It cost Billy and me nearly three months of strenuous labour to build
our boat, rig her, and get her afloat; then, upon a certain day, the boy
and I, provided with a rifle apiece, a brace of revolvers, and an
abundant supply of cartridges for each kind of weapon, climbed down the
side of the wreck into our completed craft, set her sails, and pushed
off upon our first voyage of exploration.
The wind was, as usual, blowing a moderate breeze from the eastward when
we started, consequently the island lay dead to windward, a "beat" of
two miles to the nearest point of the beach, thus affording an excellent
opportunity to test the weatherly qualities of the boat; and I was
agreeably surprised not only at the style in which she turned to
windward, but also at the speed with which she slipped through the
water, and the certainty and celerity with which she "stayed". She made
the distance in a few minutes over the half-hour, which, considering
that as we drew in under the land the wind grew ever more scanty, I
regarded as a very creditable performance.
As we shortened the distance between ourselves and the land the prospect
grew ever more attractive, eliciting frequent exclamations of delight
from Billy. The ground now revealed itself as finely broken into a
range of lofty hills of gracefully flowing outline, with suggestions of
picturesque valleys winding between them, affording an infinite variety
of glowing light and soft shadow, while the variegated and brilliant
hues of the foliage completed a picture of indescribable beauty.
But all this beauty by no means exhausted the charm of the place, for as
we drew still closer to the beach we were able to distinguish that the
woods were the habitat of countless thousands of birds of strange and
most gorgeous plumage, among which I identified what I believed to be
three or four species of birds of paradise, as well as a great variety
of sun birds flitting from flower to flower like living gems. It is to
be admitted that the cries of those birds were not always in accord with
the splendour of their plumage, being for the most part distinctly harsh
and unmusical; but there was one exception that startled us not a little
when we first heard it. Its cry was an exact reproduction of the sound
of a sweet-toned bell, so exact, indeed, that for the moment I felt
fully persuaded that, hidden somewhere in the heart of that vast ocean
of greenery, there must be a monastery, or some such institution; and it
was not until we marked the irregular, intermittent character of the
sounds, and the fact that they emanated from frequently changing
localities, that we at length arrived at an explanation of the apparent
mystery.
While we were still discussing the matter the boat gently grounded upon
the dazzlingly white beach of coral sand, and we stepped out, securing
the boat by means of a grapnel attached to the end of a long painter,
digging the flukes of the former deeply into the sand. Then Billy and
I, each carrying the weapons with which we had provided ourselves, set
out to explore the new territory.
The beach was of varying width, ranging from two or three yards to, in
places, nothing at all; indeed many of the cocoa-nut trees were actually
rooted in soil that was, at the moment, being laved by the salt water,
due to the fact that we happened to land about the time of full tide.
It happened also that the fruit was at that season just ripening, so
many of the nuts falling to the ground with a thud, even as we stood
staring about us, that we were able without difficulty to collect and
place in the boat as many as we pleased. This done, we attempted to
make our way inland, but so dense was the undergrowth at that point that
we were soon compelled to abandon our efforts, it being clearly evident
that the only way in which we could penetrate would be by hewing a path
for ourselves.
But it did not follow that because we failed here we must necessarily
fail everywhere. We therefore re-embarked and, again getting under way,
headed northward, keeping close to the beach and maintaining a good
look-out for a spot affording a reasonable prospect of successful
penetration. Several times we believed we had found what we were
seeking, but on each occasion our hopes were speedily dashed, our most
successful effort resulting merely in penetration for a distance of less
than half a mile. But, even so, our attempts were not unmitigated
failures, for while our clothing suffered somewhat in our encounters
with the thorns that persistently barred our passage, we were fortunate
enough to secure a few bunches of delicious wild grapes, a large bunch
of very delicately flavoured bananas, and six splendid pineapples. Upon
our return to the beach I took the precaution to mark the spot by
cutting a good big branch and inserting it upright in the sand, so that
it could easily be seen at some distance; and then we resumed our voyage
of exploration, lunching luxuriously upon bananas, meanwhile.
