SANTA CRUZ--ITS UNATTRACTIVE INHABITANTS--A SCHOONER CHASED BY THE
BOATS--SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS--THE SCHOONER ALLOWED TO PROCEED--A GALE--
RUN FOR SHELTER UNDER THE LEE OF AN ISLAND--A VOLCANO BURSTS FORTH--
DRIVEN AWAY--BREAKERS AHEAD--AN OPENING IN THE REEF--PASS THROUGH--LAND
ON AN ISLAND--FOOD FOUND--NATIVES APPEAR--HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS--
GREEN'S OLD SHIPMATE--PEACE ESTABLISHED--ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND.
The _Dragon_ and _Eolus_ had been for some weeks at sea; the latter was
to touch at various islands of the New Hebrides group, after which she
was to proceed to the Loyalty Islands, to visit the Isle of Pines and
Norfolk Island, and thence to go on to Sydney. The _Dragon_, meantime,
was to continue her course to the north-west, visiting Santa Cruz, the
Solomon Islands, New Ireland, and New Britain; and she also was to visit
Sydney. Thence the two ships were to recross the Pacific, to touch at
the Sandwich Islands, and to go on to Vancouver's Island and British
Columbia; after which, all hands heartily hoped that they might be
ordered home. The projected cruise was being discussed in the
midshipmen's berth, with the chart on the table.
"It doesn't look so very far," observed Billy Blueblazes; "though,
considering that we are to perform the distance under sail, it will take
us some time, I suppose."
"I rather think so, laddie," observed Archie, who had a pair of
compasses in his hand, and was measuring off the distances; "we shall
have run over between sixty and seventy thousand miles of salt water
before we drop anchor in Portsmouth harbour,--not an inch less according
to my calculation,--it would be enough to wear the sheathing off the
ship's bottom if it was not pretty thick to begin with."
Most of the islands the ship visited were lofty, the hills covered
thickly with trees to their summits. They were surrounded by coral
reefs, through which, in many instances, no passage was to be found;
others had openings affording secure harbours within them. After
visiting several small islands in the neighbourhood, the ship came to an
anchor in a sheltered harbour in the island of Santa Cruz. Canoes
quickly gathered round her, full of the ugliest-looking natives they had
yet met with. Their skin was nearly black, their heads covered with
thick woolly hair, their foreheads low and receding, their faces broad,
with high cheek-bones, their noses flat, and their mouths large. They
had adorned their bodies with various colours, and ornamented themselves
further with rings through their noses and ears, as also with armlets
and necklaces of human teeth; the rest of their dress consisting only of
a string round the waist, to which a small apron was secured. These
unattractive-looking personages were considerably under the ordinary
size, but appeared, notwithstanding the character bestowed on them of
being the most cruel and treacherous in the Pacific Ocean, to be a
good-tempered, merry race. They brought off large quantities of
cocoanuts, bows, arrows, and mats, which they were willing to exchange
for empty bottles, old-clothes, and tobacco. As yet, no missionaries
having ventured among them, they were in the same savage state in which
they had for centuries existed.
In the evening, those who had been allowed to come on board were turned
out of the ship, and a bright look-out was kept against any treacherous
trick they might have attempted to play. The fires had been let out, as
Jack intended to remain during the day for the purpose of obtaining
water. Early the next morning, a schooner was seen passing close in
with the land. As the wind was light, Jack despatched two boats to
overhaul her; one was commanded by Green, who was accompanied by
Archie--the other by Tom, who had Billy Blueblazes as his companion.
They pulled away, hoping soon to overtake the stranger. When, however,
they were about half a mile from her, a breeze sprang up; but, as the
boats had their sails, the masts were stepped, and they stood on after
the chase. She took no notice of the musket which Green fired as a
signal for her to heave-to, but, instead of doing so, she set more sail
and stood on. This making him more suspicious than ever of her
character, he determined to persevere; Tom and his companion being
equally ready to continue the pursuit.
"Perhaps she is a pirate," observed Billy, "and when she finds that she
cannot get off she will try to defend herself, and we shall have some
fighting--something to vary the monotony of the voyage."
"As to that, I doubt whether such craft are to be found in these seas at
the present day," answered Tom; "and I rather think, if we can manage to
get up to her, that she will strike without firing a shot."
The question was, however, whether the boats would come up with her; the
breeze was freshening, and she was walking away from them. Still Green
kept on, hoping that the wind might head her, or that it might fall
calm, when they would soon be alongside. She was steering towards a
lofty conical island, which rose sheer out of the sea, with a thick
cloud of smoke rising above its summit, which showed it to be an active
volcano. The day was drawing on, but the schooner did not gain
sufficiently on the boats to make Green abandon all hopes of overtaking
her. Her persevering efforts to escape convinced him that something was
wrong, and made him the more eager to overhaul her. At length, her
sails were seen to flap against her masts, and, though the boats still
had the breeze, it was very evident that she was becalmed. The sky had
for some time been wearing a threatening aspect, and had not Green been
so eager to overhaul the stranger, he would have endeavoured to make the
best of his way back to Santa Cruz. At length the wind dropped
altogether, and, the sails being lowered, the crews of the boats gave
way, with a certainty that they should at length get up with the chase.
Each boat had four muskets; the officers had stuck their pistols in
their belts, and the men had their cutlasses--weapons on which British
seamen always place more reliance than on firearms. They were now
within gunshot of the schooner, but she did not fire, nor were any signs
visible that she intended to offer resistance. Green steered for the
starboard quarter, and directed Tom to board on the port side. They
were soon up with her; Tom and Billy, with six men, scrambled up on
deck, which Green and his party gained at the same time; but, except the
man at the helm, and one other forward, none of the crew were visible.
The man at the helm looked very much astonished, and asked with cool
effrontery what they wanted. Green replied that he must know where the
schooner was from, whither she was bound, and what cargo she had on
board.
"The master will tell you all about it, sir," answered the man, "but he
is at present below, sick with a bad leg."
