LAND--BURY THE BOAT--TAKE SHELTER UNDER A ROCK--THE HURRICANE RAGES--THE
NIGHT PASSES BY--DESMOND SHOOTS AT A WILD BEAST--STORM ABATES--NO SHIP--
BOAT MISSING--BOAT DISCOVERED--TIM'S PORK CHOPS--DIGGING OUT THE BOAT--
PAT CHARGED BY A WILD BOAR--FLAG-STAFF SET UP--NO SHIP APPEARS--A HUT
BUILT--EXPLORE THE ISLAND--MISS THE HOGS, BUT KILL SOME BIRDS--
PREPARATIONS FOR THE VOYAGE--TURTLE--BILLY'S EXPLOIT--LEAKY CONDITION OF
THE BOAT--SEARCH FOR PITCH--TOM AND DESMOND SET OUT TO EXPLORE THE
ISLAND.
Tom steered the boat up the bay towards the beach they had so lately
left. It no longer afforded an easy landing place, for the waves came
rolling in, even through the narrow entrance, creating a surf on the
sandy shore, and scarcely had her stern touched the beach than a sea
burst on board, not only wetting every one through, but nearly washing
several articles out of her. All hands therefore jumped out.
"Now, lads, a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together," cried
Tim. In another minute the boat was hauled up the beach, and they began
taking out the things and carrying them to the spot where they had left
their fire burning. Fortunately, the muskets and ammunition, though
wet, had been saved, as had the articles of value in the boat, together
with a compass which Tom had thoughtfully brought, although they had
hitherto had no use for it. The ashes of their fire were still alight,
but they at once found that the exposed beach was not the spot where
they would exactly wish to encamp.
"We must find some sheltered place, where we can put up our tent," said
Tom to Desmond. "A high overhanging rock would suit us best, but it
won't do to be under these tall mahogany trees, which may at any moment
crash down upon our heads, and we have already had a specimen of how
they are likely to behave."
"I'd rather get into a snug cavern, if we can discover one," said
Desmond. "But how is that to be found in the dark?"
"I'll soon twist up a couple of torches such as I used to make when I
was Prime Minister of the Cannibal Islands," cried Pat Casey. "I think
we could find our way to the left, where I saw some big rocks this
morning, and I should not be surprised to find tolerable shelter under
them."
"We ought to be there as soon as possible," observed Tom, "for we shall
probably have the rain down upon us before many minutes are over,--and
the hurricane has only just begun, we must remember. Get your torches
made as soon as you can. Before we leave this we must look after the
boat, and haul her farther up the beach; it is impossible to say how
high the water may rise with a hurricane setting on the shore."
They accordingly hurried back and ran the boat some feet farther up, but
beyond that they found it impossible to move her.
"If we leave her as she is, she'll sure to be blown away," observed
Jerry Bird. "If I may advise, sir, I'd make a sort of dock all round
her, and fill her up with sand, so as to sink her in it. It will cost
us some little trouble to clear it out again, but it will be better than
having her knocked to pieces."
Tom and Desmond highly approved of Jerry's proposal. All hands,
therefore, set to work with the boat stretchers to make the dock, which
was very easily and quickly accomplished. They then filled her up with
sand, almost to the gunwale.
"She will be steady enough now, sir," said Jerry.
As soon as the work was finished, they returned to their former
encampment, carrying the boat's mast, yards, sails, and oars with them,
to assist in forming a tent, while the rest of her gear they placed for
safety high up on the bank. Pat had quickly twisted up some torches
from the fibre of the cocoa-nuts, and now loading themselves with all
their property, they set out, he leading the way. Scarcely had they
commenced their march, than they felt themselves almost taken off their
feet; a loud crash was heard, and down fell a large tree, close to where
they were, torn up by the roots. Happily they were on the weather side.
They hurried on, keeping as much as possible in the open ground.
Another blast came with redoubled fury, almost blowing out Pat's
torches, which burnt, indeed, with so much rapidity, that there seemed
but little probability of their being able to reach the point towards
which they were steering, by their light. They had not gone far when
two torches had burnt out. Heavily laden as they were, they could not
move very fast. Tim Nolan alone was staggering under the boat's sail,
an oar, a musket, and a basket of provisions. Jerry Bird had the
breaker of water hung at his back, and was equally heavily laden.
It was a great relief to Tom when he heard Pat shout out, "Here are the
rocks, though not the sign of a cave can I see."
"Perhaps, if we skirt along them, we may find a still more sheltered
place than this," observed Tom.
The party accordingly moved on, and just as Pat announced that his torch
was beginning to burn his fingers, they found themselves in a recess of
the rocks, where they were well sheltered from the wind, although they
would obtain no protection from the rain when it should begin to fall.
The end of the torch afforded them sufficient light to collect sticks
for a fire, and by its light they were able to put up their tent. The
side of the rock affording a back, it was made to slope from the rock
down to the ground, so that the heaviest rain would run off. There was
just room for all hands to get under it, closely packed; and after the
fatigues of the day, they were very thankful to obtain such shelter. As
far, indeed, as they themselves were concerned, they had no reason to
complain. They had shelter, fire, food, and water.
"Let us see what you have brought, Billy?" said Gerald.
Billy produced three fish, which he had hung over his back. "I thought
that we should want something for supper, and it is always wise to carry
one's grub with one," he observed.
