The sailors who had remained loyal to Captain Ranken obeyed his summons
with prompt alacrity. They were reduced to seven, three having gone
with the first mate in the pinnace. The captain gave them their orders,
which they proceeded to put into execution as rapidly and with as little
noise as possible. The boat was brought immediately under the ship's
side, and a number of articles put into it, the first being the
carpenter's chests, and a load of spars and planks from the workshop.
Then the boat returned for boxes and barrels, containing provisions to
last for a fortnight, together with all the firearms and cutlasses on
deck. Then a quantity of bedding, knives, forks, and crockery, and a
large tarpaulin which had been used to form a shelter from the heat for
the passengers. A number of empty boxes and barrels were also lowered
into the sea, which, as the tide was then running, would be washed up on
the further reef. There was a great deal to be done, but the hands were
all active and willing; and by the time when the moon rose all the most
necessary articles had been ferried over.
As soon as the light permitted, the men, under the direction of the
carpenters, began putting up a hut at the spot indicated by the captain.
They fortunately found one or two crevices in the rock, in which
uprights could be fixed. A long spar was run across from two of these,
and the tarpaulin stretched over it. Then four shorter posts were
placed at the corners, but at two of these points there were no
crevices, and the spars had to be placed in tall barrels filled with
stones. The sides were next filled in with planks, with a door and an
opening to serve as a window at the end farthest from the wreck. The
gig continued her voyages under the conduct of Captain Ranken, George,
and the second mate, and almost everything that would be required was
brought over. Mr Whittaker's chest had been one of the first things
cared for.
By daybreak a very tolerable hut had been constructed; and the captain
directed them, as the next job, to put up a barricade extending the
whole length of the hut on the side facing the ship. This was formed of
barrels and chests containing large stones, of which there was abundance
on the reef, the spaces between them being similarly filled. When this
had been completed, it was broad day, and it was impossible to expect
that the crew, who by this time must have slept off their drunken
debauch, could be kept any longer in ignorance of their officers'
proceedings. The second mate was sent, therefore, to inform the
passengers of the removal to the further reef, and convey them over to
it as quickly as possible. They were taken by surprise, but complied
readily enough; only Vander Heyden making some complaint that the cabin
party had been kept in ignorance of what they ought to have been told.
While they were being ferried across in the boat, the captain and George
returned for the last time to the deck.
"We are well out of this, sir," remarked George; "we shall be safe over
there."
"Yes, unless they come across to attack us."
"Come across? what, in the long-boat?"
"Yes, in the long-boat. They can't launch it while we have possession
of the deck. But as the ship is left to them, there will be nothing to
prevent their doing it."
"It would be a desperate thing to attempt, landing on the reef under
such a fire as we could open on them."
"No doubt, if they attempted it by day. But in the dark they could get
ashore unseen by us, and perhaps make one or two voyages before we found
it out. Besides, the long-boat will hold a great number of men. We
must not risk it."
"What do you propose then, sir?"
"To destroy the boat," answered the captain. "It is easily enough done,
if you will lend a hand. But first, are all the others safely landed on
the reef?"
"Yes. The boat, with Mr Rolfe in her, is just coming back for us."
"Very good. Then we will go to work."
He went below and fetched two iron pots, in each of which he placed a
heavy charge of powder, rolling a piece of rag round it to prevent its
escape. Then, motioning to George to pick up some heavy blocks of wood,
he moved noiselessly across the deck, and laid the pots in the bottom of
the boat, one at each end, with the blocks to keep them down. Next he
laid a train of powder with a slow match, the end of which he ignited.
They now crept down to the boat, and put off. They had almost got
across, when a loud explosion, followed almost simultaneously by a
second, was heard. Immediately afterwards the men poured up on deck,
having evidently contrived some way for themselves of getting up there.
Some of them carried carbines, and they might have fired on the captain
and his two companions, if these had not hastily drawn up the boat and
made for the shelter of the shed.
"Safe now, sir," remarked Rolfe, "unless they swim across to us."
"They'll hardly try that on," rejoined the captain. "They would be an
easy mark for our rifles, and they know we have several and can use
them. We roust put a man to watch their movements; but I think that is
all that will be needed. If breakfast is ready, we may go to it with an
appetite."