"Then I must pay him a visit, and get him to show his papers," said
Green; who, telling Tom and Billy to keep a watch on deck, went into the
master's cabin with Archie, and a couple of armed men. The master was
sitting up in his cot, with a black boy attending on him.
"Well, gentlemen, what do you want?" he asked, as Green and Archie
entered.
"Why did you run away from us," asked Green, "when you must have seen
that our boats were those of one of Her Majesty's ships-of-war?"
"How could I tell what you were?" said the master; "you might be
pirates. At all events, I have no wish to be stopped in my voyage."
"Well, at any rate, show me your papers, and inform me how many people
you have on board; for as yet I have only seen a couple of hands," said
Green.
"We have upwards of eighty, including passengers," answered the master.
"I suppose the crew got out of the way lest you should fire at us, and
for the same reason the passengers thought it prudent to keep below.
Boy, take that tin case out of the the locker there, and give it to the
officer."
Green examined the document brought him. It set forth that the schooner
_Expert_, Captain Toby, belonging to Brisbane, Queensland, had a licence
to trade for sandal-wood, and to carry a hundred passengers.
"Well, your papers seem all very clear; and if your passengers came on
board with their own free will, I can have nothing to say to you, but
wish you a good voyage," he remarked; "but I should have been better
pleased had you hove-to when I made a signal to you to do so, as you
would have saved us a long pull."
Captain Toby only grinned, as if he was well pleased at the trouble he
had caused the man-of-war's officers. As they were speaking, two other
men, who were apparently mates, came out of a side cabin, yawning and
stretching themselves in a way which somewhat tried Green's patience.
"Well, I must beg your officers to show me your passengers, and the rest
of your crew, before I quit you," he said, addressing the master.
"I suppose you've got legal authority for what you are doing?" said
Captain Toby.
"Certainly; and as we are in a hurry to be off, I must beg you to be
smart about it," said Green; turning to the mates, "Come, my lads, I am
only performing my duty, and that duty I intend to carry out."
The two mates, seeing that the officer was not to be trifled with, went
forward and summoned eight ruffianly-looking fellows who had been stowed
away in the forecastle. Three or four were apparently Englishmen, the
others black or brown men, one a Kanaka, the other a New Zealander. By
the mate's orders they lifted off the hatches, and went below. Archie
observed that they had the butts of pistols sticking out of the breasts
of their shirts, and that all of them wore long knives in sheaths by
their sides. There was some talking below, and one by one sixty
black-skinned natives made their appearance on deck, and were ranged on
either side. None of them had any other clothing besides a piece of
matting or sail-cloth round the waist. Unfortunately, Green had come
away without an interpreter; but he did his best to try and ascertain
from the natives if they were on board of their own free will. No one
uttered a complaint, but he observed that the mates kept their eyes
fixed on the blacks, who seemed to cower under their glances. He was
still not satisfied, but he was unable to find any sufficient reason for
detaining the vessel. On returning to the cabin he found another
individual, who had not before appeared, seated at the table, busily
employed in writing.
"Our doctor, sir," said the master; "he has come with us for the sake of
science, to gain a knowledge of the wild inhabitants of this region. He
is a perfect slave to science; are you not, doctor?"
"It is the sole object of my life," answered the person who had been
addressed, without rising from his seat.
Though the man spoke with the accent of a gentleman, Green thought that
he had seldom seen a more ill-looking individual.
"Well, I hope you are satisfied, Mr Officer," said the master at
length; "and, if so, that you will allow us to fill our sails and stand
on; for my mate tells me he doesn't like the look of the weather, and
I'd advise you to make the best of your way back to your ship."
Green saw indeed that it was important to get back, and did not
therefore waste words with the master or his ill-mannered surgeon. On
returning on deck, he found that the mates had sent the blacks below
again, while the crew were shortening sail. The weather had become
rapidly worse; he could not help regretting that he had come so far from
the island, with the prospect of a pull back through a heavy sea. He
could not hoist the boats on board, or, under the circumstances, he
might have compelled the schooner to beat back to Santa Cruz. Had he
attempted to do so, and to tow the boats, they would, in all
probability, have been swamped.
"We must make the best of it," he said to Tom, who had for the last few
minutes been feeling anything but comfortable about the matter.
"A safe voyage to you, my friends," he said, as he leaped into his boat.
The mates made no reply, but as he shoved off he fancied that he heard a
laugh, and at the same time he caught sight of the ill-favoured visage
of the scientific doctor looking over the quarter, while the schooner
stood away to the southward. Scarcely, however, were they a quarter of
a mile apart than the wind came down with greater force than before, and
he found that it was impossible to make any headway against it. The
nearest island was that of Tinakula; by running under its lee he might
get shelter for the night; but should an eruption occur, it would prove
a dangerous neighbourhood. There were other islands beyond, but they
were surrounded by reefs which might prevent the possibility of landing
upon them, while, from the savage character of the natives on the
inhabited ones, they could only expect a hostile reception.
"We'll try it a little longer, Rogers," sang out Green; "perhaps the
weather will moderate; and if it grows worse, we must run under the lee
of that burning mountain; we can only hope that it will remain quiet for
a few hours."
The weather did not moderate, and when the men had been pulling hard for
a couple of hours without gaining ground, the boats' heads were put
round, and with reefed sails they steered towards the eastern side of
the mountain, Green intending to haul round it, so as to be able to
anchor during the night under its lee. Night rapidly came down over the
stormy ocean; the wind increased, and the seas came roaring up astern,
threatening every instant to swamp them. Green led, Tom following in
his wake.
"I wish we hadn't been sent after that abominable slaver!" exclaimed
Billy, who was feeling more uncomfortable than he had ever before been
in his life. "I wonder whether the ship will come to look after us?"
"Not likely," answered Tom; "as well hunt for a needle in a bundle of
hay; she wouldn't know where to find us if she did. My brother trusts
Green, who always knows what he's about, and he will not be unhappy on
our account. We shall soon be under the lee of the island, and then we
shall be snug enough; though, for my part, I would rather have been
comfortably stowed away in my hammock."