"Much obliged to you for your forethought," said Gerald; and Tim and Pat
were summoned to cook the fish. The fire had been made up close under
the rock, so that it was not much influenced by the wind. In a short
time Tim announced that the supper was ready, "smoking hot," when a
bottle of rum was produced from the provision basket.
"Now, lads," said Tom, as he poured out the liquor. "I do not want to
stint you of your grog, but recollect that we have but a small supply,
and my belief is that it may be many days before we get back to the
ship, so a glass apiece is all I can give you."
The grog was mixed, and the seamen, with their young officers, sat round
the fire, thinking just then very little of the past or future. The
fish were pronounced excellent; while they sipped their grog one or the
other alternately spun a yarn or sang a song. Tom Rogers must be
excepted. He felt his responsibility as commanding the party, and he
could not get over the consciousness that he ought to have returned at
an earlier hour to the ship. This thought weighed down his spirits,
although he tried not to allow his companions to discover his
uneasiness. He felt also very anxious about the ship. If Jerry Bird
was right in supposing that an accident had happened to the machinery,
she might, during the hurricane, be exposed to the greatest possible
danger; and if she was wrecked, they might have to remain for many
months on the island, before they could find an opportunity of escaping.
Tom, before he came to sea, had often read about living on a desert
island with one or two pleasant companions, and had thought that it
would be very good fun. When the reality rose vividly before him, he
could not but confess that he would rather be keeping watch on board,
with a prospect of returning home to see his father, mother, and
friends. When, however, it came to his turn to sing, he trolled forth,
in his rich deep voice, "Cease, rude Boreas," or some other sea song of
the same character, as if he had no anxious thoughts to trouble him.
The blazing fire which they kept up served to dry their clothes.
When, about an hour later, the rain came down, as it is wont to do in
the tropics, they all crept under the tent, taking care to carry the
muskets and such things as would be damaged by the wet with them. Tom,
in spite of his fatigue, lay awake for some time. He was thankful that
they were safe on shore, and had been able to find a sheltered position
for their encampment. The wind roared and howled in the most terrific
manner among the forest trees. The very earth seemed to shake, as if it
would topple down the high rock above them; but although branches, and
sometimes large shrubs, torn up by the roots, flew over their heads,
none fell on their tent. Sometimes, for several minutes together, crash
succeeded crash, as huge trees were levelled with the ground. Then
there would come a lull, and the wind would whistle mournfully, or
rather moan, but only to recommence roaring more lustily than ever.
Tom wondered how his companions could sleep so soundly amid the uproar.
The light of the fire, which came through the side of the tent, fell on
their forms stretched out with their heads against the rock; while, in
the lulls of the tempest, he could hear them all snoring away in
concert. He was sufficiently well acquainted with the natural history
of the Pacific Islands to be aware that there were no wild beasts to
interfere with them, excepting the hogs, whose traces they had seen; and
he had every reason to believe that the island was uninhabited. He
thought it possible, however, that the rocks at the top of the cliff,
loosened by the hurricane, might come tumbling down on their heads; but
as only earth and small branches had hitherto fallen, he hoped that they
would continue in their places. At all events, even should he and his
companions move away, they were not likely to find more secure shelter.
Should refuge be sought under the trees, they might prove still more
treacherous. He kept an eye on the fire, fearing that a sudden blast
might whisk the embers into the tent; but, as the canvas was thoroughly
wet, that would take some time to burn. He got up two or three times,
and, by standing with his back against the cliff, he avoided the rain
which poured in torrents scarcely more than a foot in front of him.
Excepting where the glare of the fire was cast upon the white tent on
one side, the black rocks on the other, and the shrubs in front, all was
pitchy darkness, though, on looking upwards, he could distinguish the
tops of the trees waving to and fro against the sky. "I pray that the
dear old _Dragon_ may have escaped this!" he ejaculated more than once,
as the hurricane, with apparently renewed strength, again and again
hurled itself against the island. At length Desmond roused up.
"You must have had your two hours' watch or more. Tom," he said. "Just
lie down and get a snooze; we may have a long pull before us, and there
won't be much room for sleeping in the boat."
Tom, not sorry to be relieved, lay down, while Desmond took his place.
How long Tom had been sleeping he could not tell, when he and the rest
of the party were aroused by a shot fired close to their oars, and,
looking up, they saw Desmond with the musket at his shoulder, which he
had just discharged.
"What did you fire at?" asked Tom.
"At a bear, or a wolf, or some big baste or other, to be shure,"
answered Desmond. "Whatever it was we shall find out, for it cannot be
far off. I hit it, I am certain of that, for it gave a terrible growl,
and bolted back into the bushes."
The fire had by this time almost burnt out, giving forth a faint glow,
which scarcely afforded light sufficient to see any objects except those
close to them, so that it would be useless to attempt searching for the
wild beast which Desmond asserted he had shot. He acknowledged that he
had dropped asleep, and that, on suddenly awakening, he had seen the
animal's eyes glaring at him not ten yards off. Tom, on looking at his
watch by the declining light of the fire, saw that it was nearly dawn.
A change for the better had occurred. The strength of the hurricane had
much abated, though the tree tops still waved backwards and forwards as
the wind whistled and howled amid the branches, but it was with abated
breath, while the rain had completely ceased. On looking up, small
spaces in the clouds could be seen, through which, here and there, a
star glittered brightly.
Jerry Bird, who ought to have been on the watch before, now took
Desmond's place, and the party settled down again to wait for morning.
