CHAPTER SEVEN.
WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND.
The thing that perhaps surprised Nigel most in this strange cavern wasthe blaze of light with which it was filled, for it came down directthrough a funnel-shaped hole in the high roof and bore a marvellousresemblance to natural sunshine. He was well aware that unless the sunwere shining absolutely in the zenith, the laws of light forbade theentrance of a _direct_ ray into such a place, yet there were thepositive rays, although the sun was not yet high in the heavens,blinding him while he looked at them, and casting the shadows of himselfand his new friends on the floor.
There was the faintest semblance of a smile on the hermit's face as hequietly observed his visitor, and waited till he should recoverself-possession. As for Moses--words are wanting to describe the fieldsof teeth and gum which he displayed, but no sound was suffered to escapehis magnificent lips, which closed like the slide of a dark lantern whenthe temptation to give way to feeling became too strong.
"My cave interests you," said the hermit at last.
"It amazes me," returned our hero, recovering himself and lookingearnestly at his host, "for you seem not only to have all thenecessaries of life around you in your strange abode, but many of theluxuries; among them the cheering presence of sunshine--though how youmanage to get it is beyond my powers of conception."
"It is simple enough, as you shall see," returned the hermit. "You haveheard of the saying, no doubt, that `all things are possible towell-directed labour?'"
"Yes, and that `nothing can be achieved without labour.'"
"Well, I have proved that to some extent," continued the hermit. "Yousee, by the various and miscellaneous implements on my shelves, that Iam given to dabbling a little in science, and thus have made my lonelyhome as pleasant as such a home can be--but let us not talk of thesematters just now. You must be hungry. Have you had breakfast?"
"No, we have not--unless, at least, you count a sea biscuit dipped insalt water a breakfast. After all, that may well be the case, forhermits are noted for the frugality of their fare."
"I am not a genuine hermit," remarked his host gravely. "Men do indeedcall me the Hermit of Rakata, because I dwell alone here under theshadow of this particular cone of Krakatoa, but I do not ape the austerelife of the conventional hermit, as you see, either in my domesticarrangements or food. Come, your breakfast is ready. From my outlook Isaw your boat approaching some hours ago, and knew that it was mine, soI made ready for your arrival, though I did not guess that Moses wasbringing me a guest instead of a servant!"
So saying, he led the way through a short natural passage to an innercave, the entrance to which, like the outer one, was boarded. Onopening a small door, Nigel was again greeted as before with brilliantrays of sunshine, and, in addition, with a gush of odours that wereexceedingly grateful to a hungry man. A low "Ho! ho!" behind him toldthat his black companion was equally gratified.
The inner cave or mess-room, as the host styled it, combined dining-roomand kitchen, for while in one corner stood a deal table with plates,cups, etcetera, but no tablecloth, in another stood a small stove,heated by an oil-lamp, from which issued puffing and sputtering sounds,and the savoury odours above referred to.
Nigel now perceived that although his strange host necessarily spoke agood deal while welcoming him and offering him the hospitalities of hisabode, he was by no means communicative. On the contrary, it wasevident that he was naturally reserved and reticent, and that althoughpolite and gentle in the extreme, there was a quiet grave dignity abouthim which discouraged familiarity. It must not be supposed, however,that he was in any degree morosely silent. He was simply quiet andundemonstrative, said little except when asked questions, and spoke,alike to Nigel and Moses, in the soft, low, kindly tones with which onemight address very young people.
Going to the stove he took a coffee-pot therefrom and set it on thetable. At the same time, Moses, without requiring to be told, openedthe oven and brought forth fried fish, meat of some kind, and cakes ofhe knew not what, but cared little, for their excellence wasunquestionable.
During the meal that followed, Nigel ventured as far as politenesspermitted--indeed a little further, if truth must be told--to inquireinto the circumstances and motives of his entertainer in taking up hisabode in such a strange place, but he soon found that his eccentricfriend was not one who could be "pumped." Without a touch of rudeness,and in the sweetest of voices, he simply assumed an absent manner andchanged the subject of discourse, when he did not choose to reply, bydrawing attention to some irrelevant matter, or by putting a counterquestion which led away from the subject. Nigel also found that hishost never laughed and rarely smiled, though, when he did so, the smilewas so slight as merely to indicate a general feeling of urbanity andgoodwill, and it was followed instantly by a look of gravity, if notsadness. Altogether the guest was much perplexed about the host atfirst, and somewhat constrained in consequence, but gradually he beganto feel at ease. Another discovery that he soon made was, that thehermit treated Moses not as a servant, but as if he were in all respectsan equal and a comrade.