"You take things very coolly, Rogers!" cried Billy. "Oh, look at that
big sea! it will tumble aboard us in a moment."
"If it does, you must stand by to bale it out," answered Tom; "hold on
though, in case it should wash you overboard."
Tom, who was grasping the helm with a firm hand, received the sea on the
quarter; a portion of the crest broke over the boat; she, however, went
gliding forward, while the sea roared on till it caught Green's boat,
which appeared for a moment to be overwhelmed, but was seen directly
afterwards rising on the summit of another wave; while Billy and the
rest of Tom's crew baled away with might and main, knowing the
importance of freeing their boat before another sea broke into her.
Thus on they rushed amid the dark, foam-crested waves; several times
they were treated in the same manner, but as quickly as the water
entered it was hove out again. The darkness increased, and the dim
outline of the mountain alone could be seen, its lofty summit towering
to the clouds. Green was unwilling to keep farther off the island than
was necessary; but, at the same time, he thought it possible that a reef
might extend some distance from it, on which, should the boats strike,
they must inevitably be lost. A keen lookout was kept ahead, but
nothing could be seen besides the dark, tumbling, foam-crested seas. It
was a time to try the hearts of the stoutest. Gradually the island grew
more and more distinct.
"Haul aft the sheet!" cried Green, and the boats sailed on with the sea
abeam.
Now was the most dangerous time, for a sea striking the side might in an
instant, without allowing anyone a chance of escaping, have capsized the
boats, and sent them to the bottom. The seas seemed to rush forward
with greater fury even than before, as if eager to seize their prey
before it had escaped them. Happily it did not last long; on shooting
under the lee of a lofty precipice which rose sheer out of the water,
they were almost immediately becalmed, though still fearfully tumbled
about by the waves as they swirled round the base of the cliff.
"Get out your oars, my lads, and give way," cried Green.
The order was quickly obeyed, and after pulling for a few hundred yards,
the boats lay in comparatively calm water. The island mountain rose
like a dark spectre above their heads, without any beach that could be
discovered on which the boats could be hauled up, or any cove to afford
them shelter. Green had a lead-line on board; it was let fall over the
side, but no bottom was found.
"Perhaps by pulling on a little farther we may find some place in which
we can bring up for the night; if not, we must keep the oars moving,"
said Green.
They pulled on accordingly.
"Hilloa!" cried Tom; "what's that?"
The moment he spoke a bright light appeared on the summit of the
mountain; it rapidly increased, and presently a vast stream of
incandescent lava came flowing down the side, now moving in a broad
sheet, now rushing down in a cataract of fire, again to unite at the
foot of a precipice, as it rushed down in a dozen different streams,
some close to where the boats lay, till reaching the water they suddenly
disappeared.
"Very fortunate that we were not on shore, or we should have been all
burnt into cinders," said Tom; "we are even now nearer than is
altogether pleasant."
"If we get farther off we shall be in the middle of a cross-sea which
will quickly swamp us," observed Green; "I see the crests of the waves
dancing about, not many cables' lengths away, with the light from the
mountain reflected on them. We will pull back a short distance to the
eastward and lie on our oars."
The boats' heads were turned round, but the men had not pulled many
strokes when the lava again rushed out from the crater, rising far above
it in a fountain of fire; then down it came, covering over the whole
side of the mountain with a vast sheet of liquid flame, sending its
glare far over the ocean, and rendering the night as bright as the day.
"Grand!" exclaimed Billy Blueblazes; "magnificent! superior to anything
I ever saw at Vauxhall!"
"I should rather call it awful," said Tom; "how those huge black cliffs
stand out! Why, they positively look as if they were about to topple
down over us; it will give us an idea of what the world will be like
when it is on fire."
The men gazed at the burning mountain, their countenances expressing
their feelings, though none of them spoke. The hardy seamen could
scarcely believe that they should escape destruction; the water hissed
and bubbled as the hot lava reached it, and sent wave after wave towards
the boats; which, as they rushed on board, were found to be perceptibly
warmed. Green, who had been watching the summit of the mountain, began
to doubt whether it was prudent to remain in the neighbourhood; at any
moment it might send up not only lava, but ashes and stones, and huge
rocks, which might in an instant overwhelm the boats. Now came a
fearful rumbling noise, louder than a thousand Woolwich infants roaring
together. Tom declared that the whole mountain seemed to shake, while
the summit appeared covered with a crown of ruddy flame.
"This will never do," cried Green; "better be swamped at sea than be
buried under a shower of rocks. Pull round and give way, my lads; stand
by to hoist the sail the instant we feel the wind."
The men dashed their oars into the water, and pulled away as fast as
they could stretch their arms, eager to get to a distance from the
fearful scene; but though they were really going at a rapid rate, it
seemed as if the mountain was still as near as ever. Even the most dull
and ignorant must have been conscious of their utter helplessness; at
any moment the fiery shower might descend on their heads; indeed, the
farther they got off, the more clearly they saw the fearful work going
forward on the summit of the mountain; the flames seemed to spout higher
and higher and higher, and amid them every now and then appeared huge
fragments of solid rock, which, cast up to a great height, again fell
down into the crater; while similar fragments came toppling over the
edge, and rolled crashing down the cliffs into the ocean. Though the
sea was rough, the wind, affected apparently by the outburst of fire,
seemed greatly to have abated, and it was not till they had got some
distance from the island that Green ordered the sails to be hoisted. He
was on the point of hauling up, intending to beat back to Santa Cruz,
when once more the gale was upon them.
"We must stand on," he cried to Tom; "we shall never be able to pull
back against this wind, our best chance is to run before it."
"Ay, ay, sir!" said Tom; "I'll follow you;" and the two boats flew on as
before, over the tumbling seas. They were well built, and well managed
too, or they would to a certainty have been swamped.
