of much
use.
"So we must leave all these luxuries and conveniences of life for the
wild bush," said Walter, with a pretended sigh. "Well, well, we shall
enjoy them so much the more when we come back again."
"We are not likely to be long absent from home," observed Mr Shobbrok.
"If we find that we are on the mainland, we will certainly not venture
further into the interior. As far as my recollection serves me, there
are only small islands off the coast; and I am inclined to the opinion
that we are on one of these,--in which case we shall speedily return."
"I trust so, for I have no wish to fall in with the inhabitants, who are
sure to be savages, and will probably treat us as enemies," observed the
doctor.
"But, Mr Shobbrok," said Walter, "suppose we get back safely, when do
you propose altering the boat, so that we may commence our voyage to
Sydney?"
"Immediately on our return,--if, as I expect, we shall be able on our
expedition to discover spots where we can obtain a more ample supply of
game than we have found in this neighbourhood."
"I shall indeed be very thankful," said Alice, with a sigh; "for though
I am very happy here, I long to see papa again; and I cannot help
thinking that he is safe at Sydney by this time."
This conversation took place at breakfast. As soon as it was over the
whole of the party got into marching order. The doctor and Dan went
first to explore; the mate, with Alice and Walter, followed next; and
Nub brought up the rear. It was agreed that, should any Indians or
human habitations be seen, the doctor and Dan were to fall back on the
rest of the party; when, as the safest course, they would all quickly
retreat rather than run the risk of a collision. Dan was well adapted
for the task he had undertaken. Active as a monkey, lithe as a snake,
and possessed of so keen pair of eyes, he made his way among the bushes,
looking carefully ahead before he exposed himself in any open space.
The doctor kept at a short distance behind him, generally in sight of
the rest of the party, so that he could make a sign to them should he
receive a warning signal from Dan.
They took the way to the stream, over which the mate carried Alice on
his shoulders. They then continued along its banks, till the dense
foliage compelled them to turn aside and proceed towards the seashore.
Dan carried an axe, which he had to use occasionally in cutting his way
through the underwood; but the mate had charged him to avoid doing so as
much as possible, as, should there be natives in the neighbourhood, they
would be more likely to discover their traces and follow them up.
Fortunately the underwood was perfectly free from thorns, or they would
have had their clothes torn to shreds, even had they been able to
penetrate it. It was generally of a reed or grass-like nature, so that
they could push it aside or trample it down; and under the more lofty
trees the ground was often for a considerable distance completely open,
when they made more rapid progress. They seldom, however, went far from
the seashore; but in many places they found walking on it very
difficult, from the softness of the sand, or from its rugged and rocky
nature. Besides this, they were there exposed to the full heat of the
sun; while by keeping inland they were sheltered from its scorching rays
by the wide-spreading tops of the lofty trees. Now and then, when the
beach presented a long stretch of hard sand, they were tempted to go
down to it, but were soon glad to return to the shelter of the woods.
As they advanced, the beach trended more and more to the west, and the
mate's opinion that they were on an island became fully confirmed. At
noon they sat down to rest and dine in a shady spot with the sea in
view, Dan having first gone out some distance ahead to ascertain whether
any native village was in sight.
"All right!" he exclaimed as he returned, flourishing his stick. "As
far as my eyes can see, there is no other living being anywhere on the
island; and we would be after adding a fine counthry to the possessions
of England, if we had but the British flag to hoist to the top of a tall
pole, and take possession of it in the name of King George." Dan was a
loyal Irishman, and there were many such in his day.
"We may take possession of the island, though we should find it a
different matter to keep it should any one choose to dispute our right,"
said the mate. "However, when we have finished our survey, we will
think about the matter; and if we get to Sydney, we will petition the
governor to follow up your suggestion, Dan. At present, we must get our
dinner ready."
Till Dan's return they had refrained from lighting a fire; but wood
having been collected, a light was set to it, and their smoked fish and
iguana flesh were put before it to cook. They were thankful that they
had brought water, as not a rivulet or pool had they come to, and they
would otherwise have suffered greatly.
