A SAVAGE SURPRISE.
The captain led the way on to the poop, the chiefs and the natives with
them following, while the first officer with the six sailors with sabres
kept in their rear. Once on the quarter-deck Mr. Ryan ranged three of
the men by the bulwark on either side, telling them to sheath their
cutlasses, but to be prepared for instant action in case of treachery.
The chiefs preserved a stolid demeanour, scarce glancing at the
passengers, who were gathered on the poop. At the captain's orders the
steward brought up a number of cushions and placed them on the deck in a
circle. The captain seated himself on one and motioned to the chiefs to
follow his example, which they did without hesitation. Mr. Ryan now
brought up a number of things as presents for the chiefs, and each was
presented with a hand mirror, a roll of scarlet cloth, and some
trinkets, as a small supply of these had been brought on board for trade
with the natives in case of the necessity arising.
The head chief was in addition presented with an axe, and rolls of
coloured cotton strings of glass beads and some brass rings were given
to the inferior chiefs. The natives appeared pleased with their
presents. The captain then addressed them, and endeavoured to explain
that he wanted a supply of water. An empty barrel was brought up and
some water poured into this, and the captain then pointed to the shore,
and by gestures intimated that he wished the barrels to be taken ashore
and filled. The chiefs evidently understood the explanation, and nodded
their assent. The captain then led them to the stump of the mainmast,
pointed to the shore, and taking an axe imitated the action of chopping,
and showed that he wanted them to fell a tree and bring it off to the
vessel. The chief pointed to the boats hanging on the davits, placed the
axe in the hands of one of the men, and clearly signified that the crew
could go ashore and cut down a tree if they chose. The captain shook his
head and placed the axe in the hands of one of the chiefs. Their leader,
however, went up to the foremast, and by spreading out his arms
signified that it was a great size, and then held out the small axe the
captain had presented to him with an action of disdain.
"The beggar means that with one axe they would never cut down a tree of
that size," the first officer said.
"That is all humbug, Ryan; they can bring down the biggest trees for the
construction of their canoes. I believe they bring them down by fire.
However, it is as well to humour them. Tell the carpenter to bring half
a dozen axes."
This was done, and the axes laid down on the deck. There was now a
consultation between the natives. After a while they nodded, and then
made signs that someone must go ashore with them to choose the tree.
"What do you say, Ryan?" the captain asked. "It is of importance that we
should get a stick that will suit us. The question is whether it will be
safe to trust a man on shore with these scoundrels?"
"I will go ashore if you like, captain," Mr. Ryan replied.
"I do not like it, Ryan," the captain said. "You see, they would make
mincemeat of an armed crew in no time."
"I should not propose to take a crew, sir; they could afford no
protection against a number of natives. I do not think the beggars would
assault a single man. You see, there would be nothing to gain by it; and
if they did it would put the ship on its guard, and their game at
present is evidently to be friendly. I do not think there is any danger
in the affair. If I did not go they might send off some stick that would
be of no use at all to us, and as we came in on purpose to get a mast it
is worth while risking something."
"Well, Ryan," the captain said after a moment's deliberation, "I think
perhaps you are right, and that one man would be safe with them. It is
certainly of great importance for us to get the sort of stick we want,
so as you are ready to volunteer I do not think myself justified in
refusing your offer." The captain then put his hand on the chief
officer's shoulder and intimated to the natives that he would accompany
them on shore. The party then returned to the poop, and the steward
brought up some tumblers and two or three bottles of rum. The chiefs'
eyes glistened as the liquor was poured out, and each swallowed a half
tumbler of the spirit with an air of the deepest satisfaction.