They had, by this time, got to a considerable distance from the
mountain, but still it appeared almost as clear as at first, the dark
cliffs projecting far out from amid the sheets of fire which almost
enveloped its sides, while the summit appeared in a still more fearful
state of eruption than at first. Vast flames came spouting upwards, the
fiery masses which were thrown out spreading over on every side, while
overhead appeared a dark canopy of smoke, from which a shower of ashes
continued to fall without intermission; and Tom declared, as he looked
astern, that he saw huge pieces of rock descending into the sea. They
had indeed reason to congratulate themselves that they had not delayed
longer under the mountain, and even as it was they were conscious that
they were still not free from danger. Their anxiety had hitherto
prevented them from feeling hungry, or indeed from recollecting that
they had brought but a small supply of food. In each boat was, however,
a breaker of water, and Billy had slipped some biscuits into his pocket,
as had also several of the men, just before they shoved off. After some
time, when he believed that he had only the danger of the ocean with
which to contend, Billy pulled a biscuit out of his pocket and offered
part to Tom, who, beginning to feel very hungry, accepted it. The crew
were sharing their portions among each other; and then the breaker of
water was broached, for the biscuit had made the men feel very thirsty.
In Green's boat the men were not so well off, Archie and one of the men
only having had sufficient forethought to bring a couple of biscuits
apiece. This afforded but a scanty meal to all hands; and they knew
that it might be very long before they could hope to get a further
supply of food. The gale had still further increased, and the sea was
rougher than ever. They thus ran on for some hours; Tom manfully sat at
the helm, assisted by Billy, his anxiety keeping him broad awake; for he
well knew that the slightest carelessness on his part might lead to his
own destruction and that of all with him. Unhappily, they had come away
without a compass in either boat, and as the sky was completely
overcast, Green had not even the stars to steer by. The wind, he felt
sure, had shifted several points while they lay under the island, and he
was thus uncertain in what direction he was running. He could only tell
by looking astern at the mountain, which, like a huge beacon, blazed
away all night. There were other islands, he knew, ahead, surrounded by
reefs; and, when morning approached, he judged that they could not be
very far from the nearest. The atmosphere, however, was too dense to
enable him to see the land at any distance. Still he could not venture
to heave-to; his only hope of keeping the boats afloat was to run on,
and he trusted that day light would return before they could reach the
neighbourhood of the reefs. It was too dark to see the hands of his
watch, even when held up so that the light from the mountain could fall
on it.
"I think the sun will rise in about half an hour," he observed to
Archie; "and then I trust that we shall be able to look out for an
opening in the reefs, so that we may run in and take shelter till the
gale is over."
The men in both the boats were all this time employed in baling, for the
crests of the seas came toppling over, now on the quarter, now running
up alongside over the gunwales, wetting the people through and through.
Tom, with his lips closely-pressed together, his hand firmly grasping
the helm, excited the admiration of the men, who knew well that their
lives depended on his coolness and judgment.
"He's a regular chip of the old block; as like the commander as two
peas," observed the bow-man to the man sitting next to him. Tom,
indeed, had always been held in respect by the crew, but that night's
work raised him still higher in their estimation.
They had been running on for some minutes, when a shout reached them
from the master's boat. "Breakers ahead, and land beyond them." Tom
steered straight on, waiting to see what Green would do, still following
in his wake. Green deviated slightly to port.
"There is an opening," he shouted; "follow me."
Tom peered through the mass of blackness surrounding them, and made out
a line of white foam, rising like a wall on the starboard bow, while
beyond he could just distinguish the outline of a still darker mass
which he knew must be land. His heart did not sink, nor did his hand
tremble. The crew turned their heads over their shoulders as the roar
of the breakers reached their ears, becoming louder and louder as the
boat rushed on. The seas came rushing up astern more furiously it
seemed than ever, catching them now on the port quarter; should the wind
fail them, or a rope give way, they must be lost. They all knew that,
and each man grasped his oar ready to throw it out and give way as a
chance for life. The breakers became more and more distinct, leaping
high above the tumbling ocean; but ahead was a blacker patch, though
even that was streaked with foam. There must, however, be depth for the
boats to pass over, though the passage was a fearfully narrow one; for
away on the port-bow the breakers were seen rising as high as on the
starboard side. Green stood on; he did not again hail, but he knew that
he could trust Tom, and that he was following. In another minute they
would be safe, or the boats dashed to pieces on the coral reef. Still
on they flew; a vast surge came rolling up, lifting the stern of the
boat, and Tom, for an instant, thought that she would broach to; but
with all his might putting the helm hard a-port, she went rushing on
before it. The foaming, roaring breakers were leaping up on either
hand. He had lost sight of Green's boat. Could she have met with the
fate he had expected to overtake his boat? No! there she was, safe
inside the reef, with her sail lowered. The next instant he was gliding
forward in comparatively smooth water.
"Lower the sail," he shouted, "and get out the oars."
He was soon alongside Green's boat.
"We will lie on our oars, and wait till daylight to find a safe place
for landing," said the master. "Let us thank God that we have escaped
thus far. Should there be natives on the island, we must try and keep
on friendly terms with them, and we shall the better do that by not
landing till they invite us. In the meantime, we will look to our arms,
for they must have got wet, and are pretty sure to miss fire."
The boats accordingly pulled along the lagoon till they reached a part
where, sheltered by a higher line of the reef, the water was perfectly
calm. Even there, as they looked in the direction from whence they had
come, they could see the burning mountain blazing away as furiously as
at first; the upper portion, which appeared above the horizon,
presenting the appearance of a vast shining cone, with a crown of fire
rising towards the sky. Far-off as it was, the light it cast had
enabled them to see the breakers much sooner than they otherwise would
have done, and had been the means thus of saving their lives.