At length, after working northward for a distance of some fourteen miles
along the western shore, we quite suddenly opened out the mouth of what
I at first supposed to be an important river running in a south-easterly
direction toward the interior of the island, but which subsequently
proved to be one of several channels dividing what I originally imagined
to be only one island into a group of no less than seven. Naturally, I
at once decided to abandon for the moment the further exploration of the
lagoon, in favour of a survey of this waterway, and the boat was
accordingly put about and headed into it. At its entrance it measured
about half a mile wide, but as we proceeded it gradually widened out
until, at a point about eight miles inward from the lagoon, it was quite
two and a half miles wide. Here the channel trended a point or two
farther to the eastward; and some four miles farther on it forked, one
branch continuing to the south-eastward while the other trended away
toward the north-east. I decided to follow the latter.
The land on both sides was still distinctly hilly, and densely covered
with forest, but on our left the hills sloped rapidly downward until
they died away in a plateau, the level of which was only two or three
feet above the surface of the water. As the boat glided slowly onward
under the influence of a breeze that had steadily grown more languid and
fitful as we progressed, we subjected this plateau to a rigorous
scrutiny through the ship's telescope, which we carried with us, but the
place looked so uninviting that we decided against landing there. Nor
did the land to the southward look any more inviting, for it consisted
of cliffs ranging from two hundred to five or six hundred feet high,
rising almost vertically from the water. We therefore pushed on, all
the more impelled thereto because the channel now ran almost directly to
windward and we were therefore obliged to beat up through it; moreover,
the afternoon was progressing, and I wanted, if possible, to find some
spot where we could pass the night in comfort.
At a point some eight miles farther on the channel again forked, one
branch heading away to the north-east while the other trended off in a
south-easterly direction. As we reached this point the wind suddenly
freshened, and there was a salt tang in it quite distinctive from the
odour of earth and vegetation that we had now been breathing for several
hours; also there came to our ears, subdued by distance, the low,
continuous booming thunder of surf, from which I surmised--correctly as
it subsequently proved--that we were nearing the eastern extremity of
the group.
Heading the boat into the south-eastern channel, with the long range of
vertical rocky cliffs still stretching away on our starboard bow, we
presently came abreast of an island measuring some six miles from east
to west, by about seven miles from north to south, roughly triangular in
plan, the surface sloping upward on all sides from the water's edge to a
peak which I estimated to be about two thousand feet high. Standing
close inshore, to get as near a view as possible of this island, we
found its appearance most delectable. Like much of what we had already
seen, the entire island was forest-clad, but the country was much more
park-like in character; the trees grew less thickly together; they were
not matted together by an impenetrable jungle of undergrowth, although
many of them were almost smothered in what appeared to be innumerable
varieties of orchids, and the soil was clothed with what looked like
short, grey-green grass down to the inner edge of the narrow beach,
which was lined with cocoa-nut palms. Taken altogether, the place wore
so exceedingly attractive an appearance that, finding ourselves rather
unexpectedly standing into a nice, snug little bay, I headed straightway
for the beach, determined to push our explorations no farther for that
day.
Securely mooring the boat as before, we landed and, fully armed, made
our way inland over the southern shoulder of the hill, observing, as we
went, that among the forest giants that towered about us on every hand
there were fruit-trees in abundance, among which I identified the bread-
fruit, the mango, the custard-apple, the shaddock or grape-fruit, grape-
vines twining about many of the bigger trees and yielding large clusters
of richly flavoured fruit, while bananas and plantains were to be seen
wherever one turned one's eyes. Birds also seemed to regard this island
as a desirable dwelling-place, for they were everywhere, their beautiful
plumage adding a further charm to the little island paradise.
