The more respectable of the castaways were now convinced that some form
of government was necessary; and that it should be a strong one. Some
who had been willing to acknowledge the authority of the officers of the
brig while aboard their craft, would now no longer concede it to them;
and yet authority of some kind was essential to our salvation.
We had much to do. The boat had gone away in search of assistance. It
might be lost; and the captain and crew along with it. Even if they
should succeed in reaching some inhabited land, they might never return
to us? There was no wisdom in trusting to that source for relief. We
must do something for ourselves.
A new vessel might be built from the materials of the wreck; but to
accomplish this we should have to adopt some form of government, and
submit to its authority.
There was another and still stronger reason why some ruling power should
be established. The cocoa-nuts grew at a height rather inconvenient for
a hungry or thirsty man to reach them; and a readier and simpler way of
obtaining them was by felling the trees. As we were well supplied with
axes brought from the wreck, those so inclined were able to effect this
object; and, before we had been three days ashore, many of the trees
were thus ruthlessly levelled to the ground.
Considering, that we might have to reside on the island for weeks, or
even months, and that our only substitute for water was the milk to be
obtained from these cocoa-nuts, it was evident that the trees should not
be destroyed.
A meeting of all hands was at length got together; and a committee of
five appointed, to form some regulations by which we should all agree to
be governed.
Next day, something in the shape of order was inaugurated. We were
divided into three parties--to each of which special duties were
assigned. One party was entrusted with the business of carpentering.
They were to take the wreck to pieces, and construct out of the
fragments a new vessel. This party comprised half of the able-bodied
men on the island; and was placed under the control of the first officer
of the brig--with the carpenter to instruct them in their new duties.
Another party was appointed to act as fishermen--which calling also
included the gathering of such shell-fish as could be found along the
shore.
The third party--principally composed of the invalids--were to act as
cooks, and fill other light offices, while a few young men who were
expert in climbing the cocoa-nut trees, were specially appointed for
procuring the nuts.
A chief statute of our improvised code was: that any one who should cut
down, or in any way injure, a cocoa-nut tree, so as to cause its
destruction, was, on conviction of the offence, to be shot!
The punishment may appear out of proportion to the offence; but when it
is considered that our very existence might depend on the preservation
of these precious trees, it will be seen at once, that the crime was of
no light character.
A majority of those who voted for this resolution were in earnest; and I
am positive that, any one acting in opposition to it, would have
suffered the punishment of death.
Some of the old convicts were much opposed to the arrangements thus
made; but they were compelled to submit, and act in accordance with
them.
These men were masters of the island when we first landed; and seemed to
think, they had the right to help themselves to whatever they wished,
without regard to the general good.
Two of these "Sydney birds," who chanced to be a shade worse than their
fellows--were specially informed, that if they should be caught
violating the rules we had established, no mercy would be shown them.
A man of some influence amongst the more respectable of the passengers,
had detected one of these worthies in possession of some articles that
had been taken out of his chest on board the brig. He not only
compelled a quick surrender of the misappropriated chattel, but promised
for the future to watch for an opportunity of sending the thief where he
would be in no danger of repeating the theft. Several others threw out
hints to the two men to behave themselves--telling them that their only
chance of life would be to act honestly, otherwise they would certainly
meet with immediate chastisement. Such hints were effectual; and for a
time the peace of the community remained undisturbed.
Three weeks passed--during which the work of ship-building progressed,
as well as could be expected. The wreck had been taken to pieces, and
floated ashore; and from the materials a tolerable commencement had been
made in the construction of a new craft.
At this time serious fears began to be entertained, that many of us must
die for the want of water. The cocoa-nuts were each day becoming
scarcer; the trees did not grow them as fast as they were consumed; and
a close watch was kept on the actions of every one in the community--in
order that no one should have more than his share.
This duty was very harassing: as it had to be performed by the honest
and respectable men, who were far from being the majority among us.
To our great relief, we were one night favoured by a fall of rain.
It rained but very little--a mere shower--and we had a good deal of
trouble in collecting it. All the shirts on the island, clean or dirty,
as they chanced to be, were spread out upon the grass; and, when
saturated with the rain, were wrung into vessels.
Every exertion was made to save as much water as possible; and not
without some success: for a sufficient quantity was collected to place
us beyond the fear of want for several days longer.
Some of the men began to suffer severely from the want of tobacco. Only
those, who had originally acted in the salvage of the wreck, were in
possession of this precious commodity--having freely helped themselves
while in the performance of that duty. Some of them did not refuse to
sell a portion of their stock; and small plugs of tobacco, weighing
about a quarter of a pound, readily found purchasers at ten dollars the
plug!
One man, on paying his "eagle" for a pair of these plugs, was heard to
remark: "Well! this is the second time I've bought this tobacco, though
the price has been awfully raised since my first purchase. I know these
plugs well. They've been taken out of my own chest!"
The person from whom the tobacco was purchased seemed highly amused, and
not a little flattered. He was proud to think the purchaser did not
take him for a fool!
It gradually became the conviction of all: that we should have to depend
on our own vessel for getting away from the island. It was not a very
agreeable prospect: since we knew that we should have to put to sea,
with but little food and less water. Even from the first, it had seemed
exceedingly doubtful that the captain would ever return.
Some were of the opinion that he could not, even if inclined; that he
knew not the position of the island, on which we had been cast away;
and, consequently, could give no instructions about finding it--even
should he be so fortunate as to fall in with a ship.
There were many probabilities in favour of this belief; and those who
entertained it did not fail to bring them forward.
"If he knew where the island lay," argued they, "why was the brig run
ashore upon it on a calm, clear night?"
Certainly this question suggested a very discouraging answer.
At the end of the fifth week, our new vessel was nearly completed; and
we set industriously to the collecting of shell-fish, cocoa-nuts, and
other articles of food, to serve as stores for our intended voyage.
The craft we had constructed was not a very beautiful creature to look
at; but I have no doubt it would have answered the purpose for which we
had designed it.
By good fortune, we were never called upon to make trial of its sailing
qualities. Just as we were about to launch it, a ship was seen bearing
down for the island!
Before her anchor was dropped, a boat was seen shoving off for the
shore; and, soon after, we had the pleasure of looking once more on the
cheerful, honest countenance of the old Dutch skipper.
He had not deserted us in our distress, as some had conjectured: and he
_did_ know the situation of the island, as was proved by his bringing
the ship back to it.
At the time of his departure, he had not a friend amongst the passengers
of the "Ceres." There was not one on that occasion to speak a word in
his favour. But now, as soon as he set foot on the island, he was
hailed with three hearty cheers, and there was a struggle among the
crowd who surrounded him: as to who should be the first to show their
gratitude by a grasp of the hand!
Volume Two, Chapter XIII.