Daylight now appeared, and a glimpse was caught of the sun through an
opening in the cloud just above the horizon. His rays fell on a hilly
country, richly wooded, with streams flowing down at the bottom of the
valleys, one of which emptied itself directly opposite the break in the
reef by which they had entered. As yet no natives had appeared, nor
were any huts seen, but it could scarcely be supposed that so fine a
region was destitute of inhabitants. Green, therefore, pointed out to
his men the importance of acting cautiously. Their hunger and thirst,
however, must be satisfied; he therefore pulled in towards the mouth of
the stream, where, at all events, they could obtain water. As they
approached, Billy's sharp eyes detected some cocoanuts growing on
several tall trees a short distance from the beach; these would afford
them food till more substantial fare could be obtained. The difficulty,
however, was to reach the trees where the fruit grew.
"I'll manage to do it," cried Billy, "in a way I have read of somewhere,
with a rope round my waist."
Some rocks near the mouth of the stream afforded sufficient shelter to
the boats, and enabled the party to land without the necessity of
beaching them. The arms had all been made ready for use, and Green
ordered one half of the men to remain in the boats under Tom's command,
while he led the other, who carried the breakers to fill with water.
Billy, in the meantime, with Archie to assist him, prepared to climb up
a cocoanut tree. He had brought a long piece of rope, which he formed
into a large grummet, or hoop, round the tree. He made several
attempts, however, before he could succeed in getting up even a few
feet. Though Archie laughed at him, he was undaunted.
"Practice makes perfect," he answered, again working his way upwards
till he got several feet higher.
His plan was to hold tight with his knees while he jerked the grummet as
high as it would go, and then to swarm up again and rest. Higher and
higher he got, till at length he was able to catch hold of a branch by
which he held himself up, when, highly delighted, he quickly broke off
all the fruit on the tree, and threw them down to Archie. His success
encouraged the bow-man in Green's boat, who, being a light, active lad,
succeeded even better than he had done, and a supply of nuts for all
hands was thus obtained. By this time Green's party with the breakers
had returned, and the hungry crews eagerly commenced breakfast.
"We must look out for more substantial fare than this though," observed
Tom; "if we can't get any animals on shore, we shall, at all events, be
able to find shell-fish in the water, and we can easily light a fire and
cook them."
Till, however, the men had satisfied their hunger with the cocoanuts, no
one felt disposed to hunt for shell-fish, or for animals on shore. It
was, indeed, doubtful whether it would be prudent to allow any of the
men to go inland till they had ascertained what inhabitants were in the
neighbourhood, or whether they were likely to be friendly. From the
character of the natives on the surrounding islands Green very much
doubted whether this would be the case; and he wished, if possible, to
avoid bloodshed, even although his party might prove victorious. He had
also heard that they used poisoned arrows, even a slight wound from
which might prove fatal. As the gale still continued blowing outside,
it was absolutely necessary that more substantial food should be found.
As soon, therefore, as they had somewhat taken the edge off their
appetites, he allowed a small party under Tom to proceed along the beach
in search of shell-fish, while the boats pulled slowly along close in to
the shore, so as to be able to take them off immediately should any
natives appear. No officer could have acted more wisely and cautiously.
Tom and his party collected a good supply of shell-fish, his last find
being a bed of oysters. Two of the men, having stripped off their
clothes, waded up to their necks and dived for them. They were thus
employed when Green caught sight of a dark triangular fin, which rose
for an instant to the surface and disappeared. He shouted at the top of
his voice to the men, telling them of their danger, and ordering his own
crew to pull in, and to splash the water as much as possible with their
oars. The men sprang towards the shore, fully aware of the danger they
were in. They were not a moment too soon, for the monster, having
caught sight of their white legs, dashed forward and almost grounded
itself on the beach before, giving a whisk of its tail, it darted off
again, startled by their shouts and cries, and escaped.
Tom now cried out that he had seen some birds, and that if he might use
small shot he was certain that he could kill several. Green, seeing no
signs of natives, thought there would be no risk, and gave him leave.
Tom was a good shot, and the birds, a species of pigeon, being
unaccustomed to firearms, were not frightened, so that he very quickly
made a heavy bag, without having had to go far for it. There appeared
to be now no reason why the party should not land to cook their
provisions, and, finding a clear stretch of beach, they pulled in and
hauled up the boats. Some of the men set to work to gather sticks, and
a blazing fire was soon lighted; while others plucked the pigeons and
prepared them for the spit. These were placed on forked sticks round
the fire, while the men sat down on the ground to enjoy themselves. A
few cried out for grog, but not a drop of spirits had been brought, so
they were obliged to go without it, but the smokers had their pipes and
tobacco, and Green had put his cigar-case into his pocket, so that they
were able to pass the time pleasantly enough while the birds were
cooking.
"After all, we've no great cause to complain," observed Tom, as he
lighted one of Green's cigars. "I suppose when the gale abates the ship
will come and look for us, or if not we shall have no great difficulty
in getting back to Santa Cruz, while in the meantime we may make
ourselves happy where we are," he observed.
Billy Blueblazes, of course, echoed the sentiment, but Archie was
somewhat doubtful whether they might not miss the ship, as it would take
them the best part of two days to pull back, and before that time she
probably would have come out to look for them. Green was rather
inclined to be of Archie's opinion, and was considering what under the
circumstances it was best to do.
"Dinner ready, sir," said Jerry Bird, who had dished up the pigeons with
some large leaves. "We have broiled oysters and mussels, and cocoanut
for dessert, and as much milk and water as we like to drink; a feast fit
for a king."
Green and the midshipmen preferred the pigeons, leaving the shell-fish
to be divided among the men, who had their share also of the birds. No
one had cause to complain of want of sufficient food. After dinner,
their spirits being raised, they amused themselves by playing rounders,
varied by a game of leap-frog on the beach, till Green reminded them
that they might have a couple of nights or more at sea before they could
get back to the ship, and that it was as well to take some rest while
they could obtain it. The difficulty was to find shade, as the sun was
beating down with intense heat on the sand, though while they were in
exercise they did not think of it. The palm trees afforded but a scant
shelter; however, by going a little way inland they obtained some
enormous fern-leaves, with which they quickly built several huts,
sufficient to shelter all the party, with the exception of two, who were
stationed on the top of the bank to keep watch; Green deeming it prudent
not to run any risk of being caught napping. It fell to the lot of
Archie and Tim Nolan, who belonged to Green's boat, to keep the first
watch. Green directed them to remain in the shade under the trees with
their muskets in their hands, and to keep a bright look-out inland, so
as to be able to arouse the party in good time should any natives
appear.