They had just finished their meal, and were still sitting, no one
speaking, as they all felt somewhat tired, when Walter, hearing a
whistle or chirp close behind him, turned his head and saw standing not
far off a large bird of dark plumage,--or rather with feathers, for he
saw no wings,--with a helmet-like protuberance at the top of its head
resembling mother-of-pearl darkened with black-lead. It had enormous
feet and legs of a pale ash colour; the loose skin of its neck was
coloured with an iridescent hue of bluish-purple, pink, and green; the
body being of a rufous tinge, but of a purple-black about the neck and
breast. The bird stood its ground boldly, not in the slightest degree
alarmed at the appearance of the strangers, as it eyed them with a look
of intense curiosity. Now it poked forward its head, and advanced a
little: now it stood up, raising its head to the ordinary height of a
man; now it sank down again, till its back did not appear more than
three feet from the ground. Though strange-looking, there was nothing
ferocious in its aspect; on the contrary, it appeared to have come
simply to have a look at the intruders on its domain.
"Well, you are an extraordinary creature!" exclaimed Walter. His remark
made the rest of the party turn their heads, when Nub and Dan started up
with the intention of catching the bird.
"Ho! ho! is that your game, my lads?" the strange creature seemed to
say, as it struck out alternately in front with both its feet, sending
the black and the Irishman sprawling on their backs to a considerable
distance--happily not breaking their limbs, which, from the apparent
strength of its legs, it might very easily have done. It then whisked
round, and rushed off with a curious action at a great rate through the
forest, leaping over fallen trees and all other impediments in its way
in a manner which would have made it a hard matter for the best
steeple-chase rider in all Ireland to follow it. Dan and Nub, picking
themselves up again, attempted, along with the doctor, to catch it, but
they were soon left far behind. At length returning, they threw
themselves on the ground panting and blowing.
"I would have given fifty pounds to have got hold of that creature!"
exclaimed the doctor, "I have never seen anything like it before. I
have heard that there are similar wingless birds in New Zealand; but as
no Englishman has ever caught sight of one, I was inclined to doubt the
fact."
The bird seen by the party was a species of cassowary, which is found in
Java and other East India islands. Several specimens have long since
been brought to England from the island of New Britain, the natives of
which call it the "mooruk," and hold it in some degree sacred. When
they are found very young, they are brought up as pets, and become
thoroughly domesticated, exhibiting the most perfect confidence and a
wonderfully curious disposition.
Dan and the doctor had both started up with their bows; Nub had taken
his, but when the mooruk kicked him it had been sent flying out of his
hand, and before he could recover it the bird had got to such a distance
that his arrow would have glanced harmlessly off its thick feathers, had
he attempted to shoot. Dan was excessively vexed at having let the bird
escape.
"Shure, now, if we had thought of throwing a noose over its head, we
might have caught the baste; and it would have given us as many dinners
as a good-sized sheep!" he exclaimed.
"Not for five hundred pounds would I have allowed it to have been
killed!" cried the doctor. "If we could have taken it to England, it
would have been of inestimable value, and would have made ample amends
for all the dangers and hardships we have gone through."
"Well, well, doctor, I don't know that the owners of the _Champion_
would be exactly of your opinion, any more than the rest of us,"
observed the mate, laughing; "but perhaps we may find some other curious
creature before long to recompense you for your loss. It's time,
however, to be on the tramp. I should like to ascertain before dark how
far we are from the mainland; for that we are on an island I feel
confident."
The explorers accordingly once more got into motion. As they advanced,
they found the sun still shining down on the shore, a proof that they
were making a westerly course, and as it sank in the sky they saw that
it almost faced them.
"I have no longer any doubt about the matter," observed the mate. "See
yonder distant line of blue land which runs nearly due north and south.
We have evidently almost reached the extreme western end of the island;
and I believe that we shall have no difficulty in getting back along the
southern shore by to-morrow evening. We will go on a mile or two
further, and then make preparations for encamping. We must provide
proper accommodation for our little lady here; and we shall want
daylight in which to build our hut, and to collect firewood."