Sailors are accustomed to short snatches of sleep. Even half an hour or
less of rest was not to be despised, so that in less than a minute they
all again had their eyes closed in happy forgetfulness of where they
were. Tom required no calling; he had scarcely forgotten in his sleep
what had happened, and no sooner had the pale light of early morn driven
away the darkness of night, than, opening his eyes, he crept out of the
tent over Bird, who had just dropped off. "I will let the rest sleep
on, and see how things look," he said to himself. As he made his way
over the fallen trunks towards the bay, he kept looking out to discover
some accessible part of the hill, by which he might climb to the summit
of the rock, under whose shelter they had slept, and which he supposed
to be the highest point thereabouts, in order that he might obtain a
wide view of the ocean around. He at length found a part, from whence
by a little climbing he might reach the top of the hill. He had began
his ascent, when he heard Desmond's voice shouting to him, and sitting
down he waited for his messmate to come up. The rock was more rugged
and uneven than they had at first supposed. Sometimes Desmond helped
him up to a ledge, then he hauled Desmond after him. Here and there
shrubs grew in the crevices of the rock, which assisted them in their
ascent. At last they stood together on the top. On casting their eyes
around, they could nowhere see the ship; indeed, they scarcely expected
that she would have been in sight. As far as the eye could range to the
southward and eastward, foam-crested giant waves leaped up and down, but
already their motion was becoming less rapid, and they seemed to be
tumbling lazily and slowly against each other, as if weary of their late
exertions, though the breakers incessantly burst on the rocky coast,
sending masses of foam flying far inland.
"Even should the ship appear, we are not likely to be able to get out to
her to-day," observed Desmond, pointing to the entrance of the bay,
through which the seas came tossing and foaming. "It seems a wonder how
we got through last night."
"We may indeed be thankful to heaven that we were not swamped," said
Tom; "but I should not be surprised if we find, within a few hours,
should the ship appear, that we can get off to her. There has scarcely
been time for the sea to go down since the hurricane ceased blowing; I
do hope that the other boats got on board, or they will have run great
risk of being lost."
"Perhaps our shipmates landed," observed Desmond; "and we shall meet
them before long. I should be very glad to know for certain that Archie
and Jos Green and Mr Joy are safe, though it is a terrible thing to
think that the ship may have been cast away."
"We will hope for the best," answered Tom; "and now we will go down and
see how the boat has fared. I am somewhat anxious about her, though I
don't see how we could have secured her better than we did."
The descent was nearly as difficult as the climb up the hill, and they
ran a great risk, when leaping from rock to rock, of slipping off and
tumbling a dozen or more feet at a time down to the next level. They
had nearly reached the bottom, when they saw Billy Blueblazes and Jerry
Bird looking up towards them. The countenances of both wore an aspect
of dismay.
"What has happened?" asked Tom.
"The boat has gone!" answered Billy; "we can't see her anywhere, not
even a bit of her wreck."
"Faith! that's bad news," exclaimed Desmond; "but did you look
everywhere? for, remember, everywhere means a good wide space."
"No, we did not go right up to the spot, for there was no use in doing
that," answered Billy.
"Then we will, and perhaps we may discover some signs which may indicate
the direction in which she has been driven," said Tom.
They accordingly set off. Tom observed what Billy had failed to do,
that the shape of the beach was greatly altered, the wind having driven
the sand far higher up than usual, so that in some parts it had risen to
the height of the bank on which grass and shrubs grew. Indeed, a
portion of the grassy ground had itself been covered up by the sand.
"What shall we do without the boat?" cried Billy; "we shall have to
spend our lives here, I suppose, if the ship has been lost, and the men
say that they think she had very little chance of escaping."
"I hope they are wrong in their conjectures," answered Tom; "and as for
the boat, I am not quite so certain that she is lost, although we may
have some trouble in finding her."
On arriving at that part of the beach where the boat had been left, Tom
looked round in every direction, and examined carefully the bushes and
herbage along the edge of the beach.
"If she was driven in this direction, she would have broken some of
these bushes, but they do not appear to have been injured," he observed.
"Now, let us see whereabouts she lay. Do you think you can tell,
Bird?" The seaman examined the ground.
"I remember coming through just such a clump of bushes as these,
directly after I left her; and look there, sir, there is her rudder and
a stretcher," and he enumerated other articles belonging to the boat.
Then stepping back, he said, "I'm sure it was just hereabouts where she
lay."
"Then, depend upon it, here we shall find her. Don't you see the sand
has blown over her, and she is safe enough within it. To save ourselves
trouble, we will dig a line parallel with the beach, and another at
right angles, and the chances are we shall strike some part of her
gunwale before long."
"Shall I go and call the other men?" asked Billy.
"They are cooking the breakfast, sir," observed Bird.
"Let them go on by all means," said Tom; "if we find the boat we will
come back afterwards and dig her up."
They immediately set to work, under Tom's directions, but the sand had
risen even higher than they had supposed, and as they had only the
boat's stretchers and their hands to work with, it was a slow business.
"I've thought, sir, of a quicker way of finding her than this," observed
Jerry; and taking his axe, he cut a short pole with a sharp point, and
ran it down though the sand, along the line which Tom had marked out.
"There's something here, sir," he cried out at length, and forthwith a
hole was dug at the spot. Jerry then plunged down his hand. "No doubt
about it, sir; there's the boat's side, and if the weight of the sand
has not bulged her out, she will be all to rights."