"That is the present they like best," the captain said; "and I suppose I
had better give them some for consumption on shore. At any rate it will
keep them in a good temper until Ryan is back again." Accordingly two
bottles of rum were presented to the leading chief, a bottle to the
three next in rank, and two or three bottles among the others. The great
canoe was hailed, the natives again took their places in it, accompanied
by the first officer, and the boat then started for the shore. Some of
the smaller craft now came alongside, and the process of barter was
again commenced. Yams, bread-fruit, and other products of the island
were obtained for the use of the ship in exchange for beads, empty
bottles, and small mirrors, while the passengers succeeded in obtaining
many curiously carved weapons, calabashes, woven cloths, and other
mementoes of their visit. Only two or three of the canoes were allowed
alongside at a time, and a vigilant look-out was maintained to see that
the others did not approach the ship. The captain walked restlessly up
and down the poop, constantly turning his glass upon the shore.
An hour after the great canoe had reached it he exclaimed in a tone of
intense satisfaction, "There is Ryan coming down to the beach. Thank
heaven he is safe!" The first-mate was seen to take his place in a small
canoe, which at once rowed off to the ship. The captain shook him
heartily by the hand as he stepped on deck. "Thank heaven you have got
back safely, Ryan! it has been a hazardous business, and I shall take
care to let the owners know how you have risked your life by going
ashore in their service. Well, how have you succeeded?"
"I found a grand pine growing within thirty or forty yards of the water,
about a quarter of a mile beyond that point to the left. As I expected,
the natives had no idea of using the axes for such a purpose. When I
left them a party were piling wood round the foot of the tree, and I
have no doubt they will soon get it down in their own way. I suppose
they will waste ten or twelve feet at the base, but that is of no
consequence, for the tree is long enough and to spare to make us a
fair-sized mainmast."
"That is right; and as it is so close to the water we can send a boat to
see how they are getting on. How about water?"
"They showed me a spring about fifty yards from the beach, nearly facing
us. There is plenty of water there, and it is perfectly fresh and sweet,
for I tasted it. If they make any bother about bringing it off, a couple
of boats with well-armed parties could fetch it without difficulty as
the distance is so short."
"That is capital, Ryan. I hope our difficulties are pretty well over,
and that we shall get off without any trouble with these fellows."
"I hope so, sir. They certainly seemed friendly enough with me on
shore."
In the evening Mr. Ryan, with a crew of six men, went in the captain's
gig to see how the natives were getting on with the tree. The men had
their muskets and cutlasses laid under the thwarts in readiness for
action. The natives, however, appeared perfectly friendly. The crews of
several of the canoes near which they passed shouted some sort of
greeting, but paid no other attention to them. On rounding the point the
first officer steered straight for the tree he had chosen. A light smoke
was ascending from its foot, and half a dozen natives were gathered
there. When close to the spot he ordered the men to turn the boat round
and back her ashore.
"I am going to land, lads," he said, "and see how they are getting on. I
do not think that there is the least danger, but you had best keep in
readiness to row off the instant I jump on board."
Mr. Ryan then proceeded to the tree. He found that a circle of small
fires had been built against it. These were fed with dry wood, and were
slowly but steadily eating their way into the tree, and he saw that only
two or three feet of the base would be injured by their action. He
nodded approvingly to the natives, but muttered to himself: "It's a
mighty slow way of bringing down a tree. It is not much above three feet
and a half in diameter, even at the base, and a couple of men with axes
would bring it down in an hour, while there is no saying how long they
will be with these fires of theirs. However, I should say that they will
get through it to-night or some time to-morrow. It is a fine stick, and
runs up as straight as an arrow, and is thick enough for fifty feet for
our purpose."
He walked quietly back to the boat, took his seat, and was rowed back to
the ship, where he reported that the natives were carrying out their
promise, and that by the next day the tree would be down. On visiting
the spot again on the following morning it was found that the tree had
fallen.
"The fellows know their business," Mr. Ryan said to the man who rowed
the stroke-oar. "You see that they managed so that it should fall
towards the water. Now, lads, you can take to the axes we have brought
with us and chop it through at the point where we want it cut; it will
save the trouble of getting off the upper branches, and render it much
more handy for getting afloat."