The party continued on much as before, and though, as a precautionary
measure, Dan still went ahead to scout, on the possibility of meeting
with Indians, they had no longer much apprehension on the subject. At
length they reached an open spot close to the seashore, though somewhat
raised above it, well suited for an encampment. They accordingly
resolved to remain there for the night. Tall trees rose on either side
and behind them, with a sandy beach in front; beneath was a line of low
rocky cliffs, which formed a bulwark to the land. A wide channel ran
between them and the mainland, which could be dimly seen in the
distance.
All hands immediately set to work: the mate, doctor, and Walter to build
a substantial hut for Alice; and Nub and Dan to collect firewood for
cooking their evening meal. Alice was not idle. She employed herself
in gathering leaves and dry grass to form her bed, which, at the
doctor's suggestion, was made with a layer of twigs and small branches,
the leaves being thickly strewed on the top of them.
"I wish that, instead of taking so much pains about me, you would
arrange some better accommodation for yourselves than you seem to think
of doing," she said. "I feel as if I was very selfish, in allowing you
to take all this trouble about me."
"You require to be more carefully attended to than we do," answered the
doctor. "You are more delicately constituted than we are, and though
your spirit might sustain you, you would suffer more from exposure than
we should."
The doctor's arguments quieted Alice's scruples; so a small hut was
formed for her, with a thick roof of palm-leaves tied down with the
vines they had before found so useful. The rest of the party formed
their sleeping-places of twigs and small boughs, which Walter declared
made as good beds as any sailors need require. By the time these
arrangements were finished supper was ready, and they sat down to their
repast with thoroughly good appetites.
"I am thankful that we came, though I was rather doubtful at first about
making the journey," observed the mate. "It has shown us that we are on
a small island; and also that, to a certainty, it is uninhabited, so
that we need not be compelled to proceed on our voyage till the
favourable season comes round. If we were to go to sea now we should
very likely encounter heavy gales, which would sorely try our little
craft, even though she might be enlarged and strengthened to the utmost
of our power. In the meantime, we shall have enough to do in preparing
provisions for the voyage, and we need have no fear of starving while we
remain."
"I thought that we were going to sail as soon as the boat could be got
ready," observed Alice in a tone of disappointment.
"So we will, Miss Alice," said the mate; "but it will take us many weeks
to get her ready, with the limited number of tools and the scanty
materials we possess. As we have no saw, we must split the planks; and
every plank will have to be brought down to the required thickness with
our single axe or our knives; and we shall have to cut out the ribs in
the same way. Patience and perseverance can alone enable us to overcome
the difficulties before us."
"Well, I am ready to do my best," said Walter; "and perhaps our raft may
be cast on shore, and that will help us."
While they were talking, the gloom of night was coming on; but the fire
cast a cheerful blaze, lighting up the trunks of the tall trees around
them, shedding a glare over the yellow sand, and tingeing the thin white
line of foam which rolled over it, now running up some way, now receding
with a measured, hissing sound, scarcely amounting to a roar.
Nub, who was sitting nearest the sea, had been looking out across the
sand. Suddenly he exclaimed, "I see someting! hist! hist! I know what
it is. Come along, Dan; we will catch it." Saying this, he started up,
followed by Dan. "You go on one side, I go on de oder, and den we run
as fast as our legs can carry us," he cried to his companion.
They were soon scampering along over the sand, at some distance apart
from each other. Not far from the water they again united, by which
time the rest of the party had got up, and were proceeding in the same
direction. They could just make them out engaged apparently in a
desperate struggle with a dark object; and shortly afterwards they heard
Dan's Irish shouts of "Hurrah! hurrah! Erin go bragh!" and Nub
exclaiming, "We got one big turtle. Come, Massa Shobbrok,--come, Massa
Lawrie, and drag him up. We get fine food for supper."
The mate had brought several pieces of rope, which were fastened round
the fins of the turtle, and the poor creature was dragged on its back up
to the encampment. The doctor was eager to cut it up; but the mate
suggested that it would be better to let it remain alive till the
morning, that they might be able to carry some of the meat home with
them. "At all events, we may hope, as this turtle has come to the
shore, that others may also visit it, and afford us an abundant supply
of wholesome food," he observed.
