"We're Englishmen--bin cast away--five years now--"
He could go no farther, but, seizing the boy's hand, shook it warmly.
The Bu'ster, being equally incapable of speaking, seized the hand of the
sailor next him, and also shook it violently. Then he uttered a cheer,
and turning suddenly round ran along the beach for half a mile like a
greyhound, after which he returned and asserted that his feelings were
somewhat relieved!
Meanwhile the middy continued to question Gaff.
"What! d'ye mean to say you've been five years here--all alone?"
"Ay, all but a few days," said Gaff, looking round on the men with a
bewildered air. "How strange yer voices sound! Seems as if I'd a'most
forgotten what men are like!"
"Well, you _are_ a queer fish," said the boy with a laugh. "Are there
no more here but you two?"
"No more; just Billy and me--also Squeaky and Shrieky."
Gaff said this quite gravely, for nothing was farther from his thoughts
at that time than jesting.
"And pray, who may Squeaky and Shrieky be?"
"Squeaky's a pig, and Shrieky's a little parrot."
"Well," observed the middy with a laugh, "that's better than no company
at all."
"Yours is an English man-o'-war, I think?" said Gaff.
"You're right, old fellow; she's the `Blazer,' 74, Captain Evans, bound
for England. Took a run farther south than usual after a
piratical-looking craft, but missed her. Gave up the chase, and came to
this island to get water. Little thought we should find _you_ on it.
Astonish the captain rather when we go back. Of course you'll want us
to take you home. Will you go off with me at once?"
Gaff and Billy hesitated, and both looked back with a strange mixture of
feelings at their island-home.
"Oh, we won't hurry you," said the boy, with a kindly and patronising
air; "if there are any traps you want to pack up, we'll wait for you.
It'll take us some time to get the breakers filled. Can you show me a
good spring?"
"Ay, an' we can show you a hot one," cried Billy, with a smile. "But
come up to the cave with us and have some grub."
The midshipman expressed his readiness to comply, and ordered one of the
men to stay and watch the boat.
"You needn't leave any one with the boat," said Gaff; "there's nobody
here to touch it."
"Nevertheless I will leave a guard. Now, then show us the way."
It is needless to describe the surprise of the sailors at everything
they saw and heard; and the mixed feelings that agitated the breasts of
Gaff and his son--anxiety to return to England, with regret to quit the
cavern home where they had spent so many quiet and comparatively happy
years.
Suffice it to say that they, and the few things they possessed, were
speedily transferred to the "Blazer," on board of which they received
the most considerate attention and kindness. And you may be sure,
reader, that Billy did not forget to take the pig and the parroquet
along with him.
Fair winds sprang up, and for many weeks the "Blazer" bowled along
steadily on her course. It seemed as if the elements had agreed to be
favourable, and expedite the return of the exiles. But this state of
things did not last.
Towards the end of the voyage fogs and gales prevailed, and the "Blazer"
was driven considerably out of her course to the northward, insomuch
that she finally made the land on the north-western coast of Scotland.
This induced the captain to run through the Pentland Firth, after
passing through which they were beset by calms.