Leaving two of the men in the boat, Mr. Ryan and the other four leapt
ashore, and were not long in cutting through the tree. Another half-hour
sufficed to lop off all the branches below this point, and the trunk was
then ready for launching. The natives stood round watching the work with
exclamations of surprise at the speed with which the keen axes did their
work. Mr. Ryan had brought with him from the ship a number of presents,
and these he distributed among the party who had been engaged in felling
the tree.
"I do not know," he said to the captain when he returned, "whether they
mean to get the stick in the water and bring it here, or whether they
expect we shall do that part of the business ourselves."
"I think we will wait until to-morrow morning, Mr. Ryan. If we hear
nothing of them by then you had better take two boats--one with men to
do the work, the other to lie just off and protect them while they do
it."
There was, however, no occasion for this, for early the next morning
seven or eight canoes were seen coming round the point with much beating
of tom-toms and sounding of conch horns.
"Here comes the spar!" the captain exclaimed; "the worst of our
difficulties is over, thank goodness!"
"I would keep an eye open, Ryan, if I were you," Mr. Atherton said as
the mate passed him to give orders for preparing to get the spar on
deck. "There are a good many other canoes coming off from the shore,
and they might take the opportunity for making a sudden attack."
"Right you are," the mate said. "Let the starboard watch," he shouted,
"keep their arms handy! Four men with muskets take their place at the
top of the gangway, but do not show the arms unless you get orders to do
so!"
The trunk was towed alongside the ship. Mr. Atherton and the party who
had placed themselves under his orders kept a vigilant watch on the
canoes to see if the occupants were armed. There was a deal of talking
and gesticulating going on among them, but no arms could be seen, and
Mr. Atherton soon concluded that if treachery was intended the present
was not the time at which it would be shown. The crew were all on deck,
and the natives must have known their arms were close at hand, for each
day a few of those who came to trade had been permitted to come on deck,
partly to show confidence on the part of those on board, partly that the
visitors might see the arms lying in readiness for use, and be able to
report on shore that the ship was not to be taken by surprise.
No sooner was the spar alongside than a couple of sailors lowered
themselves down and passed ropes round it. These ropes were then passed
through blocks and taken to the capstan. The bars were fitted and seized
by a dozen men. The boatswain's whistle sounded, and starting their
anchor song the men tramped round and round, the ropes tightened, and
the heavy spar was parbuckled up on to the deck. No sooner was it got
on board than the four chiefs who had before visited the ship came
alongside. There was another talk, and they were presented with a
considerable number of presents for themselves and followers as a reward
for their service in sending off the spar. Mr. Atherton and Wilfrid did
not approach the group of passengers round the chiefs, keeping their
attention vigilantly upon the boats, from which the danger, if it
existed, would come.
The Allens, however, in accordance with Mr. Atherton's instructions,
watched the natives closely, and noticed as they came on deck they cast
quick and scrutinizing glances round them as if to see what were the
chances of a surprise. Mr. Ryan, however, had, when he saw the great
canoe approaching, placed ten men with muskets on guard, and the chiefs
doubtless perceived that a surprise could not be effected. After a stay
of about a quarter of an hour the chiefs departed with their presents,
of which, by the care they took of it, it was evident that they
considered a case of rum to be by far the most precious. No sooner was
the trunk of the pine fairly on board than a gang of men provided with
adzes began, under the direction of the carpenter, to prepare it. The
bark was chipped off, the stumps of the branches shaved close, and they
then began to chip it down to the required thickness from end to end.
"It will make a fine spar," the captain said in a tone of great
satisfaction, after he had examined it. "I think it will do for her
permanent mast. If it will it will save us a lot of trouble when we get
into Wellington."
"I think it will be a little light, sir," Mr. Ryan said, "by the time we
have got it perfectly smooth and even. Still, I have seen lighter spars
in a ship of this size, and I certainly think we are most fortunate in
getting such a stick. When do you think you will get it ready, Watson?"
"I should say we shall have it nearly ready for getting into its place
by to-morrow night, Mr. Ryan," the carpenter replied, "though we may not
quite finish it until next day; for, you see, when it comes to getting
it smoothed, I and my mate must do it by ourselves."