From the beach to the ridge of the hill, for which we were making, the
distance was about a mile, the ground rising gently all the way; but the
going was comparatively easy, for by making slight detours here and
there we were able to progress without the need to force our way through
dense undergrowth; a gentle saunter of about half an hour's duration
therefore took us to the point for which I was aiming. Arrived there,
we were afforded a clear view eastward, when we discovered, as I had
suspected, that we had practically reached the eastern extremity of the
group. Immediately before us the ground sloped down to the eastern
shore, its distance being about a mile. That shore was washed by the
waters of the lagoon, which was at this point some six or seven miles
wide, its outer margin being marked by a continuous wall of spray thrown
up by the long lines of Pacific swell that eternally hurled themselves
upon the barrier reef. And midway between that reef and the island on
which we stood there was a smaller island which, in all essentials,
appeared to be a replica of the one we were on, for it, too, was park-
like in the arrangement of the trees that grew upon it, while it also
boasted a central peak, rising to a height of some six or seven hundred
feet. This small island, it was evident, was the easternmost of the
whole group, and I at once determined to pay it a visit early on the
morrow; for if it should prove, upon inspection, to be as desirable as
it looked, it would certainly be the place on which we ought to take up
our abode, since from it we should best be able to signal any ship that
might heave in sight, and from which also--if an opening in the reef
happened to be anywhere handy--we could slip out to sea in our boat and,
if need be, intercept that ship. South of us, and on the opposite side
of a channel about three-quarters of a mile wide, lay the curious island
of the vertical cliffs, already referred to. From the view-point which
we occupied we could see the entire length of this island, which I
estimated at about sixteen miles, its eastern extremity being a low
cliff some eight miles south-east of us. I resolved that on the morrow,
after visiting the small island to the eastward of us, which I already
began to speak of as "ours", I would pay a visit to this other island,
which somehow seemed to have invested itself in my eyes with an air of
mystery. We spent that night encamped on the grass close to the beach,
occupying a tent formed of an old sail and three oars which I had
brought along for the purpose. And we slept soundly, the night air on
the eastern side of the group being, as we discovered, very much fresher
and cooler than on the western side, where the wreck lay.
We were astir by sunrise next morning, treating ourselves to a swim in
the bay, after which we proceeded to prepare breakfast. When we had
finished the meal we struck the tent, packed it away in the boat, and
started upon another day's exploration.
Our first call was at the small island forming the easternmost extremity
of the group, which I had practically determined upon as our place of
abode during such time as fate might keep us prisoners on the group; and
we found it almost ideal for our purpose. In the first place there was,
on its south-western side, a snug little cove, just large enough to
accommodate our boat, and wherein she might ride safely in all weathers.
Next, discharging into this cove there was a brook of deliciously cool,
sweet water, springing from the side of the cove, affording us an ample
supply for every purpose. The island was rich in fruit-trees of great
variety; and, finally, a rigorous examination of it failed to disclose
the existence upon it of anything noxious or inimical to human life,
although, like the other islands visited, the place swarmed with birds.
To crown all, and complete my satisfaction, we found that there was a
passage through the reef immediately to the eastward of the island,
through which, in our boat, we might reach the open sea.
We spent the entire morning on "our" island, and partook of our mid-day
meal there, leaving it, rather reluctantly, to continue our survey of
the group. The island which I next intended to visit was the one with
the vertical cliffs, along which we had coasted on the previous day.
Those rugged precipitous cliffs formed the northern coast-line of the
island, but from certain observations which I had made from "our own"
island I came to the conclusion that the southern side of the island
would reveal very dissimilar characteristics. And so it proved, for
when, after a sail of some six miles in a southerly direction, we
rounded its south-eastern extremity, we discovered that its southern
shore rose only a few feet above the level of the water, being bounded,
as seemed usual in the group, by a narrow beach of coral sand, liberally
fringed with cocoa-nut trees, the ground sloping gently up from the
beach for a distance ranging from two to four miles, when it abruptly
ended against the southern face of the cliffs to which I have so
frequently referred. But this was by no means its most surprising
characteristic to us explorers. For, having thus far failed to discover
any sign of inhabitants, I had, perhaps rather hastily, jumped to the
conclusion that the group was uninhabited, whereas we now saw that the
whole surface of this particular island, from its southern shore right
up to the base of its range of northern cliffs, was under cultivation.