There was an opening in the valley just where the party were encamped,
extending an eighth of a mile or so inland, leaving the trees on either
side some distance apart. Archie took one side, and directed Tim to get
into the shade on the other, so that they might thus, without having to
step far out into the sun, command the whole of the open ground. Archie
felt very tired and sleepy, and was longing for his watch to be over,
but nevertheless, obedient to orders, he kept a bright look-out, seeing
also that Tim did the same. They had been on the watch for nearly two
hours, when Archie, as he stepped out a few paces from where he had been
standing, caught sight of three or four black figures at the farther end
of the glade. They stopped as they saw him, regarding him with looks of
astonishment, each man seizing an arrow, and fixing it in his bow.
Archie shouted to Tim, and told him to awaken the sleepers, while he
himself advanced into the centre of the glade, and while he held up his
musket in one hand to show the blacks that he was armed, made signs with
the other to them to keep back. Green had heard his voice, and was on
his feet in an instant, calling out to the rest of the party to show
themselves. The blacks, seeing that the strangers were much superior to
them in numbers, did not advance. They were savage-looking fellows,
with their hair tied up in a huge bunch at the backs of their heads, and
destitute of any clothing with the exception of a short kilt of matting
tied round their waists. They appeared rather surprised than alarmed,
and after watching the strangers, apparently to see what they would do,
for some minutes, they darted off among the trees, and were hid from
sight.
"We will get the boats into the water and be ready to shove off, in case
those fellows should come down in overwhelming numbers; for though we
might keep them at bay, I am anxious to avoid bloodshed," said Green.
Tom agreed with him, and the men immediately began to launch the boats;
but the tide had fallen, and it was no easy matter, as they had to shove
them over the rough beach for some distance. While they were thus
engaged, loud shrieks and shouts reached their ears, proceeding out of
the forest, and in another minute a whole host of blacks armed with bows
and arrows, spears and clubs, poured into the open, and came rushing
down towards them. It seemed scarcely possible to get the boats afloat
before the savages would be upon them. Green waited till the last
moment, then, calling the men, drew them up on the beach, and ordered
them to present their muskets, but not to fire till he should give the
word. The blacks, who apparently were well acquainted with the power of
firearms, on seeing the force opposed to them, not only halted, but drew
back several paces, bending their bows, however, as if they were about
to shoot. Green, on seeing this, made signs to them to retire, pointing
at the same time to his men's muskets, to let the savages understand
that they only waited his command to fire. The blacks evidently
understood him, for they at once relaxed their bow-strings, turning
their heads over their shoulders as if about to beat a retreat. Just
then, however, a chief made his appearance and began to harangue them,
urging them, it seemed, to attack the strangers who had ventured to land
on their shore. The moment was a critical one. Green saw that he might
be compelled to order his men to fire, and should the savages have
sufficient courage to rush out and attack them before they had time to
reload, they must be clubbed or speared. He knew, too, that the blacks'
arrows were poisoned, and that every person wounded by them would die.
He would gladly have retreated to the boats and made another effort to
get them afloat, but should he show any sign of fear, it would to a
certainty encourage the blacks to come on.
"Stand steady, my lads!" he cried; "I'll try once more to make the
savages understand that we don't wish to quarrel with them;" and, taking
up a bough which had formed part of one of the huts, he waved it slowly
backwards and forwards.
The effect at first appeared to be satisfactory, but just then the voice
of the old chief, who had before incited them to attack the strangers,
was again heard, and the savages, encouraged by him, once more drew
their bows; while he, flourishing his club, came forward at their head,
leaping and bounding in the strangest fashion, his followers imitating
his example.
"Tim Nolan," shouted Green, "as soon as I give the word, pick that
fellow off; if Tim misses, do you, Bird, give an account of him. Don't
throw a shot away, my lads, and we'll make them repent interfering with
us."
Green wisely said nothing about the deadly effect of the poisoned
arrows, hoping that the men would not think about them. Just as Green
was about to sing out "Fire!" feeling that it was useless any longer to
entertain hopes of maintaining peace with the savages, a strange-looking
being leaped out from their midst, armed only with a club, which,
placing himself in front of the chief, he whirled round and round in his
face, shouting, at the same time, at the top of his voice. He was a
white man, though scarcely better clothed than the blacks, his body
being tattooed all over with strange devices, while his long carroty
hair hung down over his shoulders. No one attempted to interfere with
him; even the chief came to a standstill, while he bounded backwards and
forwards in front of the horde of savages, shouting and gesticulating in
the most vehement manner conceivable. Having thus succeeded in stopping
the advance of the blacks, he turned round and rushed forward towards
where Green was standing.
"Arrah, shure, Masther Green, it's meself, Paddy Casey, is delighted to
see ye; though little was I after thinking, when I last set eyes on ye,
that the next time ye'd see me I'd be turned into a wild savage!" he
exclaimed.
"What! Pat Casey, my man," cried Green; "of course, I remember you
right well; though I confess I shouldn't have expected to see you, one
of the smartest hands on board the _Tudor_, in your present style of
dress."
Pat, looking at himself, gave a broad Irish grin.
"Shure enough, yer honour; and bad luck to them who left me here,
thinking I'd be killed and cooked and eaten, about which I'll be after
telling yer honour when there's more time than at present. I've just
been informing these black friends of mine that they were fools to come
and attack you, seeing that you belong to a mighty big ship, which would
come and blow them and their island right out into the sea in a quarter
less than no time; and now I've got them to be peaceable, it will be as
well to take advantage of the opportunity to get the boats afloat, for,
by my faith, they're not the most dependable of people, and in another
moment they may again change their minds."