"I have no fear on that score," observed Tom. "The sand has probably
driven up around her, and afforded her sides support. I am very
thankful that we took the precaution of banking her up as we did, or I
am pretty sure that she would have been rolled over and over, and
knocked to pieces."
The party having satisfied themselves as to the safety of the boat,
returned to their camp, where they found Tim and Pat busily engaged over
a huge fire in cooking pork chops.
"Why, where did these come from?" asked Tom.
"Shure, sir, they are from a porker which we found in the bush. It's my
belief it's the very baste Mr Desmond shot last night. He was not
quite dead, and showed some fight, but we finished him, and cut him up
in a jiffy."
"I congratulate you on your success," said Tom.
"To tell you the truth," said Desmond, "I was half dreaming at the time;
and I was not quite sure this morning whether I had shot anything or
not, but I'm mighty glad to find that my dream has come true."
The pork chops were found very satisfactory, and it was still more so to
know that there was an abundance of animal food in the island; for if
there was one hog, there would to a certainty be many more; at the same
time, they would have prevented the increase of roots which would
otherwise have afforded nourishment.
"As hogs live here, there, are probably acorns and nuts of various
sorts, so that even should the cocoa-nuts and bananas run short, we need
be under no apprehension of wanting vegetable diet," said Tom to
Desmond. "Again I say we have good reason to be thankful that we have
landed on an island so abounding in provisions."
"I wish we had brought off some tea, coffee, and sugar," said Billy. "I
should have enjoyed my breakfast much more."
"Be thankful for what you have got," observed Tom.
Before setting out to commence the digging up of the boat, Tom suggested
that they should form some rough spades, without which the operation
would be a very tedious one. They had fortunately brought with them two
axes for cutting fire-wood, and with these Jerry and Pat managed to chop
out from the fallen branches six rough spades. They would have finished
them off in better style had Tom allowed them. Having ascertained the
exact position of the boat, by running down a pointed stick, they
commenced operations. They were much surprised at the enormous pit they
had to dig before they even reached the gunwale of the boat. The
digging was easy enough; the labour consisted in heaving the sand to a
sufficient distance. All hands were getting very hungry. Billy, as
usual, was the first to cry out.
"What do you say to dinner, Rogers?"
Tom looked at his watch, and directed Pat to go to the camp and prepare
dinner, while the rest continued to work as before. It took them till
noon to clear away the sand as far down as the gunwale, as of course it
was necessary to dig a much wider space all round the boat than simply
her width. The sun, too, had now become excessively hot, and the only
coverings they had for their heads were straw hats.
Tom suggested that they should stick some large leaves or small branches
into the bands, by which means a more effectual shelter could be formed
for their heads. In spite of the heat, they returned with good
appetites to the camp.
"Bedad, it's fortunate we have got anything to eat at all," exclaimed
Pat, as they approached. "Just as I came up, what should I see but a
couple of porkers poking their noses into the tent; in another minute
they would have got hold of the meat and fish I had hung up ready for
cooking. I would have turned them into pork pretty quickly, but before
I could get hold of a musket, they had scampered away back into the
woods; but we'll be even with them before long. When I went to look for
the rest of the hog, if the bastes hadn't eaten up their brother,
barring the hide, and that they had been quarrelling over, by the way it
was torn to pieces." There was an ample supply of pork, and fish, and
bananas, cocoa-nuts and vegetables, for that day's dinner Tom had to
consider what provision should be made for supper, and the next day.
Eager as he was to get the boat dug out, in case the ship should appear,
he would not allow his companions to work for a couple of hours or more,
for fear of their suffering from a stroke of the sun, whose fierce rays
beat down with terrific force on the sand. Pat, who was well inured to
a far greater heat, under the line itself, in the meantime took one of
the muskets, "to try and kill some game," he said, "or one of the
porkers which had lately paid him a visit."
The rest of the party lay down in the shade under the rock, to prepare
themselves for their afternoon's work. Pat had been absent for some
time, and a couple of shots had been heard; but lately no sound had
reached them, when again they heard a report at no great distance.
Presently he was seen scampering along, a big boar close at his heels.
It appeared as if the next instant the creature's tusks would have run
into him, when he seized the branch of a free and threw himself up upon
it, while the animal ripped off the hem of his broad trousers. Luckily
the canvas gave way, or Pat would have been brought to the ground. The
boar looked up at his late opponent as if he still meditated vengeance;
but suddenly seeing the party under the cliff, he came towards them,
tearing up the ground in his fury, with his sharp tusks. Fortunately
the other musket was loaded.
"Stand by, for advance or flight," cried Tom, seizing the weapon. Bird
grasped the boat-hook, while Desmond and Tim each took an axe, Billy,
having no arms, fulfilled the latter part of the order, by beginning to
climb up a ledge of the rock on one side of the cliff. It was a moment
of dreadful suspense, for, should Tom miss, he well knew that the boar's
tusks might, in the next instant, pierce him through. Fortunately the
animal caught sight of Billy as he was climbing up the cliff. This for
a moment distracted his attention, and, instead of coming directly at
Tom and his companions, it swerved a little on one side. Seeing,
however, that Billy had got beyond its reach, it once more came
galloping towards them, singling out Jerry, who was the most conspicuous
object, for its attack. Tom waited until it got within twelve feet,
when he fired. The bullet hit the animal, but did not stop it. Jerry
sprang on one side to avoid its charge, and then drove his boat-hook
into its neck, bearing it to the ground. On this Tim and Desmond sprang
forward, and, before it could again rise, dealt it several heavy strokes
with their axes, preventing it from committing any further mischief.