Wide areas of Indian corn were interspersed with spacious fields of
sugar-cane, varied here and there by great orchards of what I assumed to
be fruit-trees of various kinds, and what appeared to be garden plots
devoted to the cultivation of vegetables. Occasionally we caught
glimpses of the natives working, either singly or in small groups, in
the fields, orchards, and gardens, and from their gestures of amazement,
and from the manner in which they stood transfixed and staring when our
boat swept within their range of vision, I conjectured that it was the
first time in their lives that they had ever beheld such a sight. They
were almost coal-black in colour, and inspection of them through the
telescope showed them to be absolutely naked, wherefore I decided not to
pay them a visit until some future occasion when Billy should not be
with me, although, apart from their state of nudity, they impressed me
as being perfectly harmless.
My resolve to abstain from landing there on that occasion was, however,
broken down within the next half-hour, and that, too, in a sufficiently
remarkable and tragic manner. We were skimming briskly along before the
pleasant easterly breeze, Billy being at the helm, while I sat in the
bottom of the boat, taking peeps through the telescope at interesting
objects in the landscape that seemed to be gliding past us, when
suddenly we heard, from some distance ahead of us, a sound as of a horn
being blown, the sound being taken up and repeated at various points
both ahead and astern of us.
"What do you think is the meaning of that rumpus, Mr Blackburn?" asked
Billy. "Do you think they're scared at the sight of us? It looks a bit
like it, doesn't it; for, see, sir, they've all started to run."
I directed the telescope toward the shore. It was as Billy had said;
everybody within sight was running, and at remarkable speed too; but
whether or not it was the apparition of the boat that had startled them
I could not tell, for about half of them seemed to be hastening at
breakneck speed toward a part of the beach about half a mile ahead,
where a group of some forty or fifty blacks had already gathered, close
to the water's edge, and seemed to be engaged, in feverish haste, in
collecting stones, or lumps of coral. Other groups, which I believed to
be composed of women, were running with equal speed toward the cliffs at
the back of the island.
Turning my telescope again upon the rapidly gathering natives on the
beach, I saw that it could not be the boat that was causing their
excitement, for a number of them, having collected as many stones as
could be conveniently held in the hollow of the left arm, were now
excitedly pointing and directing their companions' attention to some
object in the channel immediately before them. Turning the telescope in
the direction toward which they were pointing, I presently sighted three
objects, that I believed to be the heads of animals, making rapid
progress through the water toward that point on the beach where the
still rapidly swelling crowd had collected, and, as I watched, little
jets of water began to spout up round the foremost of those heads. The
blacks were stoning it, with the evident object of driving it off, or at
least of preventing its approach; and remarkably good marksmen they
appeared to be, too, for as I continued to watch I observed four or five
direct hits, evoking from the target a most appalling shrieking roar,
while its progress through the water perceptibly speeded up. That the
three swimming creatures had been recognised by the blacks as enemies--
possibly of long standing--was clear enough; and here, it appeared to
me, was an excellent opportunity for me to establish good relations
between ourselves and the savages by taking a hand in the game that was
evidently toward. I accordingly laid down the telescope and, as I
reached for the rifles, directed Billy to luff and head the boat
straight for the spot where the blacks were gathered. As I rapidly
threw open the breeches of the rifles, to assure myself that the weapons
were loaded, the leading swimmer reached shallow water and, rising to
its feet, revealed itself as a gigantic anthropoid ape, probably a
species of gorilla. The creature towered a clear head and shoulders in
stature above the natives; it had a comparatively small head with a flat
receding forehead, very wide nostrils, a long, enormously muscular body,
immensely wide across its massive shoulders, disproportionately short
legs, and huge arms so long that even when the brute stood upright its
clenched fists reached to within a foot of the ground. As it started to
wade ashore its advance was momentarily checked by a terrific volley of
stones, hurled with amazing force and precision; then, emitting a series
of those dreadful, shrieking roars, it dashed forward with outstretched
arms, seized the nearest native and, without apparent effort, literally
tore the unfortunate man's head from his body.