After eating for some time in silence, and having tried to draw out hishost without success, Nigel changed his tactics and said--
"You were so kind as to speak of me as your guest, Mr--Mr--I begpardon, may I--"
"My name is Van der Kemp," said the hermit quietly.
"Well, Mr Van der Kemp, I must tell you that I am quite willing toaccept the position for which Moses hired me--"
"No, I didn't," contradicted the negro, flatly yet very gently, both intone and manner, for long residence with the hermit had apparentlyimbued him with something of his spirit.
"Well, then," said Nigel, "the position for which Moses _should have_hired some one else." ("K'rect _now_," whispered Moses.) "Of course Ido not intend to ask for or accept wages, and also, of course, I acceptthe position on the understanding that you think me fit for the service.May I ask what that service is to be, and where you think of going to?"
"The service," returned the hermit slowly and with his eyes fixed on thefloor as if pondering his reply, "is to accompany me as my attendant andcompanion, to take notes as occasion may serve, and to paddle a canoe."
At this reply our hero almost laughed, but was prevented from doing soby his host asking abruptly if he understood canoeing.
"Well, yes. At least I can manage what in England is known as the RobRoy canoe, having possessed one in my boyhood."
"That will do," returned the hermit gravely. "Can you write shorthand?"
"I can. A friend of mine, a reporter on one of the London dailies, oncegave me a few lessons, and, becoming fond of the subject, I followed itup."
"That is well; you did well. It is of immense advantage to a man,whatever his position in life, that he should be able to write shorthandwith facility. Especially useful is it in commerce. I know that,having had some experience of commercial life."
At this point in the conversation Nigel was startled by what was to himan absolutely new sensation, namely a shaking or trembling of the wholecavern, accompanied by faint rumbling sounds as if in deeper cavernsbelow him.
He glanced quickly at his host and at the negro, but to his surprisethese remarkable men seemed not to be aware of the shaking, although itwas severe enough to cause some of the furniture to rattle. Observinghis look of surprise, Moses remarked, with a benignant though capacioussmile, "Mountain's got de mulligrumps pritty bad jist now."
"We are pretty well accustomed to that," said the host, observing thatNigel turned to him for an explanation. "No doubt you are aware thatthis region is celebrated for earthquakes and volcanoes, so much so thatthe inhabitants pay little attention to them unless they becomeunusually violent. This island of Krakatoa is itself the fragment of anextinct volcano; but the term `extinct' is scarcely applicable tovolcanoes, for it is well-known that many which were for centuriessupposed to be extinct have awakened to sudden and violentactivity--`quiescen
t' might be a more appropriate term."
"Yes," said Moses, ceasing to masticate for purposes of speech; "dem'stinkt volcanoes hab got an okard habit ob unstinkin' dereselveshereabouts when you don' 'spect it of 'em. Go on, massa. I ax yerpard'n for 'truptin'."
The hermit's peculiar good-natured little smile played for a moment onhis massive features, and then faded away as he continued--
"Perhaps you may have heard that this is the very heart of the districtthat has long been recognised as the greatest focus of volcanic activityon the globe?"
"I have heard something of the sort," answered Nigel, "but I confessthat my knowledge is limited and my mind hazy on the subject."
"I doubt it not," returned his friend, "for geographical and scientifictraining in primary schools anywhere is not what it might be. Theisland of Java, with an area about equal to that of England, contains nofewer than forty-nine great volcanic mountains, some of which rise to12,000 feet above the sea-level. Many of these mountains are at thepresent time active." ("Yes, much _too_ active," muttered the negro),"and more than half of them have been seen in eruption since Java wasoccupied by Europeans. Hot springs, mud-volcanoes, and vapour-ventsabound all over the island, whilst earthquakes are by no means uncommon.There is a distinct line in the chain of these mountains which seems topoint to a great fissure in the earth's crust, caused by thesubterranean fires. This tremendous crack or fissure crosses theStraits of Sunda, and in consequence we find a number of these vents--asvolcanic mountains may be styled--in the Island of Sumatra, which yousaw to the nor'ard as you came along. But there is supposed to beanother great crack in the earth's crust--indicated by several volcanicmountains--which crosses the other fissure almost at right angles, andat the exact point where these two lines intersect _stands this islandof Krakatoa_.