This had hardly been completed, when Hooper, the man set to watch, came
in with the information that a flag of truce had been hoisted on the
vessel, and three men, Gott, Shirley, and Sullivan had come down to the
edge of the water to parley with the captain.
"Are they unarmed?" asked the second mate.
"Yes, sir," answered Hooper.
"Can you see anything of the other men?" inquired the doctor.
"There are none on the reef, sir, but I thought I saw one or two peeping
over the ship's bulwarks."
"I guessed as much," said McCarthy. "You ought to think twice, sir,
before you go to meet these men. You would be an easy mark for any one
hiding in the forecastle; and they may think that, if they once got you
out of the way, they could do anything they pleased."
"That's possible," said Captain Ranken. "But I can't help that. There
is a chance of avoiding bloodshed, and it is my duty to go."
"Well, any way, let us take any precautions we can," urged Rolfe. "Five
or six of us can take our rifles, and show ourselves over the top of the
barricade. They will see that if they have you at their mercy, we have
Gott and Shirley and Sullivan at ours."
"You may do that, if you like," said the skipper. "There is never any
harm in showing that one is prepared."
The mate's suggestion was acted on. Half a dozen marksmen, including
the two Dutchmen, Rivers, Margetts, Whittaker, and the mate, took their
guns, climbed on to the top of the barricade, and then stationed
themselves behind it, the muzzles of their rifles projecting from
between the stones. Then the captain, accompanied by McCarthy, went
down to the edge of the reef, and, hailing the three men opposite, asked
what they had to say.
"We're very sorry," said Gott,--"sorry as you're displeased, sir. But
the most of us don't know what we've done."
"Do you call running the ship on a reef, and then trying to plunder her,
and after that attempting to murder us, nothing?"
"It was only one or two as did that; we didn't wreck the ship, or join
in the attack as was made on you, sir," said Sullivan.
"I am glad to hear it. What do you want now?"
"We want you and the others to come over here again, and we'll go back
to our duty," answered Gott.
"And what about the mutineers?" asked the captain.
"There was but a few of they, and they was mostly killed in the
scrimmage."
"Indeed! were Bostock and Van Ryk killed, may I ask?"
There was no answer. The skipper repeated his question, and then
Shirley said sullenly, "I don't know as they was."
"Very good. Van Ryk was the man who ran the ship on the reef; Mr
Rivers saw him do it. Bostock fired deliberately at Mr Vander Heyden;
_I_ saw him do it. I don't want to inquire too closely what others may
have done, but these two are clearly guilty. If they are put into irons
and brought over here, together with all the arms in your possession, we
will return to the ship, and when help comes, no proceedings will be
taken against anybody, except the two prisoners. These are the only
terms I shall offer you. I shall expect to receive an answer in an hour
or two."
The men, after exchanging a few words, sullenly withdrew. The captain,
and McCarthy, who had been chosen to accompany the skipper, because the
men are always unwilling to hurt the doctor, also beat a hasty retreat,
and informed their companions what had passed.
"Do you think they will give in, sir?" asked Whittaker.
"No," replied the captain. "I fear Van Ryk and Bostock have too much
weight with them. Besides, sailors on these occasions are apt to stick
together. If we don't get an answer within the hour, we must look for
broken heads."
The hour passed, and then another hour or two. The after noon slipped
away, and there was no return of the deputies. The men kept quite out
of sight. But the sound of hammering and sawing and the buzz of voices
were plainly audible.
"They are up to something, sir," said Rolfe; "making a raft, most
likely, by which they hope to reach the shore. They've plenty of
materials, and some smart hands among them. Don't you think that is
likely, sir?"
"I think it very likely," answered the skipper; "only I am afraid they
are more likely to use it to make an attack on us than to reach the
shore--or rather, they will attempt the latter, but only when they have
carried out the former. They won't go without the money if they can
help it. But the first thing for us will be to ascertain what they are
really about, and we can do that, though not without some risk. The
boat is still lying off at the place where we moored her when we came
across for the last time. If we got aboard her we might row out to the
other side of the reef, keeping at a safe distance, and then we should
find out what they are doing."
"No doubt, sir," rejoined Rolfe; "but would they let us do it? I am
pretty sure there are one or two fellows lying under the bulwarks,
watching us from the deck. They could pick off any one who tried that."
