Main was the search for water; though every inch of ground throughout
the island was carefully surveyed, not a sign of a spring could be
discovered.
Having examined all the provisions which had been collected, Mr
Collinson found they had sufficient for two months or so, on short
allowance. It might be managed so as to last rather longer; but could
they hope to get away even in that time? Not only months, but years
might go by, before any vessel might pass sufficiently near to
distinguish them. They had no means of making a signal, for all the
masts and spars had been carried away when the schooner first struck;
and, being dashed about on the reef, had been broken to fragments. The
group of trees were all close together, so that no signal could be seen
flying from them.
Mr Collinson evidently had great difficulty in keeping up his own
spirits; he did his best, however, for some time. Employment, he knew,
was a great thing both for himself and the rest. He therefore advised
that they should build a hut, which would shelter them from the heat in
the day, and, should the rainy season come on, protect them from the
rain. For this purpose there was an ample supply of timber. Having
built the hut, they next began to furnish it. First, they made a table
and stools. Jack Windy proposed, when the lieutenant was out of
hearing, that they should make a chair for him. On this they all four
set to work, and, whenever he was away, got on with it, putting it aside
when he returned. In a couple of days, they had the satisfaction of
presenting him with a comfortable armchair. It was evident, indeed,
that he needed it, for, in spite of his courage, anxiety was preying
upon him, and his health and strength were failing. Bill watched him
anxiously.
"It will never do if he gives in," he said to himself, and he thought
how he could best arouse him.
Whenever Mr Collinson was within hearing, Bill talked more cheerfully
than ever.
"You said, sir, the other day, that we should have the rainy season down
upon us before long; if so, we need not be afraid of want of water. I
was looking at a place at the other end of the island, where there's a
large piece of flat ground, and I thought to myself, if we could dig a
hole in the middle, and just make some small trenches leading into it,
when the rain comes down we might chance to get some water. Maybe it
won't be very clean, but we could pass it through some sail-cloth, or
some of the linen we found in the carpenter's chest, and so we shall be
able to fill up our casks again."
"A very good idea," said Mr Collinson; "we will try it, at all events."
"And I was thinking, sir, that we might get some fish. I found a paper
of fish-hooks in the chest, among other things; and there's no doubt we
should find plenty of fish out in the lagoon."
"We will make a raft and try," said Mr Collinson. "I have been
thinking of it, though, but I did not know any fish-hooks had been
found."
"I used to be a capital hand at fishing, sir, in Portsmouth Harbour,"
said Bill, "and always had more luck than anybody else; so I hope I
shall have here."
While the rest of the party were building a raft, Bill hunted along the
shore, where he found several varieties of shell-fish.
"Some of these will help to keep us alive, if we cannot get fish," he
observed, as he returned with them; "but I have no doubt that some of
them will serve as bait; we will try, at all events."
Next morning, at daybreak, all hands were engaged in constructing a
small raft capable of carrying two or three people. Some paddles were
formed, and a mast and sail rigged, so that they might even go out as
far as the reef. Some small line was found that served pretty well for
fishing-lines, when Bill and Jack Windy, getting on the raft, paddled
out to a little distance from the shore. Bill's line had not been in
the water two minutes before he got a bite, and directly afterwards he
hauled up a fine, big fish. In two or three minutes more he caught
another; and, curiously enough, he had caught five, while Jack, who was
on the other side of the raft, only caught one.
"Why, you are in luck, Bill," said Jack.
"I don't know how it is," said Bill, "but it's always the case with me.
Whenever I used to go out fishing with anybody else, I always caught
three times as many fish as they did. At all events, I am thankful that
we have been so fortunate."
In an hour, the raft returned with fish enough to serve the party for a
couple of days. Their success put them in good spirits, and even Mr
Collinson revived greatly. A tinder-box having been found in the chest,
they were able to light a fire to cook their fish. Some they boiled,
and some they roasted on spits. Mr Collinson, however, who had been as
a midshipman in the South Seas, recollected the way the natives of
several islands cooked their fish. Having collected a number of leaves,
the fish were wrapped up in them. A hole was then dug, and a number of
stones, heated in the fire, were thrown into it. On the top of these
the fish were placed. More leaves were then thrown in, and the whole
covered in with earth.
Old Grim looked on with a considerable amount of doubt as to the success
of the experiment exhibited in his countenance. Mr Collinson, however,
told them that he would let them know when it was time to remove the
earth. In about half an hour he came back, and the earth being cleared
away and the leaves removed, steam arose from the hole, and the fish
were found perfectly cooked and hot. The whole party agreed that they
had never before tasted more delicious fish.
They had now no longer any fear of starving. Still, as Mr Collinson
gazed over the ocean, he could not help feeling that they were thus only
prolonging their lives to meet, ultimately, with the same termination.
"We shall soon be getting the scurvy among us," he thought to himself,
"as no man can live on this diet, without vegetables, and escape that
horrible complaint; and even if we do not get the scurvy, we must sink
at last from want of water."
He also felt the life he was compelled to lead far more than did the
others. They were companions to each, while he was, as it were, alone.