"I emphasise the fact," continued the hermit after a pause, "first,because, although this has been a quiescent volcano since the year 1680,and people have come to regard it as extinct, there are indications nowwhich lead me to believe that its energy is reviving; and, second,because this focus where fissures cross each other--this KrakatoaIsland--is in reality part of the crater of an older and much largervolcanic mountain, which must have been literally blown away inprehistoric times, and of which Krakatoa and the neighbouring islets ofVarlaten, Polish Hat, Lang Island, and the rest, are but the remnants ofthe great crater ring. If these rumblings and minor earthquakes, whichI have noticed of late--and the latest of which you have justexperienced--are the precursors of another explosion, my home here maybe rendered untenable."
"Hi!" exclaimed Moses, who had been listening with open mouth and eyesto this discourse, which was obviously news to him, "I hope, massa, heain't a-gwine to 'splode to-day--anyhow, not till arter breakfast!"
"You must have studied the subject of volcanoes a good deal, I suppose,from what you say," observed Nigel.
"Naturally, living as I do almost on the top of one. My library, whichI will show you presently, contains many interesting works on thesubject. But come, if you have finished we will ascend the Peak ofRakata and I will introduce you to my sunshine."
He rose and led his guest back to the outer cavern, leaving Moses stillbusy with knife and fork, apparently meditating on the pleasure ofbreakfasting with the prospect of a possible and immediate explosion.
In passing through the first chamber, Nigel observed, in a naturalrecess, the library just referred to. He also noted that, besidesstuffed birds and other specimens and sea-shells, there were chisels,saws, hammers, and other tools, besides something like a forge andcarpenter's bench in a side-chamber opening out of the large one, whichhe had not at first seen--from all which he concluded that the hermitwas imbued with mechanical as well as scientific and literary tastes.
At the further and darker end of the outer cave there was a staircase,partly natural, and partly improved by art, which led upward intoprofound darkness.
"Let me take your hand here," said the hermit, looking down upon hisguest with his slight but winning smile; "it is a rough and darkstaircase. You will be apt to stumble."
Nigel placed his hand in that of his host with perfect confidence, andwith a curious feeling--aroused, probably, by the action--of havingreturned to the days of childhood.
The stair was indeed rugged as well as winding, and so pitchy dark thatthe youth could not have advanced at all without stumbling, unless hishost had held him all the way. At last a glimmer of light was seen inthe distance. It seemed to increase suddenly, and in a few moments thetwo emerged from total darkness into dazzling sunshine.
When Nigel looked round him he saw that they had gained a plateau, highup on the very summit of the mountain, which appeared to be absolutelyinaccessible by any means save that by which they had reached it.
"This is what I call my observatory," said the hermit, turning to hisguest. "We have passed right through the peak of Rakata, and reachedits northern side, which commands, as you see, a view of all thenorthern part of the island. I come here often in the night to studythe face of the heavens, the moon, and stars, and meditate on theirmysterious Maker, whose ways are indeed wonderful and past finding out;but all which must, in the nature of things, be _right_."
As this was the first mention that the hermit had made of the Creator,and the reference was one requiring more thought than Nigel had yetbestowed on it, he made no rejoinder.
"Have you studied astronomy, Mr Roy?"
"No--at least not more of it than was needful for navigation. But pray,sir, do not call me Mr Roy," said the youth, with a somewhatembarrassed air. "If I am to be your assistant and familiar companionfor two or three months, I hope that you will agree to call me Nigel.Your man has done so already without asking leave!"
"I will, on one condition."
"And that is?"
"That you also dispense with the `Mr' and `sir,' and call me Van derKemp."
"Agreed," said Nigel, "though it does not seem so appropriate in me asin you, considering the difference of our years."
"Look here," said the hermit, turning abruptly to a small wooden shedwhich had hitherto escaped the youth's observation, so covered was itwith overhanging boughs and tropical creeping plants, "these are myastronomical instruments."
He pointed to a table in the hut on which stood several telescopes--andmicroscopes as well--one of the former being a large instrument,certainly not less than six feet long, with a diameter of apparently sixor eight inches.