"I am afraid that is only too likely," said Captain Ranken; "but it is
so important to us to know what they are up to, that I think we must
attempt it. Who will volunteer for the service?"
He was answered by half a dozen eager voices, declaring each man's
readiness to make the adventure.
"Very good, gentlemen; I thank you heartily," said the skipper. "The
men I want must be good divers, if possible, but certainly good
swimmers. They must also, of course, understand the management of a
boat."
"I can't swim, I am sorry to say," cried Walters.
"I can swim, but I am no diver," said Rolfe.
"And I can swim and dive, but I am a poor hand at managing a boat,"
added Margetts. "But look here, captain, here's your man--George
Rivers. He swims like a fish, and dives like a cormorant, and can
manage a boat first-rate."
"He will do for one, no doubt," said the captain. "And I think, Mynheer
Moritz, you offered, did you not? You, I know, can both swim and dive,
and, I believe, understand managing a boat?"
"Yes, sir," returned Moritz, "I believe, without vanity, I can say I do.
I shall be pleased to undertake this in company with Mr Rivers."
"Very good," said the skipper. "That is settled, then. Now, gentlemen,
this is what you have to do. You must get into the water here, out of
the sight of the ship, and swim round, keeping under water as much as
possible. Then get under the lee of the boat, and bring her round,
sheltering yourselves under the cover of her side. Of course our fears
may be groundless. There may be no one lying in wait. But I fancy I
have seen heads looking from time to time over the ship's sides, and it
is best to take every precaution. Now be off as quick as possible, for
the daylight is dying out."
George and Moritz complied. Going to the farther point of the reef,
they stripped, and, slipping silently into the water, began swimming
round the reef. When they got to the point where their heads would be
visible from the ship, they dived, and swam under water, neither of them
reappearing until their heads came to the surface close under the bows
of the boat.
"Capitally managed!" cried the captain. "If they get her out from
shore, all will be safe. I really hope our apprehensions were
unfounded."
But at this moment two or three guns were fired from the ship, and
several bullets spattered in the water. Moritz, who had incautiously
raised his head, had a narrow escape. George seized and dragged him
down, himself only just escaping a bullet which whistled over his head.
The boat, however, was by this time in motion, and they were enabled to
drag it along with them, without again exposing themselves until they
were out of shot. Then they climbed in and rowed to the place whence
they had started. Here the captain received them with many
commendations and thanks; and, while the two adventurers were resuming
their clothes, went off in the boat with two of the men to the other
side of the wreck, taking care to keep at a safe distance. He returned
in half an hour with a very uncomfortable report.
"Have you found out what they are about, sir?" asked Margetts.
"I am sorry to say I have. They mean mischief, and, I fear, will be
only too likely to be able to work it. They are putting together a
raft, and are getting on fast with it."
"But may not that be only to enable them to make their escape to the
shore?" suggested Walters.
"If that had been their intention, they would not have fired on Rivers
and Mr Moritz. There is no use in disguising facts. They mean to
attack us."
"But how can they contrive, sir?" asked the second mate. "Neither wind
nor tide is favourable to them. A raft is a very difficult thing to
manage at all times, and they would have to approach this part of the
reef under the fire of all our guns."
"You are right, Rolfe," replied the captain; "but unfortunately the raft
is not the only work they are engaged on. Somehow it appears that the
launch was not so much injured as I had supposed. Two or three smart
hands have been employed on it, and it looked as though it had been made
all right again. What they mean to do, I expect, is to launch both raft
and boat at nightfall, and the one will tow the other till our reef is
reached. Then they will land in the dark, and then either take up a
position behind our barricade, from which they can fire upon us whenever
we go in or out of our hut, or else make an assault upon us as soon as
the moon rises, and overpower us by superior numbers. The first would
be the surest plan for themselves, but their dread of Wyndham's return
may induce them to adopt the other. They outnumber us, remember, at
least six to one."
"It is only too likely that you are right," said George; "but what do
you advise?"