"Hurrah; you've finished the baste, I hope," cried Pat, who had been
watching the proceedings from his bough, and now came hurrying forward.
"I'd somehow or other missed a couple of pigs, when I caught sight of
this big fellow taking a snooze in the sun. I was creeping up to him,
when he opened his wicked eyes, and if I hadn't taken to my heels he
would have had his tusks through and through me. At last I stopped
behind a free and gave him a shot; but he didn't mind it at all, at all,
by reason that the bullet flew over his head, and I had again to run for
it. However, `All's well that ends well,' and, sure, we will be having
him for supper, with the greatest pleasure in the world."
After this specimen of rat's sportsmanlike qualities, Tom resolved not
to trust him with the musket again, as it was necessary carefully to
husband their powder and shot. As, however, Pat possessed very good
qualifications for a butcher, he was left to cut up the boar, while the
rest of the party returned to the boat, he being directed to rejoin them
as soon as he had secured the joints.
Digging out the boat was severe labour, as to prevent the sand slipping
back it had to be thrown several feet on either side of the boat. They
then had to cut a channel down to the water. Tom soon saw that they
could not hope to get their boat afloat for another whole day at the
soonest. Diligently as they worked, the sun was sinking rapidly towards
the horizon before the boat was free of sand. They examined her
anxiously, fearing that her sides might have been forced out; but, as
far as they could ascertain, she had received no material injury.
"We must take another look-out for the ship, before it gets dark,"
exclaimed Tom; and he and Desmond set off to ascend the hill, from
whence they could obtain an extensive view of the ocean around them. In
vain they strained their eyes; no sail was in sight--not a speck
appeared above the horizon. The sea was rolling in lazy undulations,
here and there flecked with foam, which sparkled brightly in the rays of
the setting sun, while the sea-fowl were once more venturing forth from
their rocky homes in search of prey.
"She must have run a long distance before the gale, and it will take her
some time to beat back," observed Tom. "We must not give her up yet."
"I should think not, indeed," answered Desmond. "It would have been
rather inconvenient if she had come, and we had not got the boat afloat.
However, we must manage to get a signal-staff set up to-morrow morning,
in case she should appear, that they may know where we are, and send in
to help us."
Tom agreed with Desmond, and they accordingly arranged to cut a
flag-staff the first thing the next day, and manufacture a flag which
might be seen from the ship. Descending the rock, they returned to
their companions, who were still hard at work. Pat, however, had been
sent back, to light the fire and prepare supper. The party continued
digging in the sand until darkness at length compelled them to give
over. They had no little difficulty in making their way back to the
camp, until their eyes were gladdened by the sight of Pat's blazing
fire.
"We must compliment you on your pork chops," exclaimed Billy, holding up
the remains of one which he had been discussing with the help of his
clasp knife. "I'll trouble you for another, as soon as it's done
brown."
"You're welcome to it, sir; and, bedad, I'm mighty better pleased to be
cooking his hams, than for him to have had his tusks through mine,"
answered Pat.
The supper was pronounced excellent, though they had nothing but cold
water from a neighbouring rivulet with which to wash it down. Tim
suggested that a thimbleful of rum would be mighty pleasant.
Tom refused to serve out any of their limited supply, having determined
to keep it in case of emergency. Although he did not express his fears
to his companions, he could not help dreading that some accident might
have happened to the _Dragon_. The night passed quickly away. As soon
as it was daylight Tom and Desmond ascended to their look-out place.
They were again doomed to disappointment. The sea had become perfectly
calm, a light air occasionally only rippling the surface.
"It will take her a good many hours to get up to our island, even if she
is now only just out of sight," observed Tom. "Still we must get a
flag-staff set up, in case she should appear before we can launch the
boat, and we shall be fortunate if we can do that before night." As
soon as breakfast was over, Tom having told the men what was wanted, all
hands went in search of a tree fit for the purpose. None, however, were
discovered. At last it was agreed that a young cocoa-nut tree must be
cut down. This was soon done by Jerry and Tim, while the rest
recommenced their attempt to free the boat. All hands were required to
get the flag-staff to the top of the rock and set it up. The three men
offered their handkerchiefs, which with others belonging to the
midshipmen formed a tolerably sized flag. As they had no halyards, it
was fixed with rope yarns to the top of the staff, before it was set up.
A crevice was found in the rock, into which it was driven, and fixed on
either side with large stones.
"That will show clearly enough where we are, and if they can count the
number of handkerchiefs, they will know we are all right," observed
Desmond.
"I trust that the ship will come," said Tom, though he could not throw
much confidence into his tone. "Now, lads, we must go back and dig away
at our boat. I should like to see her afloat to-night or early
to-morrow morning."
In spite of the heat, they toiled on, not even returning to the camp for
dinner; Pat instead being sent to bring provisions and water.
Notwithstanding their perseverance, the work was not finished when Tom
set off alone to have another look out from Flag-staff Hill. He was
soon seen coming back.
"Not a sign of her," he said; and taking up his spade he resumed his
labours. A heap of sand still remained between the boat and the water,
that had to be removed before she could be launched.
"We must get rollers under her, or it will be more than we can do to
drag her into the water," observed Jerry, as he stamped his foot into
the soft yielding sand under her keel.
"You are right," said Tom, "and we must make them the first thing in the
morning."