Often and often he went away by himself to the other end of the island
to consider by what means they could escape from their imprisonment. He
did not forget also to lift up his heart in prayer for guidance and
protection.
"God may find a way for us to escape, though I know not how it is to
be," he said often to himself.
Thus day after day, and week after week, passed away. Although they had
most carefully husbanded their water, it was now growing very scarce.
Not a drop of rain had fallen by which it could be replenished.
They had wisely covered up the casks with planks and boughs, so as to
keep them from the heat, and to diminish the evaporation as much as
possible. Still, in that climate, a good deal of water, they knew, must
thus be lost. From sunrise to sunset, their eyes were consequently cast
over the ocean, in the hopes of discovering a sail; but none appeared,
proving that Mr Collinson was right when he told them that few vessels
were likely to pass that way. Still hope was kept alive in their
bosoms.
As they saw the water decreasing, they now also began to look out
eagerly for signs of rain; but the sky remained blue as ever, undimmed
by a single cloud. Day after day the sun rose, and came burning down on
their heads, to sink again into the same unclouded horizon. Their tank
had long been formed. Bill especially made frequent visits to it, to
keep it clean. He was more sanguine than the rest as to the advantage
of the tank.
"I doubt, boy, in spite of all you say, if it will ever hold water, even
if the rain does come down," said old Grim, in his usual tone. "We are
all doomed men--that's my opinion. I may be wrong, of course; and I
hope so for your sake, Bill. It's hard for a young chap like you to
die; but for an old fellow like me, it's no odds to no one."
At length Mr Collinson, in spite of all his efforts to keep up, again
overcome by weakness, was unable to leave the hut. Bill sat by his
side, doing his utmost to cheer him. His favourite topic was the drive
from Kingston to Rock Hill Cottage, and the pleasant days he had spent
there.
"And, sir, I am very sure we shall be back there one of these days. I
don't think, after we have been preserved so long, we shall be left to
perish; though how we are to get away is more than I can say."
On examining the cask, Jack Windy discovered, however, on that very day,
that scarcely two quarts of water remained.
"Sam Grimshaw," he said, addressing old Grim, as he pointed to the cask,
"this is a bad job, but we must not let the lieutenant know of it. It
will not do to give him less than his usual quantity; and you and I and
the others must manage to go on still shorter commons."
Old Grim readily agreed to this, as did Bill and Tommy--the latter,
perhaps, somewhat unwillingly. For several days, whenever the
lieutenant, who was suffering from fever, asked for water, it was
brought to him, though the brave fellows felt their own throats parched
and dry, and would only allow themselves just enough to wet their lips
whenever they could no longer bear the thirst.
At length but a pint remained; and with heavier hearts than usual they
went to bed, feeling almost as if they could not hold out more than
another day. Several times during the night, Bill got up to give Mr
Collinson the water he asked for. It was a sore trial to him, yet he
would not put the cup to his own lips, though, if his pocket had been
full of gold, he would have given the whole of it for a draught of
water. By daylight they were up as usual, and Tommy Rebow, who was
out-of-doors the first, came rushing back, singing out--
"Look there! Look there!"
They hurried to the door, expecting to see a vessel; but no sail was in
sight. There was, however, in the horizon, a dark cloud, which, though
small, was, after they had watched it for some time, evidently
increasing in size. On it came, others following, till at length the
whole horizon was dark with clouds. Eagerly they rushed forth to put
out everything which could hold water, and then rolled up their casks to
the side of the tank which they had formed. The whole sky, in the mean
time, was overcast with dark clouds.
"There it is! There it is!" cried Jack, pointing to the sea, on which
the rain was now pouring down.
On it came, like a wall of water. In a few minutes they were all soaked
to the skin, while they lifted up their open mouths to catch the
refreshing liquid. Several sails had been washed on shore, and one of
these Grimshaw had employed himself in mending. He now brought it up
with him, and, calling to his companions, they held it out with one side
over one of the casks. So furiously did the rain fall, that the cask
was quickly filled. This was indeed providential, for, in spite of all
the labour that had been bestowed on the tank, the ground was so sandy
that the greater portion of the water ran through it. As soon, however,
as the rain had ceased, all hands ran and began to bale out a small
quantity which had collected at the bottom. They saved enough to fill
about half a cask.
"We should have been badly off, lads, if it had not been for my notion,"
exclaimed Grimshaw, triumphantly. "My sail has done more than your
tank."
"Very true," answered Jack; "but suppose another time the rain was to
come in the night, when we were all asleep? The tank would get more
than the sail. I have a notion, too, now the ground has been wetted,
that if another shower comes the tank will fill better."
With the precious fluid they had collected they returned to the hut,
their strength greatly restored from the water they had drunk.
Now, for the first time, Mr Collinson learned to what a fearful state
they had been reduced, and felt very grateful to them for the way in
which they had supplied him, when they so much wanted the water
themselves. Mr Collinson continued very ill; and often Bill, as he sat
up watching him, thought that he was going to die.
Rain now frequently fell, and the heat became even greater, at times,
than during the bright weather. At length the rain ceased, and the
water which had been collected began once more to diminish with fearful
rapidity. A long, dry season was before them, and by what means the
casks were to be replenished no one could tell.