"I think, in the first place, we must complete the barricade round the
hut. At present we are open on two sides to a sudden rush, which would
overpower us by force of numbers. Behind, the rise of the rock is so
precipitous that they could only climb it with great difficulty, one by
one. We must place our best marksmen up there, and the others behind
our barricades down below. We must put a man, when the darkness comes
on, at the very extremity of the reef, nearest to the wreck. He will be
able to distinguish what they are doing sufficiently well to tell us
when they are launching their raft. It cannot, I know, be completed for
many hours yet. As soon as it does put off, we can burn a blue light,--
I took care last night to bring some with me,--and that will enable us
to fire on them, while approaching and landing, with effect. We may be
fortunate enough to kill their leaders, in which case the others will
submit at once."
"If I catch sight of that Cargill," exclaimed Vander Heyden, "he will
not trouble us any more! Ha, Vrank?"
"No," responded Moritz; "he doesn't deserve much mercy, and I don't
imagine he would show us much."
"None at all, I fear," assented the captain. "But I don't desire his
death on that account, but because he is leading these poor misguided
fellows into crime and ruin. But no more of him. If we mean to put up
our barricades, we must go to work at once."
"All right, captain!" said Rolfe; "we will not delay a minute."
A quantity of barrels and boxes, with which the reef was still strewn,
were brought up, and filled with stones, as well as some heaps of
wreck-wood, which had been thrown up above high-water mark. In two
hours' time a barricade had been erected sufficiently strong to repel
any sudden assault. Then attention was turned to the high ground behind
the hut. Large stones and pieces of wood were laid along the highest
ridge, behind which the riflemen might fire in safety. This party
consisted of McCarthy, Rolfe, George Rivers, Margetts, Whittaker, and
Walters, together with Vander Heyden and Moritz. The captain took the
command of the party below, which consisted of the seven sailors. Here
also Miss Vander Heyden was placed, under the captain's special
protection. When the hut was first erected, a space had been
partitioned off to serve as Annchen's sleeping-place, and George, during
the captain's absence in the boat, had employed his time in doubling
this partition, and filling up the space between the boards with stones,
so that even if all the other defences were carried, she would still
have a last place of shelter.
When the job was done, the whole party sat down to rest and take some
refreshment. The evening came on before they had finished their meal,
and in a short time it was quite dark.
"If they mean to come," remarked the captain, "it will be pretty soon
now. The noise of hammering has ceased for the last half-hour; they
must have completed their job; and now it will be seen whether they are
going to make for the shore, or attack us."
It was an anxious moment. The whole party sat in front of their
barricade, on the stones or logs of which it was composed, listening
intently to catch any sound which might determine the momentous question
at issue. Presently the silence was broken by Coxwell, the sailor whom
the captain had stationed at the farthest point of the reef. He came up
with the information that the boat and raft were both afloat, and by the
lanterns they had lighted he could see the men getting on board.
"We must all take our places," said the captain. "I will go down to the
water's edge and listen. Mr Rivers, be ready to put a match to the
blue lights as soon as I call to you."
All obeyed in silence. Annchen took leave of her brother and Moritz,
and bade also a general farewell to the others; her eye, as George could
not help fancying, lighting with special kindness on him. When they had
all taken up their stations, there was a silence of some minutes, and
then the voice of the captain was heard,--"Light up! I hear them
coming!" Rivers obeyed; and a lurid flame suddenly sprang forth, by the
light of which the boat and raft were both distinctly visible, the
former with only five or six rowers aboard, the other following in tow,
and crowded with armed men.
"The party on the rocks fire on the boat?" shouted Captain Ranken;
"those in the shed on the raft!"
He was obeyed on the instant. Eight rifles cracked almost at the same
moment from the rocks. The steersman and two of the rowers dropped dead
in their places. The other two flung themselves into the bottom of the
boat, wounded, but not killed. Several also on board the raft fell into
the sea, or into their companions' arms, and a cry for quarter was
raised. But the next moment the voice of Bostock sounded loud and
clear.
"Step into the water!" he cried. "We are already on the reef; it is not
above our knees."
He sprang out himself as he spoke, and began wading ashore, followed,
after a moment's pause, by the other men. Several volleys were
discharged from the barricade and rocks, not without their effect,
though the mark was now more difficult to hit. In a few minutes the
mutineers had found refuge, as the captain had anticipated, on the outer
side of the barricade, which the besieged, if they may so be called, had
run up for their own protection.