"Here, you see, I have the means of investigating the wonders of Naturein her grandest as well as her minutest scales. And there," he added,pointing to a couple of large reflecting mirrors in strong woodenframes, erected on joints in such a way that they could be turned in anydirection,--"there you have the secret of my sunshine. One of thesemirrors catches the sunshine direct and reflects it on the other, which,as you see, is so arranged that it transmits the rays down the naturalfunnel or chimney into the cave. By means of chains connected with themechanism, and extending below, I can change the direction of themirrors as the sun changes its place in the sky, without requiring tocome up here."
"Very ingenious!" said Nigel; "but how do you manage when the mountaincomes between you and the sun, as I see it cannot fail to do during somepart of the day?"
"Simply enough," returned the hermit, pointing to a distant projectingcliff or peak. "On yon summit I have fixed four mirrors similar tothese. When the sun can no longer be reflected from this pair, thefirst of the distant mirrors takes it up and shoots a beam of light overhere. When the sun passes from that, the second mirror is arranged tocatch and transmit it, and so on to the fourth. After that I bidgood-bye to the sun, and light my lamp!"
Nigel felt an almost irresistible tendency to smile at this, but thegrave simplicity of the man forbade such familiarity.
"Look yonder," continued the hermit, sweeping one of his long armstowards Sumatra, "in that direction runs the line of volcanicdisturbance--the fissure of which I have already spoken. Focus thistelescop
e to suit your sight. Now, do you see the little island awaythere to the nor'-west?"
"Yes."
"Well, that is _Varlaten_. I mentioned it when at breakfast. Sweepyour glass round to the nor'ard, the little island there is _PolishHat_, and you see _Lang Island_ in the nor'-east. These, with Krakatoa,are merely the higher parts still remaining above water of the ring orlip of the ancient crater. This will give you some idea what anenormous mountain the original of this old volcano must have been. Thisisland-mountain is estimated to have been twenty-five miles incircumference, and 10,000 to 12,000 feet high. It was blown into theair in 1680, and this island, with the few islets I have pointed out, isall that remains of it. Now, cast your eye down the centre of theisland on which we stand; you see several cones of various sizes. Theseare ancient vents, supposed to be extinct--"
"But one of them, the one furthest away," interrupted Nigel, steadyinghis telescope on the branch of a tree, "seems to be anything butextinct, for I see a thin column of white smoke or steam rising fromit."
"That is just what I was going to point out. They call thatPerboewatan. It is the lowest peak on the island, about 400 feet high,and stands, I should say, in the very centre of the ancient crater,where are the two fissures I have mentioned. For two hundred yearsPerboewatan has not smoked like that, and, slight though it is atpresent, I cannot help thinking that it indicates an impending eruption,especially when I consider that earthquakes have become more numerous oflate years, and there was one in 1880 which was so violent as to damageseriously the lighthouse on Java's First Point."
"Then you have resided here for some time?" said Nigel.
"Yes, for many years," replied the hermit, in a low, sad tone.
"But is it wise in you to stay if you think an explosion so likely?Don't you needlessly run considerable risk?"
"I do not fear to die."
Nigel looked at his new friend in surprise, but there was not a shadowof boastfulness or affectation either in his look or tone.
"Besides," he continued, "the explosion may be but slight, andPerboewatan is, as you see, about four miles off. People in theneighbourhood of the straits and passing ships are so accustomed tovolcanic explosions on a more or less grand scale that they will nevernotice this little cloud hanging over Krakatoa. Those who, like myself,know the ancient history of the island, regard it in a more seriouslight, but we may be wrong. Come, now, we will descend again and have aramble over part of the island. It will interest you. Not many menhave penetrated its luxuriant forests or know their secrets. I havewandered through them in all directions, and can guide you. Indeed,Moses could do that as well as I, for he has lived with me many years.Come."
Returning to the cavern they found that the active negro had not onlyfinished his breakfast, but had washed the dishes and cleared up thekitchen, so that he was quite ready to shoulder a wallet and a gun whenhis master bade him prepare for a day in the forest.
It is not, however, our intention to follow the trio thither. Mattersof greater interest, if not importance, claim our attention at present.Let it suffice to say, therefore, that after a most delightful day,spent in wandering amongst the luxuriant tropical vegetation with whichthe island was densely covered, visiting one of the extinct craters,bathing in one of the numerous hot springs, and collecting many objectsof interest to the hermit, in the shape of botanical and geologicalspecimens, they returned in the evening to their cavern-house not onlyready but eager for sustenance and repose.