The turtle cannot move when turned on its back, but as a further
security it was tethered by the two fore paws to a stick stuck in the
ground near the fire.
As all the party were tired, they did not sit up late; but soon lay down
in their respective bed-places, with a few boughs stuck in the ground to
shelter their heads. They had not been long asleep when they were all
aroused by a terrific peal of thunder, and looking up, they saw that the
sky, which had been glittering with countless stars when they went to
sleep, was now obscured by dark masses of clouds rushing across it.
Vivid flashes of lightning illumined the air, now darting across the
ocean, now playing round the topmost boughs of the trees; while the wind
began to blow with great violence, increasing every instant, and sending
the leaves and twigs flying around them, sometimes tearing off huge
branches, and even breaking the stout stems in two, or hurling whole
trees to the ground. Alice was sheltered in her hut; the mate did not
at first like to propose that she should leave it, but he watched with
great anxiety the tree-tops bending. At last he felt that it would be
wrong for them any longer to run the risk of being crushed by a falling
tree, or being injured by the lightning which ever and anon played
around the trees near them.
"We shall be safer under yonder rocks than here," he said; "although our
little lady will, I fear, soon be drenched to the skin."
The doctor agreed with him. "And the sooner we are off the better," he
added. The mate, therefore, called to Alice, and, accompanied by Walter
and the rest of the party, hurried down to a high rock which overhung
the beach, where a hollow at the bottom of it afforded some protection
from the storm. Scarcely had they left their encampment when a
tremendous crash was heard; and Walter, looking back, saw that a tall
tree had fallen nearly over the spot where they had been sitting, and
directly on Alice's hut. Most mercifully had they been preserved; a
moment later, and his dear little sister must have been crushed to
death. They all sat down in the cave, with Alice in the midst of them--
by which means they managed to shield her from the rain, which came
pouring down in torrents--and they could hear the water rushing over the
ground like a mill-sluice. Looking out seaward, they saw the waves,
foam-crested, rolling in large billows across the channel; but, happily,
as they were on the lee side of the island, the surf did not reach them,
though it sometimes came hissing up to within twenty feet of where they
were sitting. The question was, whether the tide was rising. If it
was, too probably they might be driven from their retreat, and be
compelled to retire back to the high ground, where they would be again
exposed to the danger of falling trees. They anxiously watched the
foaming waters which thundered and dashed on the projecting rocks, and,
as the seas came rolling round from the weather side, sent the white
foam high into the air, glittering brightly amid the darkness during the
repeated flashes of vivid lightning which darted from the clouds.
"What should we have done had we been at sea!" exclaimed Alice.
"I tink we all go to de bottom," observed Nub. "Bery glad we here."
"We may all be very thankful that we are here," said the mate. "I
dreaded bad weather when I first thought of continuing our voyage in the
boat, but I hope that we may not be exposed to such a gale as is now
raging. As far as I can judge from the look of things, the present gale
is as heavy as any we are likely to encounter."
They sat watching the surf as it rolled up over the smooth sand. Nearer
and nearer it came. The mate had ascertained that there was a secure
retreat to the high ground, or he would not have ventured to remain so
long. He held Alice securely in his arms, as, should the surf come
higher up than before,--not unfrequently the case during a storm,--she
would be safe from the risk of being swept away, or from the lesser
danger of being wetted through. Alice had witnessed two or three
thunderstorms at sea, but this surpassed them all. Crash succeeded
crash with fearful rapidity. The lightning often showed objects around
as clearly as at noonday, and the next moment all was inky darkness.
But few words were exchanged among the party, for who could speak at
such a fearful time?
"De sea come nearer still, Massa Shobbrok," said Nub at length, as he
darted forward a few paces to ascertain how far the surf had reached.
"Shove in your stick, Nub; and if the water comes a foot beyond it, we
must lift our anchor and risk the falling trees," said the mate.