"I should not be particular about smoothing it," the captain said, "but
of course you must make it so that it will take the spare irons we have
got for the topmast. We shall have plenty of time to put the finishing
touches to it when we get to Wellington. I begin to think these natives
are not so black as they are painted, Mr. Ryan."
"Perhaps not, sir; but maybe if they had not seen that we were so ready
for them there would be a different tale to tell."
"That is so," the captain agreed. "There is no doubt that the best way
of dealing with natives is never to give them a chance."
The carpenter's gang continued steadily at their work, while the first
officer got up the sheer-legs and hoisted the stump of the mainmast from
its place. The butt of the new mainmast was cut to match this, and on
the second day after it arrived alongside it was hoisted into its
position. The whole of the stays and rigging of the mainmast had been
cut away as soon as it went overboard; but there was plenty of spare
rope on board, and before evening the new mast was firmly stayed in its
place, and all was in readiness for hoisting the spar that was to serve
as topmast.
The natives had watched the proceedings with great interest. Quite a
crowd of canoes gathered round the ship, and were greatly surprised at
seeing the heavy spar raised by the sheers and dropped into its place;
and they replied to the hearty cheers that rose from the crew and
passengers when this was accomplished by wild yells and cries and the
sounding of their horns.
"I begin to think," the captain said to Mr. Atherton, "that the natives
have got a worse name than they deserve. I do not mean, of course, that
they have not perpetrated several atrocious massacres, but I expect
these must have been the result of extreme carelessness on the part of
those on ships, or perhaps of rough treatment, for some captains treat
the natives of islands like these like dogs. As far as they could have
told there was an excellent chance of attacking the ship to-day, though
we know that we kept up a vigilant watch all the time, and yet nothing
could have been more friendly than they were."
"There is no doubt something in what you say, captain," Mr. Atherton
agreed. "Many of the captains of the ships who trade among these islands
are certainly rough fellows, who would think nothing of knocking a
native down, and others again are so culpably careless as to offer
almost an inducement to the natives to grasp what is to them untold
wealth. Still, I think it is as well to be cautious."
"Of course we shall be cautious," the captain replied; "but I really do
not think that you and the others need bother yourselves to be always
standing on sentry."
"It is no trouble," Mr. Atherton said, "and I think we will keep it up
until we are fairly under weigh."
Mr. Atherton was not pleased at seeing that the captain the next day
relaxed somewhat in the strictness of the rules he laid down, and the
crew were allowed to trade freely with the natives.
"We must be more vigilant than ever," he said to Wilfrid and the Allens.
"The captain is so pleased at having got his mast on board that he is
disposed to view the natives with friendly eyes, which, if they mean
treachery, is just what they want. Finding that we were too much on the
watch to be taken by surprise, they would naturally try to lull us with
a sense of false security."
In the afternoon the chief again came off and formally invited the
captain to a feast on shore. He accepted the invitation, and went back
with them, accompanied by three or four of the passengers who had
scoffed at the idea of danger. After a stay of two or three hours they
returned on board.
"I think, Mr. Ryan," the captain said that evening, "you had better take
a couple of boats in the morning and go ashore for water. We shall have
everything ready for getting up our anchor after dinner. Of course your
crew will be well armed and take every precaution, but I do not think
that there is the slightest danger."
"Very well, sir. You may be sure I will keep my weather-eye open."
Mr. Atherton shook his head when in the morning he saw the boats being
lowered, and heard from the first officer the orders he had received.
"From what you say there is water enough to last us to Wellington if we
are all put on somewhat shorter allowance, and that would be infinitely
better than running the risk of your going ashore."
"The water might last if all goes well," the mate said, "but if we were
to get becalmed for some time, which is likely enough in these
latitudes, we should be in an awkward fix. I shall keep a sharp look-out
on shore, never fear. The distance to the spring is, as I told you, not
above fifty yards, and I will keep half the men filling and the other
half on guard. If they should mean mischief we will give it them hot."
"How many men will you take?"
"Sixteen--ten in the cutter and six in the gig."