The songs sung and yarns spun that evening were not so cheerful as they
had been; indeed, all hands were so sleepy that they were glad to turn
in as soon as supper was over. Tom hoped against hope, that the next
morning the ship would appear, had no accident happened to her. Even
without her machinery she would surely be able to beat up to the island
by this time.
Tom was at the flag-staff as soon as the light enabled him to see his
way up the hill. He waited, gazing anxiously at the horizon, while the
ruddy glow which suffused itself over the sky, announced the rising of
the sun. But no sail appeared. "She will not come at all," he
exclaimed to himself; "she must have been driven on the rocks during
that fearful night, and probably all hands have perished. Poor Archie,
I wish he had come with us, and I am very, very sorry for all the rest."
Tom, however, well knew that he must not give way to his melancholy
forebodings, and that, at all events, it was his duty to try and keep up
the spirits of his companions. On returning to the tent he put on as
unconcerned a countenance as possible, and sat down to breakfast as if
he had nothing on his mind. The high flavour of the pork showed him
that they must, in the first place, look out for another hog, and some
means must be found for preserving it. Pat asserted that the hams were
still very good, and Tom suggested that they should be immediately
smoked, until salt could be scraped from the rocks, or obtained by
evaporation. "You see we have got plenty to do, and even if we spend a
month here, we shall have no time to be idle," he observed.
Jerry and Tim, before they recommenced digging, cut with their axes a
number of rollers, which were then placed under the boat's keel, when
with renewed ardour all hands set to work to clear away the intervening
sand. It took, however, much longer than they had expected, and another
day was drawing to a close before they could attempt to begin launching
her. She was moved, however, but a few feet cut of the hollow in which
she had been imbedded, as there was no object to be gained that night by
putting her in the water, although the bay was now so smooth that she
might have floated in perfect safety.
Tom made his usual visit to Flag-staff Hill, and came back with the same
report as on the previous evening.
"Before we launch our boat," he said, when he rejoined the party at
breakfast, "we must dismantle our tent; and indeed it is not wise to
wear out our sail by using it as a roof. We may want it, and we shall
certainly require the oars. I therefore propose, should the ship not
appear by noon, to build a hut in the place of the tent, and we shall
then have shelter, should we require it, at night. We cannot tell what
we may need. The hurricane season is not yet over, we may depend upon
that. We came in for the first blow, and there may be several others
before the weather becomes settled."
"What! Do you think the ship's not coming back for us?" asked Billy, in
an anxious tone. "I should like to change my clothes, and I wish we had
some tea and sugar, and some hard tack, and pepper, mustard, and all
sorts of things."
"As to the ship's coming back, it's possible she may not," observed Tom.
"If she does not, we must manage to do without the things we should
like to have, and make the best of those we have got."
"That's the right sort of philosophy," observed Jerry Bird, who knew
that he might take a liberty which another man might not, and talk
freely to his officers.
As soon as breakfast was over, the oars and gear of the boat were
carried down to the beach, when, with the help of rollers, she was, all
hands hauling together, after some labour, run into the water.
As Tom had feared might be the case, it was soon discovered that, either
from the hot atmosphere or the pressure to which she had been subjected,
she leaked considerably. The leaks, however, it was hoped, would
partially fill up, though she would require some fresh caulking, and a
coat of tar, or some substitute, if tar was not to be procured. The
hour of noon approached, and, in spite of the heat, Tom and Desmond
climbed to the flag-staff. They looked around the horizon, and then at
each other.
"I am afraid she will not come at all," exclaimed Desmond.
"I feared as much from the first," answered Tom.
"Then what do you propose doing?" asked Desmond. "I don't wish to have
to live on here month after month, or for what we can tell year after
year, while our fellows are fighting the Chinese, and all the rest of
the world, perhaps."
"No, nor do I," said Tom. "We must fit our boat as well as we can for
sea, and try and make our way, either back to Japan, or to the Ladrones,
to which we were bound; but, as I said before, it won't do to put to sea
until the hurricane season is over. Even in fine weather it will be a
pretty long trip in an open boat; but people have gone as far, or much
farther, and what others have done we can do."
"I am ready for anything you think best," answered Desmond, "and I am
sure the rest will be, but we must try and fit the boat for a long
voyage, and the sooner we set about it the better."
"It will be a difficult job to do that without tools," observed Tom.
"Faith, I forgot that," remarked Desmond. "Still, as you often say,
`Where there's a will there's a way.' As we shall want our sail, we
must try and manufacture some thick matting instead of canvas, to fix
over the bows to raise the gunwale a foot or two, to keep out the sea.
Then for provisions, we shall have to salt down as many hogs as we can
kill, dry a stock of yams, and carry our water in cocoa-nut shells."
"I am glad, Gerald, that you have thought about the matter; that's just
what I was going to propose," said Tom.
"Of course," cried Gerald. "I have been thinking of that and a number
of other things besides while I was digging in the sand, though I did
not like to talk about them until the time came for action."
Thus the two midshipmen discussed their plans for the future. On their
return to the camp, as the time fixed upon by Tom had passed and the
ship had not arrived, the tent was dismantled and Tom set the men to
work to cut poles of sufficient length to serve for rafters and
uprights. Their tent had answered so well that it was agreed that the
hut should have a roof of the same shape. The walls were formed by
closely interlacing the uprights with creepers, which also served to
bind on the large pandanus leaves which they used for covering the roof.