It was evident that if I meant to intervene to any good purpose there
was not a moment to lose. The boat was now within a hundred yards of
the spot where the battle between the ape and the natives was raging,
but I dared not risk a shot in that quarter, for the great brute, still
roaring horribly, was completely hemmed in by a crowd of natives, all
battering the huge, hairy body with big lumps of coral, and the
movements of the combatants were so quick that I was more likely to hit
a black than the beast; but the second ape was now in shallow water and
on the point of rising to its feet. I therefore levelled the rifle I
held, and pressed the trigger as the two sights of the weapon came into
line with the centre of the head, just above the ear; a harrowing shriek
pealed out on the hot air and, as the little puff of smoke from the
rifle blew away, I had the satisfaction of seeing the creature throw up
its great hands and sink back into the water, dead.
Dropping the empty weapon, I snatched up the loaded one, and threw a
quick glance around to decide which should be my next mark. The third
ape was now less than twenty yards distant, and as my gaze fell upon him
I saw him change his course and head for the boat. This afforded me the
opportunity I wanted, and levelling my weapon I aimed for the centre of
the forehead, and fired. I distinctly heard the thud of the bullet as
it crashed into the massive skull; but there was no shriek this time;
the beast simply collapsed and sank.
Meanwhile, the aspect of affairs ashore had undergone a remarkable
change. Whether it was the sharp crack of the rifles and the coincident
deaths of the two apes, or the fact that the brute which had effected a
landing had already put some seven or eight of the natives _hors de
combat_, I could not guess, but the natives had, apparently with one
accord, and as though at a preconcerted signal, suddenly abandoned the
fight, and were now fleeing in all directions, while the ape, perhaps
taken by surprise at the quick-change tactics, or possibly dazed by the
severe blows that he had received, stood staring about him, as though
undecided what to do next. But only for a moment, for just then the
boat, with good way on, grounded and slid well up on the beach, while I
rose to my feet and, leaping lightly over the bows, advanced toward the
brute. Glancing quickly about him, the enormous beast instantly noted
my movement and, with a deep, savage roar, turned to meet me. His
little eyes blazing with fury, his lips drawn back in a snarl that
exposed his formidable teeth and a pair of great tusks protruding from
his lower jaw, with blood-stained foam dripping from his champing jaws,
and blood from numerous wounds streaking his great hairy hide, he
presented a most formidable spectacle as he approached me with his body
bent and crouching ready to spring, and his long, sinewy arms
outstretched, the great hands opening and closing, as though eager to
clutch my throat. We were now within half a dozen yards of each other,
and as though by mutual consent we each halted at the same instant,
glaring into each other's eyes. I saw the beast crouch still lower and
noted the ripple of the muscles of the great loins as he gathered
himself together for the spring that was to settle the dispute off-hand,
and quickly levelling the revolver which I had drawn from my belt as I
sprang ashore, I pointed the weapon straight for his head and pulled the
trigger. There was a sharp click as the hammer fell, but no explosion--
the cartridge had missed fire--and at that precise moment the brute made
his leap. As he came hurtling at me through the air I--by instinct, I
suppose, for there was no time for reasoning--again pointed the
revolver, this time straight at his wide-open mouth, and again pressed
the trigger. On this occasion the explosion came off all right; then,
while the report still rang in my ears the huge body of the ape, with a
curious writhing motion, crashed down upon me and dashed me violently to
the ground. We fell side by side, I upon my back, and the ape face
downward. A convulsive shudder shook the body for a moment, and then it
lay still. As for me, I remained where I had fallen, breathless, dazed,
and half stunned, until I was aroused by Billy, who, springing ashore,
rushed up to ask anxiously whether I was very much hurt. Fortunately, I
was not; I was scarcely even bruised by my fall, and I scrambled to my
feet not a penny the worse for my rather grim encounter.
I lingered on the beach for nearly half an hour, in the expectation that
some of the natives might possibly return and thus afford me an
opportunity to establish something in the nature of amicable relations
with them; but none of them did; eventually, therefore, I got the boat
afloat again and made sail on our way back to the wreck, abandoning for
the moment all idea of further exploration.