"That would only leave us ten on board," Mr. Atherton said. "If they
attack you they will attack us too, that is a moral certainty. At any
rate, I will hint to some of the passengers that they had better keep
their arms in readiness while you are away."
Mr. Atherton refused to go down to breakfast when the Allens came up to
relieve him after finishing their meal.
"We will have both watches on deck this morning," he said. "We shall be
very short-handed while Ryan and his party are away. Unfortunately the
captain is convinced there is not the slightest danger. He snubbed me
this morning quite smartly when I said casually that I supposed that he
would not let any of the natives on board while Ryan was away."
As the rest of the passengers came up from breakfast, Mr. Atherton spoke
to some of those with whom he had been most intimate on the voyage, and
told them that he thought it would be just as well for them to bring
their arms on deck and keep them close at hand until the watering party
returned.
"It is no great trouble," he said, "and it is just as well to be ready
in case the natives mean mischief. I know that some of the youngsters
consider me to be an alarmist, and I will give them free leave to laugh
at me when we are once safely out at sea, but the stake is too heavy to
admit of carelessness; there are not only our own lives but those of the
ladies to be thought of."
Three or four of the passengers followed this advice and brought their
muskets or double-barrelled guns on deck. They were a good deal laughed
at by the rest, who asked them if they had joined Atherton's army, as
the little party who had kept watch were called. However, when the boats
pushed off with the empty casks, and the passengers saw how large was
the complement of the crew who had left them, three of the others
strolled down to the cabin and got their guns. In half an hour the great
canoe with the chiefs came off, and as it approached the ship Mr.
Atherton told Wilfrid to go forward, and tell the five men there to come
aft and be in readiness to mount to the poop the moment they saw any
sign of trouble. "If there is a row," he said, "we have to hold the
poop. There are only the two ladders to defend, and we can do that; but
it would be useless to try to hold the whole of the ship."
As the captain left the poop and went down into the waist to receive the
chiefs, Mr. Atherton went up to where Mrs. Renshaw was sitting.
"Will you take my advice, Mrs. Renshaw?"
"Certainly I will," she said, smiling; "for I am sure it will be good,
whatever it is."
"Then, Mrs. Renshaw, I advise you at once to go below with your daughter
and the Miss Mitfords. I do not say that we are going to have trouble,
but if we are this is the time. Pray oblige me by doing as I ask."
Mrs. Renshaw at once rose, called Marion and the other two girls, who
were gaily chatting with a group of the passengers, and asked them to go
below with her. Wilfrid and the two Allens were now on the poop, as Mr.
Atherton had told them that they had better remain there instead of
placing themselves at other points. The Grimstones and the three other
passengers forward were gathered near the ladders.
As usual the chiefs accompanied the captain on to the poop, followed by
half a dozen of the minor chiefs; and Mr. Atherton noticed that several
of the others, instead of sitting quietly in the canoe, slipped up after
them on to the deck. The flotilla of small canoes, which had as usual
put out in the train of the large one, was edging in towards the vessel.
Mr. Atherton leant over the poop rail and spoke to the second officer,
who was engaged in the waist with the men.
"Mr. Rawlins, I do not quite like the look of things. I think that it
would be as well if you were to gather as many of the hands as you can
at the foot of the ladder here, without, of course, alarming the
natives, as it may be only my fancy."
The second-mate nodded, and at once told the men with him to knock off
from their work. "Get hold of your cutlasses quietly," he said, "and
gather near the foot of the starboard port ladder." Then going to the
gangway he stopped a native who was just climbing up from the canoe, and
motioned to them that no more were to come on board.
The talk with the chiefs was a short one. The stewards brought up two
cases of rum, and when these were handed over to them the natives rose
as if to go. Suddenly the leader drew his axe from his girdle, and with
a loud yell buried it deep in the captain's head.
The yell was echoed from some hundred throats, the crew of the canoe
leapt to their feet and began to clamber up the side of the vessel,
while those in the smaller craft dashed their paddles into the water and
urged their boats towards it. At the same moment the natives on board
all drew concealed weapons. So quick had been the action of the chief
that Mr. Atherton had not time to prevent it, but before the body of the
captain touched the deck that of the chief was stretched beside it with
a bullet through the brain.