"I am much obliged to you, old shipmate," answered Green; "and if you
can manage to keep the blacks quiet, we will have the boats in the water
in a few minutes. Tell them that we were driven by the storm on their
island; that we wish to be good friends with them, as with all the
people in these parts, and, provided they behave well to us, we will do
them no harm."
"Shure, yer honour, I'll tell them all that, and just anything else that
may come into my head at the same time, and I'll answer for it that
they'll be decently behaved as long as you stay," said Pat.
"Just keep them in play, then, while we get the boats afloat; and make
them understand that we go away because it is our good pleasure, and not
because we are afraid of them," said Green.
"Shure, yer honour, I'll do that," answered the Irishman, with one of
his inimitable grins, which possibly had been the means of enabling him
to preserve his life.
While he went back to his black friends, the two crews, uniting their
strength, got first one boat afloat and then the other. Green felt
greatly relieved, for, whatever turn events might take, he and his party
would be able to get away without having to fight for their lives.
Casey now returned.
"The savages say, sir, that if you like to stop and be friends, they'll
be friends with you; but I'm after thinking that the sooner you can get
away from this the better, for they're not altogether trustworthy
gentlemen. Not long ago a sandal-wood trader put in here and sent her
boat ashore, when they knocked every mother's son of the crew on the
head, and ate them afterwards. To be sure the Englishmen hadn't behaved
altogether properly, for once before when they had been here they
employed the natives to cut a cargo of sandal-wood for them; and when
they had got it on board, they refused to pay what they had promised,
saying that they would come back again, and that it would then be time
enough to talk about payment. When they saw you they thought that you
were people of the same sort, and so were going to treat you as they had
done the others."
"I must confess," said Green, "that the Englishmen met their deserts.
But how did you manage to escape, my man; and what brought you to the
island?"
"Arrah, yer honour, it's a long story; and about the escaping, it was a
narrow squeak I had for it. You see, when I was paid off from the
_Tudor_ at Portsmouth, I went up to London, when I entered on board an
emigrant ship bound out to Sydney. While I was on shore there one day,
and had been taking my grog pretty freely, a chap I had never set eyes
on before hailed me as an old chum, and telling me he was now skipper of
a fine schooner, axed me if I would join her, and promised that I should
fill my pockets with gold in a few months. As they were just then
turned clean inside out, and I had had my spree on shore, without more
ado I closed with him; and before I knew where I was going, I found
myself stowed away on board the schooner, which at daybreak next morning
sailed out of Sydney Harbour. The craft, I discovered, was engaged in
the sandal-wood trade, cruising among the islands, and getting it as
best she could, sometimes in one way, and sometimes in another, and very
curious ways they were. We made several trips, and each time came back
with a full cargo. At some places we got the natives to cut the wood
and bring it off, paying them with beads and trinkets when they were
content with such things; at others with rum, muskets, and powder and
shot. When no natives appeared, we went on shore ourselves to cut the
wood.
"At last the skipper took a new dodge, for he was in no ways particular.
Having put in to a harbour where the natives were friendly, he enticed
above three dozen off, making them large promises if they would cut wood
for him, and undertaking to bring them home again as soon as they had
done the job. All seemed very fair and above board; we at once sailed
for one of the islands to the westward, which is inhabited by blacks of
a terribly fierce character, but where plenty of sandal-wood grows.
Having landed our passengers, we went on shore, well armed, to keep the
natives at bay, while they were employed in cutting the wood. They
worked well, and we quickly got a full cargo. Now, as the wind was from
the eastward, and it would have taken us a fortnight or more to beat
back to the island from which we had brought our labourers, while it was
fair for Sydney, the skipper had no fancy to lose so much time. What
did he do, therefore, but send the poor fellows back again, telling them
that they must remain and cut another cargo while he went to Sydney, and
that he would come back and take them off. Knowing the character of the
natives, they did not like this at all, and begged hard to be taken on
board, saying that they would go on to Sydney, or anywhere else, rather
than remain. In truth, it was a terribly cruel thing the skipper was
doing, and I and another man told him so, and declared that when we got
to Sydney we would make the matter known. He replied that we had better
not, but said nothing more. The long and the short of it is that the
poor brown men were left behind, and it's my belief that one and all of
them were killed and eaten, before many days were over, by the cannibal
blacks.
"The night after we sailed it came on to blow hard, and the next morning
when I came on deck to keep my watch I was told that Ned Mole, the man I
spoke of, had been washed overboard. I had my thoughts about it, and
couldn't help saying that I was sure there had been foul play. I had
better have held my tongue. In a few hours it fell a dead calm, just as
we were off this here island. The skipper observing that he thought
there would be sandal-wood on it, had one of the boats lowered, telling
me to come in her. I, of course, went, without thinking that any harm
was intended me. As no natives were seen, we at once landed, when the
skipper ordered me to accompany him with an axe, saying that we would
have a look for sandal-wood. We had gone some distance when at length
we discovered some tree of the sort we were in search of. `Now, Casey,'
says the skipper, `do you cut as much as you think the boat's crew can
carry, and I'll go back and fetch them up. I should like to have a
sample of this wood, as it seems somewhat different to what we have got
on board.' `Ay, ay, sir,' I answered, and, taking off my jacket and
tucking up my sleeves, I began chopping away. I thought the skipper was
a long time in coming back, for I had cut even more than he was likely
to want. I waited and waited, but still saw nothing of my shipmates; at
last I began to have some uncomfortable feelings about the matter;
shouldering my axe, I made my way down to the beach. I need not tell
you, sir, how I felt when I could nowhere find the boat, and saw the
schooner standing away to the southward, for the breeze had again sprung
up. I shouted and shrieked, but she was too far off for those on board
either to see or hear me, and I then felt sure that the skipper had left
me behind on purpose, and had probably told his crew that I had been
knocked on the head by the savages, or had met with some other fate. I
was dancing about and shouting out, and tearing my hair with rage at
being so treated, when, turning round, I saw standing close to me a
dozen black fellows. They were all staring at me, wondering what I was
about. I was too full of rage to feel frightened, and so, forgetting
that they couldn't understand me, I began to tell them how I had been
treated. They jabbered away in return; and I shouted louder and louder,
thinking to make them understand what had happened; while, holding my
axe in my hand, which I flourished in the air, I leaped backwards and
forwards as if I was a madman--in truth I felt very like one.