Nub did as he was bid, and then springing back, crouched down again
under the rock, with his eyes intently fixed on the stick. Sea after
sea came roaring up, but the surf did not get so far as the stick.
Another came with a roar very much louder than its predecessors, and
Alice felt the mate half rise with her in his arms, while the doctor
seized Walter's hand. On came the surf with a roaring hiss, high enough
apparently to sweep a strong man off his legs; but it barely reached the
stick, and went rushing back again as rapidly as it had advanced.
The mate sank down once more into his seat. "Unless the tide rises
higher, we are safer where we are than we should be anywhere else," he
observed.
The tide apparently was not rising, for though the surf rolled over the
sand, the fiat had gone forth, "Thus far shalt thou come, and no
further." Still the occasional sound of falling trees, and the crashing
of boughs rudely rent off, showed that the storm continued with unabated
fury.
Daylight came stealing silently over the tumultuous ocean, still tossing
and foaming before them; but there the explorers sat safe from harm,
sheltered beneath a rock which no tempest could move. They did not
forget to kneel and offer up a morning prayer, returning thanks for
their preservation.
"I tink Missie Alice hungry," said Nub at last. "I go and get de fish
and de oder tings we leave at de camp."
The mate, though anxious to obtain food and water, especially for Alice,
was unwilling to let the black risk his life. But Nub promised that he
would keep his eyes open, and rush out of the way should he see any
branches likely to fall.
He soon came back, carrying a single small cask of water and one bundle
of dried fish.
"All de rest washed away," he exclaimed in a disappointed tone. "De
turtle still dere, too, but de tree fall down and crush him. Still I
tink I get meat enough for dinner."
This was not satisfactory news; for though they might obtain water after
all the rain that had fallen, they could not replace the sago flour; nor
would it be satisfactory to eat the raw turtle, and it would be
impossible to light a fire unless the sun should shine forth and dry the
wood.
"But I brought my case of sago with me. I snatched it up when you
called me out of the hut. Here it is," said Alice.
"Then you shall benefit by it," said the mate; "though I am afraid that
we have nothing to mix it in at present."
"I find someting," cried Nub; and darting out, he soon returned with a
big shell, in which some sago flour was quickly stirred up with water.
Though not very palatable, Alice was very glad of it; and the rest of
the party satisfied their hunger with the smoked fish.
While the storm lasted they remained under shelter of the rock, where
they were perfectly dry; and they congratulated themselves that they had
no friends waiting for them at home. As the day drew on, though the
wind continued blowing, the clouds broke away; and the sun coming out,
quickly dried the lighter wood, which Nub and Dan soon collected. A
fire was lighted under the rock by the side of the cave. They then
brought down a portion of the turtle and roasted it. Though not
particularly well done, it was wholesome food, and Alice was glad to
take some of it. The tempest now somewhat abated, and she and Walter
were able to take some exercise under shelter of the rock.
Another night was spent in the cave, one of the party being on the watch
lest the tide should unexpectedly rise and sweep over them. However,
the water did not reach even so far as on the previous night; and they
all awoke much refreshed, and ready to continue their journey. More of
the turtle was first cooked, to serve them for breakfast, and to afford
them another meal should they not meet with any game on their way. They
determined rather to continue their journey round the island than to go
back the road they had come. Just before starting, Nub and Dan made
another search near the encampment, and were fortunate enough to find a
second cask of water and a case of flour, so that they had now no fear
of starvation.
As they proceeded along the western coast, they found the country
generally much flatter than on the other side. In some parts near the
coast it consisted of a sandy plain free from trees, partly barren and
partly covered with long wavy grass. By keeping close to the higher
ground, they were able to cut off a considerable point, and soon found
themselves with their faces eastward. They were also fortunate enough
to come upon a stream, which, flowing down from the central hill, lost
itself in the plain. It enabled them fully to quench the thirst from
which they were suffering.
Soon after they had crossed the stream, Dan, who had gone ahead, came
hurrying back. "Advance aisy now," he exclaimed in a low voice.