Wilfrid and the Allens seeing the natives rise to go had thought the
danger over, and two passengers had been struck down before they brought
their rifles to their shoulders. They were within a few feet of the
chiefs, and each of their shots told. For a minute or two there was a
scene of wild confusion. The natives in the waist fell furiously upon
the sailors, but these, fortunately put upon their guard, received the
attack with determination. The sound of the lads' rifles was followed
almost instantly by the sharp cracks of a revolver Mr. Atherton
produced from his pocket, and each shot told with fatal effect. When the
revolver was empty not a native remained alive on the poop.
The other passengers had been taken so completely by surprise that even
those who had brought up their arms did not join in the fray until the
poop was cleared. "Keep them back there!" Mr. Atherton shouted as the
natives came swarming up the ladder on the port side. Several shots were
fired, but the passengers were too startled for their aim to be true.
"Give me your musket, Renshaw!" Mr. Atherton exclaimed, snatching the
piece the latter had just discharged from his hands, "my rifle is too
good for this work." He then clubbed the weapon, and whirling it round
his head as if it had been a straw fell upon the natives, who were just
pouring up on to the poop, shouting to the passengers, "Fire on the mass
below! I will keep these fellows at bay!" Every blow that fell stretched
a man lifeless on deck, until those who had gained the poop, unable to
retreat owing to the pressure of those behind them, and terrified by the
destruction wrought by this giant, sprang over the bulwark into the sea.
Just as they did so the little party of sailors and steerage passengers,
finding themselves unable to resist the pressure, made their way up to
the poop by the starboard ladder, hotly pressed by the natives.
By this time several of the male passengers who had rushed below for
their weapons ran up, and Wilfred and the Allens having reloaded, such a
discharge was poured into the natives on the port ladder that the
survivors leapt down on to the deck below, and the attack for a moment
ceased. The whole of the forward portion of the ship was by this time
in the hands of the natives. Three sailors who were at work there had
been at once murdered, only one of the party having time to make his
escape up the fore rigging. Spears now began to fly fast over the poop.
"We must fall back a bit, Mr. Rawlins, or we shall be riddled," Mr.
Atherton said. "Your men had better run down and get muskets; we will
keep these fellows at bay. I do not think they will make a rush again
just at present. Will you see that the door leading out on to the waist
is securely barricaded, and place two or three men there? Mr. Renshaw,
will you and some of the other passengers carry down those ladies who
have fainted, and assure them all that the danger is really over."
Mr. Atherton had so naturally taken the command that the second mate at
once obeyed his instructions. Most of the ladies had rushed below
directly the fray began, but two or three had fainted, and these were
soon carried below. The male passengers, eighteen in all, were now on
deck. Several of them looked very pale and scared, but even the most
timid felt that his life depended on his making a fight for it. A
perfect shower of spears were now flying over the poop from the natives
in the canoes alongside, and from the ship forward.
"We had best lie down, gentlemen," Mr. Atherton said. "If the natives
make a rush up the ladders we must be careful not to fire all at once or
we should be at their mercy. Let those by the bulwarks fire first, and
the others take it up gradually while the first reload. Of course if
they make a really determined rush there will be nothing to do but to
meet them and drive them back again."
Unfortunately the four cannon of the _Flying Scud_ were all amidships,
and were therefore not available for the defence.
"If we could make a breastwork, Mr. Atherton, so that we could stand up
behind it and fire down into the waist we might drive these fellows
out," the second officer suggested.
"A very good idea. Wilfrid, will you run down and ask the ladies to get
up to the top of the companion all the mattrasses, trunks, and other
things that would do to form a barricade? It will be a good thing for
them to have something to do. Mr. Rawlins, will you send down the
stewards to help? they might get some cases and barrels up. As fast as
they bring them up we will push them along the deck and form a
breastwork."