"At last one of the blacks, who seemed to be a chief by the big rings he
wore in his nose and ears, and the long feather stuck on the top of his
head, came forward, waving a green bough, and then, putting out his
hand, took mine, which he rubbed on his flat nose. It was a sign that
he wished to be friends; and by this time, as I had begun to get a
little cool, I saw that it would be wise to make the best of a bad
matter; so I took his hand and rubbed it on my nose, and behaved to all
the party in the same manner. From that time the blacks treated me with
great respect. Whether they had seen any other white man before that I
cannot tell; but at all events they saw that I was superior to
themselves; and maybe they took me for a prophet or a great
medicine-man, or something of that sort. The chief had fixed his eyes
on my axe, but I gave him to understand that I would not part with it;
however, wishing to please him, I took off my jacket, and made him put
it on, which pleased him amazingly, and bound him to me as a friend. It
is my belief, from what I saw of them afterwards, that if they had found
me sitting down and bemoaning my hard fate, they would have knocked me
on the head and cooked me before the day was over--so I had reason to
think myself in luck.
"The natives, I found, lived on the other side of the island, and, for
some reason or other which I could never make out, seldom came over to
this side. They at once took me with them; and when we got to their
village, which consists of a number of small huts not much bigger than
beehives, the chief introduced me to his wives, who made me sit down on
the ground and brought me out some food, which I was very glad to get,
seeing that I was pretty hungry by this time. In return, having nothing
else to offer the chief lady, I took off my shirt and put it on her,
which pleased her as much as my jacket had her husband. It was not
pleasant to go without clothing, though I still held on to my trousers,
but it was better than being killed; and I thought that if I could make
the chief and his wife my friends, I might be able to live pretty
pleasantly among the people. I succeeded even better than I had
expected; and from that day became a sort of prime minister to the
chief, and general of his army. I found, however, that another of his
wives was jealous of the first who had got the shirt; so, thinking to
please her, I made myself this here petticoat, and presented her with my
trousers. As she didn't fancy putting them on the right way, she threw
them over her shoulders, and wears them in that fashion to this day."
"Well, Pat, you have had indeed a narrow escape of your life," observed
Green. "Do you wish to live on with your friends?"
"Arrah, no, yer honour, 'tisn't for a dacent man like me to desire
altogether to turn into a savinge," said Pat. "I'm mighty eager to get
back to the old country to see once more my brothers and sisters, and
the rest of the Casey family; so, if you will take me with you, and
supply me with a pair of trousers and a shirt, I'm ready to go off at
once--though I shouldn't just like to appear on board without some
dacent covering to my skin."
"I shall be very glad to take you," said Green; "but will the chief be
willing to part with his prime minister? I'm afraid the whole country
will go to rack and ruin if you leave him."
"I'm afeard, yer honour, that I must leave the country to look after
itself," answered Pat, with one of the broadest of his grins; "and as to
axing the chief about the matter, I'm after thinking it will be better
to take French leave, lest he may try to stop me. The weather, I see,
is moderating, and if yer honour will take my advice, you'll shove off
as soon as it is calm enough to put to sea."
"We can't go without food, and it will take us some time to collect
enough to last till we find the ship," said Green.
"Then I'll tell my friends that they must bring us some, for not a rap
of salary have I had since I became prime minister, and if they were to
load the boats up to the thwarts, I shouldn't be overpaid for the good I
have done the state," said Pat; and, flourishing his axe in the fashion
he had found so effective, he made his way back to where the blacks were
now seated on the ground, discussing apparently some important matter or
other. The chief listened to him for some time, and he and his people
then getting up disappeared among the trees in the distance.
"I've done it, yer honour," said Pat, who quickly returned; "they'll
soon be back with as much we can require for some days to come."
While the savages were away, a fire was lighted, and the remainder of
the shell-fish and the birds which Tom had shot were cooked. The boats
were also got ready, so that they might put to sea as soon as the
provisions arrived, or, in case the natives after all should prove
treacherous, shove off at a moment's notice. Green knew well the danger
of an encounter with savages armed with poisoned arrows; a shower of
such arrows might wound every one of the party, and he was aware that
even slight hurts might prove fatal. At length the blacks made their
appearance, carrying baskets containing taro, cocoanut, several other
roots and fruits, and some fish of various sizes. By Pat's directions
they were placed on the ground, when Green, not wishing to take them
without payment, collected some handkerchiefs and clasp-knives and a few
other articles, which he desired Pat to convey to the chief. This
unexpected gift afforded intense satisfaction to the savages, who would
have rushed forward and rubbed noses with the strangers, had not Pat
hinted to his friends that such a proceeding would not be appreciated by
the white men. The blacks, having set down their baskets, retired, and
they were forthwith conveyed to the boats. While the natives were
absent, Tom had wisely refilled the breakers.
"Now's your time, yer honour," cried Casey, who feared that his friends
might suspect his intention of leaving them. The men, by Green's
directions, retired quietly to the boats, Pat trying to keep himself
concealed among them; and while they were embarking, he also jumped in
and stowed himself away in the sternsheets of Green's boat.
"Shove off, yer honour," he shouted out, "or they'll be coming down to
stop me."
Before the boats had got half a cable's length from the shore, the chief
discovered that his prime minister had disappeared, and, suspecting that
he had gone off with the white men, he and his tribe came rushing down
to the beach, shouting vociferously to him to come back.
"That same is more than I intend doing," cried Pat, from the bottom of
the boat.
The surf had by this time considerably gone down, and the sea was
sufficiently smooth to enable the boats to steer a direct course for
Santa Cruz; Green could, therefore, only hope that the ship might not
have left the harbour to look for them, as, in that case, they would in
all probability miss each other.