The riflemen were now called down from the rocks, and joined their
companions in the shed. The fire not having been returned from either
the boat or the raft, no injuries had been sustained. But the situation
of Captain Ranken and his companions still appeared to be almost
hopeless; as the fight would now be carried on on almost equal terms,
and the mutineers still outnumbered them in the proportion of four to
one. It seemed most likely now that they would try to surround the shed
on all four sides, firing through the crevices, which were as available
to them as to those within, and so soon pick off all the defenders. But
for this light was necessary, and they were therefore waiting for the
moon to rise.
While they were still waiting in anxious suspense, a stone with a paper
wrapped round it was thrown through the open window. The captain picked
it up and read it. It had no name attached to it, but professed to come
from the whole of the crew, except those with Captain Ranken. It stated
that the hut was completely surrounded, and that the assailants had the
lives of all those within at their mercy. But they wished to avoid
further bloodshed. If the five thousand pounds which had been removed
from Mr Whittaker's cabin should be given up, together with all the
arms in the possession of the besieged party, they would go quietly away
without hurting any one. But if this was refused, an attack would be
made as soon as the moon rose, and no man's life would be spared. It
was added, that if no answer was sent before moonrise, that would be
regarded as a refusal.
When the captain had finished reading, no one spoke for a while. At
last McCarthy broke the silence,--
"Have you any idea, sir, of complying with their demand? You see they
do not ask--what we could not have agreed to--the surrender of Miss
Vander Heyden."
"No," said Mr Whittaker; "and I do not think my employers would blame
you, if you did comply. I daresay we should all agree to bear some
portion of the ransom."
Several of the others broke in together, declaring their willingness to
pay any portion in their power.
"What do you say, Mr Rivers?" asked the captain, observing that he had
not spoken.
"I would pay my share, sir," answered George; "anything that is in my
power. But I fear it would be useless. The best hope these men have in
escaping the penalty of their mutiny lies in our death. If we were to
surrender ourselves to them, as this letter proposes, I think they would
murder us in cold blood--all except--"
"You need not mention her name, sir," interposed Vander Heyden. "But
you say well. I know the villain who leads these men; he is quite
capable of that, or any other atrocity. We had better die sword in
hand, like men, than be stabbed like sheep."
"You speak only too truly, sir," said the captain. "Our choice lies
between one kind of death or another; and I, for one, choose that of a
brave man, who will have no trafficking with villains."
He looked round him, and read approval in every eye. "You are right,
sir," said McCarthy briefly, and the others echoed the sentiment.
No one spoke for the next ten minutes. Each was busy with his own
thoughts; such as are likely to fill men's minds when on the verge of
eternity. The time seemed painfully protracted, and all wished that the
trial was over. Suspense was worse than death itself. At last a sudden
burst of yellow light streaming through the window warned them that
their time had come. The next moment the door was burst in, and a crowd
of men, armed with cutlasses and pistols, endeavoured to force an
entrance. They were met by a general volley, which killed or wounded
nearly all the foremost assailants. But the rush from behind was kept
up. Several forced themselves into the hut, and a hand-to-hand struggle
ensued. Miss Vander Heyden had been placed behind the screen which
Rivers had strengthened for her; and he shouted to her, when the attack
began, to throw herself on the ground, as the best chance there was of
her escaping injury. The screen caught the eye of Bostock as he entered
in the rush, and he and Van Ryk instantly made for it. Vander Heyden
threw himself in Bostock's way, and a fierce encounter began between
them; while, George in like manner interposing between Van Ryk and the
screen, they were soon engaged in deadly combat.
By this time the hut was nearly filled with the mutineers. The captain,
with McCarthy on one side of him and Redgy on the other, was desperately
defending himself against two or three assailants. The third mate,
Whittaker, and Walters, had been all struck down, and several of the men
were mortally wounded, when suddenly there came from the sea a strange
and unexpected sound--the boom of a cannon!
The strife was instantly suspended. Each man looked in doubt and wonder
upon his opponent's face. Then the captain's voice was once more
heard,--
"Throw down your arms, you mutinous dogs, and yield yourselves
prisoners, or every man among you shall swing at the yard-arm before
another hour has passed!"