"There's something worth seeing, and maybe worth getting too. Just as I
was creeping along, not two hundred yards ahead, what should I see
before me but a score of big birds all dancing and jigging away
together, for all the world as if they were at a wake or some sort of
merrymaking. They were all so busy that none of them saw me, and I
hurried back, lest you should come upon them suddenly and frighten them
away."
Warned by Dan, the party advanced cautiously, hiding themselves among
the tall grass. He led them to a spot slightly elevated above the
plain; and peering forth from their hiding-place, they caught sight of a
number of large birds, apparently employed as Dan had described. They
soon saw, however, that the birds had some object in their movements.
They formed a circle, with a mound in the centre, towards which they
were busily removing the earth with their feet, throwing it up behind
them towards the centre. When they reached a certain point, they turned
round, and walked away with a steady pace to recommence the same
process.
Nub, without saying anything, had stolen away, carrying a long pole with
a noose fixed at the end of it. No one noticed his absence till he was
seen creeping along the ground, with his head scarcely raised above it,
and his stick in advance. The birds, (which were about the size of
turkeys, their heads bare, and their necks ornamented with large frills
of feathers), not descrying the approach of an enemy, continued their
labours, and had already produced a mound two feet in height and a dozen
or more yards in circumference. It was evident, from the way they
worked, and the quantity of earth thrown up at each movement, that they
had remarkably strong legs and claws. Walter doubted much whether Nub
would succeed in catching one; and so got ready an arrow to shoot, in
case they should, on discovering the black, take to flight, and pass
near them, as he thought it probable they would do.
Sometimes Nub lay perfectly still; then again he crept forward, shoving
his noose carefully along the ground till it got very near the outer
circle, to which the birds advanced before beginning to kick up the
soil. At length reaching the last tuft of grass which would assist in
concealing him, he shoved forward his pole to its utmost extent. Back
came one of the birds, and Walter saw that it had actually passed the
noose; then round it turned and began energetically kicking away, not
noticing the trap laid in its path. Presently it stepped into the very
middle of the noose, when Nub by a violent jerk drew it tight, and
starting up, rushed away, dragging the astonished bird after him. The
rest looked about for a moment, very much surprised at the unusual
movements of their companion; but its cries and the appearance of the
black soon told them what had happened, when with loud, croaking sounds
they set off, and rushed towards the very spot where the party lay hid,
evidently intending to fly into the neighbouring trees for shelter. As
they came close, Walter started up, bow in hand, and instantly shot at
the nearest bird; but, to his great disappointment, he missed. The
doctor was equally well prepared; and shooting with steady aim, down
came a bird close to his feet, when, in spite of its struggles and the
fierce way it defended itself with its beak, it was quickly captured Dan
managed to let fly an arrow; but missing, he immediately gave chase to
the rest, several of which, trusting to their feet rather than to their
wings, rushed by him, and went scuttling away at a rapid rate amid the
brushwood.
"Arrah, now," he exclaimed, as he came back, "they all vanished like
imps just in one moment, before I could get hold even of the tail of one
of them."
However, the two birds which had been killed by Nub and the doctor were
of great value. The latter said that he believed they were a species of
the "brush-turkey," often found in New South Wales, and that their flesh
was excellent.
On examining the mound, they discovered several eggs buried deep down in
it, leaving them in no doubt as to the purpose for which it was made by
the birds,--namely, that of hatching their young. Half-a-dozen fine
eggs were secured, and Dan and Nub, hanging the turkeys on a pole,
carried them along in triumph between them.
As the party had still a long day's march before them, they pushed on
without stopping, the doctor and the mate insisting on carrying Alice
between them. She declared that she did not feel at all tired; however,
as they were anxious to reach home if possible that night, they would
not listen to her expostulations. In reality, she was very thankful to
be conveyed in so comfortable a manner.
Just before dark they caught sight of their harbour. The house was
standing,--a proof of the sailor-like way in which it had been
constructed; but when they looked for the boat, which had been hauled up
on shore, out of reach of the sea, as they conceived, she was nowhere to
be seen.