The hut being nearly completed, Tom and Desmond set out, armed with
their muskets, to try and kill a hog or some small game. Billy wanted
to go, but Tom advised him to remain and assist in finishing the hut.
"If one of those fellows were to run at you, what could you do without a
weapon of some sort?"
"But I'd take the boat-hook," said Billy.
"A wild bear would be afther laughing at it in your hands," observed
Desmond.
Though they saw several hogs, which animals seemed to abound in the
island, they were unable to get near enough to obtain a fair shot.
While in search of hogs, their object was also to explore the island.
They made their way across to the northern side. It consisted of deep
indentations and high rocks, to the top of one of which they climbed;
they could make out in the far distance another island to the north of
them. Though they narrowly scanned the ocean in every direction, no
sail was to be seen.
"I am determined not to give her up altogether," said Tom; "but still,
if she has escaped shipwreck, I cannot account for the commander not
coming to look for us. My only idea is that by some mistake or other he
supposes we were lost, and that being driven a long way to the
southward, he does not think it worth while to come so far out of his
course."
On their way back they caught sight of a large number of good-sized
birds perched thickly in a tree, apparently intending to roost there for
the night. Having drawn their bullets, they loaded with small shot, and
firing into the midst of the birds, they brought down a dozen, which
proved to be a species of pigeon.
"We have got something for supper, at all events," cried Desmond as he
ran to pick up the birds and to finish off a few which were still
fluttering on the ground.
Their ill-success in hog-hunting made them determine the next day to go
out fishing in the boat. It need not be said that either Tom or Desmond
paid periodical visits to the flag-staff. So often had they been
disappointed that they at last gave up all expectation of seeing the
ship. Their fishing excursion, though not as successful as the first,
had produced a good supply of fish, some of which they ate fresh and the
rest they dried in the sun and smoked over a wood fire. They had,
however, to keep baling nearly the whole of the time. This satisfied
them that they must caulk the boat before they could venture out to sea
in her. All hands were now busily employed in a variety of ways. Pat
had woven some baskets with long grass, and Billy and Tim, each carrying
one, went out in search of salt, of which they found a plentiful supply
in the hollows of the rocks, close down to the sea.
Tom and Desmond searched in all directions for trees which might yield
pitch or a gum of some description which would serve to pay over the
outside of the boat, but they searched in vain.
"We must find some substitute for pitch, or we cannot accomplish our
voyage, that's very certain," said Tom.
The boat was constantly kept wet; at last they tried sinking her for
several hours together, but her planks would not swell sufficiently to
stop the leaks. They were almost in despair.
"Had we only a good supply of powder, we might live in luxury on fish,
flesh, and fowl, with plenty of vegetables; but without the powder,
should we get a continuance of had weather, we may be reduced to the
vegetable diet," said Desmond, as they were sitting round the fire at
supper.
"As to the hogs, we may be pretty sure of catching them," observed Pat;
"we can soon find out their runs, and by digging pitfalls it won't be
long before a porker will find his way in."
"Then the sooner you can manage to dig a pitfall and catch a porker the
better," said Tom.
"That will be the very thing I'll set about to-morrow morning, with Tim
as my mate," answered Pat.
Tim agreed, and so it was arranged.
"I should like to get half a dozen hogs well salted and smoked, so that
there may be no fear of the meat turning bad," said Tom; "we cannot tell
how long our voyage may last, and it will not do for us to run short of
provisions if we can help it. We must also catch and cure a supply of
fish, and they, with the yams, will serve us for provisions. Nothing
else will be likely to keep, though perhaps we may obtain birds and
vegetables at some of the islands we may pass."
"But it won't do to land, sir, unless we know the people who inhabit
them," said Pat. "Where I was living so long they would have knocked
any visitors on the head and eaten them up, to a certainty."
"My belief is that the people on this side of the equator are generally
well disposed towards strangers," said Tom. "I heard the commander say
so only a short time ago, and he had been reading some books on the
subject." So altogether Tom was persuaded and imbued his companions
with the same idea that the proposed voyage could be performed without
any extraordinary risk, and all hands looked forward to the time when
they might venture to commence it--not that they were tired of remaining
on the island--but even the men had no wish to spend their days there,
and the midshipmen were naturally anxious to be employed on active
service. Next morning, Tom, having gone as usual to the flag-staff to
take a look out, as he was descending, saw several dark objects moving
on the sand of the bay below him. Some were far up on the dry sand,
others nearer the water. "Those must be turtle," he said to himself;
"we may catch some of them if we are quick about it, before they return
to the water." He hurried back to the camp and told his companions what
he had seen. They all followed him as fast as they could scamper
towards the bay. Each man got hold of a stick or weapon of some sort.
The instinct of the turtle telling them that enemies were approaching,
those farthest up the beach began to make their way, vigorously working
their fins, towards the water. Tom and Desmond, who were ahead, managed
to get their sticks under a good-sized one, which they turned over
without much difficulty, and they then attacked three others in
succession, throwing them over on their backs. The rest of the party
had now come up. Jerry and Tim, in the same way, turned over two more.
Their success encouraged Billy, who, being ambitious, tackled a big
fellow, which was scrambling away at a great rate towards the water.
Billy, who was as courageous as a lion, seized hold of its fins, and in
an instant he was covered over with showers of sand thrown up by its
other fin, while the turtle showed no disposition to stop. Billy
shouted to his companions to come and help him. Pat, who though the
last on the field, having just turned a turtle, rushed forward and
seized the big fellow by the other fin; but the creature had got good
way and was not to be stopped by the united efforts of the midshipman
and the Irish sailor, who in another instant were dragged into the
water. It was still too shallow for the turtle to swim, but it used its
four flappers with so much effect against its two assailants, as to give
them a thorough shower-bath.
"We must have him; help, help!" shouted Billy; "don't let him go, Pat!"
"That I'll not, shure!" answered Pat, who maintained his hold like grim
death to the hind flapper. "Tim, me darlin', be quick here, or the
baste will be off. Jerry, man, lend a hand."
"Rogers, Desmond, do come and help, or the fellow will get away after
all our trouble," shouted Billy.
Thus summoned, the whole party came to the assistance of the two heroes,
Tim in his eagerness toppling over on his nose in the shallow water. He
quickly, however, recovered himself, and he and Jerry seizing one of the
fore flappers, and Tom and Gerald the other. They managed to stop the
progress of the unfortunate turtle, though not until they had all been
well wetted.
With a heave they turned the turtle over and dragged it up again on the
dry beach. By this time nearly all the other turtle had escaped; but
another big fellow had just got into the water, and was paddling off,
when Pat in his eagerness threw himself upon it, shouting to his
companions for help. Billy dashed forward, when Pat at the same moment
contrived to turn over the turtle, but, unhappily for poor Billy, his
foot slipping, down he fell with the turtle on the top of him; though
his head was above water, the turtle almost smothered him with water and
sand, which its flappers sent flying into his face.
"Help, help!" he kept crying out. Pat, in his efforts to release the
midshipman, also slipped down under the turtle, which was all the time
working itself into deep water, and dragging its assailants, who still
held on, with it.
Tom and Gerald, however, came to their rescue; but already the turtle
had got into water of sufficient depth to enable it to recover its
proper position, and with such good effect did it use its flappers,
that, in spite of the exertions of the midshipmen and Pat, who had to
choose between being drawn into deep water at a risk of being drowned or
seized by a lurking shark, or losing their prize, they instinctively let
go, and the turtle diving, joined its more fortunate companions who had
escaped. As, however, more turtle had been caught than the party could
possibly eat, they had no cause to complain.
"Hurrah! I don't mind the wetting," cried Billy, as he shook himself
like a spaniel on coming out of the water. "We shall live for many a
day like aldermen."
"There's little chance of our eating them up before they turn bad,"
observed Desmond.
"You need not fear that, sir," said Pat; "we will build a house for
them, where they will live as happy as princes till we want to cook
them?" His plan was to form an enclosure with a roof over it to protect
the turtle from the rays of the sun, and to keep them well supplied with
wet sea-weed.
"I wonder I did not at once think about that," said Tom. "We will do as
you propose immediately."
The axes were soon at work, and the enclosure was formed of sufficient
size to contain all their turtle, before they returned to breakfast,
dragging with them one of the smaller turtle, which was destined to
serve them as food for the day. They had turtle steaks for, breakfast,
turtle soup for dinner, and turtle again at night.
"It is a pity we have not some port wine, and cayenne pepper, and some
lemons," cried Billy.
"We have no cause to complain, since we have abundance of salt," said
Tom. "For my part, I think we have every reason to be thankful for the
ample supply of food with which we have been provided."
As day after day went by the hope that the _Dragon_ would return became
fainter and fainter. Tom made up his mind that if they were to escape
from the island, they must perform the voyage in the boat; but as he
examined her again and again he could not help confessing that she was
but ill-suited for the undertaking in her present state. Whenever they
went out fishing they had to keep constantly baling, so that they ran a
great risk of going down. He had no anxiety about provisions, though
there would be a difficulty in preserving them sufficiently to stand the
constant exposure to the sun and wet. That risk must, however, be run.
He charged Pat and Tim to thoroughly salt and smoke the pork and fish.
He directed them also to clear out a number of cocoa-nuts to serve as
bottles for holding water. Pat had succeeded in catching two hogs in
his pit-fall, and when the subject of carrying water was discussed, he
offered to sew up the skins, so as to form two big leathern bottles.
"Where will you find the needles and thread to sew them up?" asked Tom.
"The needles! shure, I'd be afther makin' them from bone, and there
would be no difficulty in finding the thread."
Though Tom allowed all preparations to go on, his mind was not at all
easy in regard to the condition of the boat, and Desmond agreed with him
that, unless her leaks could be stopped, it would be madness to put to
sea.
While the men, therefore, continued working at their several tasks Tom
had assigned to them, assisted by Billy, who was not fond of long walks,
he and Desmond continued their search for pitch or something which would
answer as a substitute. Desmond had heard of pitch springs, and looked
about for them for some time, until Tom recollected that such were alone
found in volcanic regions, and that they could only expect to discover
some vegetable substance.
At last they determined to explore the whole of the island, which would
occupy them some two or tree days.
Taking one of the muskets, they filled their wallets--which Pat lad
manufactured for them of plaited grass--with a store of dried yams, salt
pork, and fish, which they carried in case they should be unsuccessful
in obtaining game. They charged Billy, should the _Dragon_ appear, to
fire off the musket left behind, and also to light a beacon fire on the
summit of Flag-staff Hill, the smoke of which they would probably be
able to distinguish from any part of the island. Bidding farewell to
their companions, they first directed their course towards the
south-east end of the island, which, as it had a rocky and barren
appearance, they had not yet visited.