CHAPTER IV.
A RESCUE AND A RETREAT.
Well was it for both Donalblane and the child that all those on boardthe _Bonnie Scotland_ did not lose their heads so completely as theyoung fellow whose foolish action had caused the trouble.
Among the first to take in the situation was William Paterson, andinstinctively he looked about him for something to throw over after thebrave boy which might serve to buoy him up until help reached him. Asit happened, some one had brought on deck an empty wooden chest toserve for a seat.
"The very thing!" exclaimed Mr. Paterson when his eye fell upon it,and, without pausing to ask permission, he lifted it up and flung itover the bulwarks.
It fell not far from where Donald struck the water, and, although hedid not see it at first, it presently attracted his attention.
"Eh! what's that?" he asked himself, as the black thing bobbed up anddown on the waves. For a moment he feared it might be the back of ashark coming to the attack, but on a second look fear gave way to joy."It's a box!" he cried, "and it will keep us up, if I can only get toit."
The child lay like a log, whimpering a little when the water splashedin his face; and it seemed to demand all Donald's strength just to keepfrom sinking, so that he did not see how he was to reach the chest,which was at least twenty yards distant.
"Wae's me!" he groaned, "but I'm near spent, and if I canna lay hold ofthat box, I maun droon."
Happily the wind was blowing towards him, and, although he could notmake much progress against it, the chest was helped by it in hisdirection, so that, just when he thought he could keep up no longer, itbobbed within his reach, and, with a sigh of unutterable relief, helaid hold of it.
"Noo then, my bairnie, just get atop o' that," he said cheeringly, ashe placed the child upon the chest, and held him there that he mightnot fall off.
The chest accepted the responsibility and bore it bravely, taking allthe strain off Donald's tired arms, and enabling him to recover hisstrength and wind in a measure. Of course it was no easy matter tokeep the little one in place with the waves so full of motion, but itwas ever so much less strain than it had been before, and the sturdyboy could have maintained the struggle a little longer still, when thewelcome rattle of oars and the encouraging shouts of men told him thatrescue was near.
The boat came dashing up under the strenuous strokes of four brawnyoarsmen, and in her bow stood William Paterson, his eager glance bentupon the two imperilled ones, and his arms outstretched ready to graspthem.
"God bless you, my noble boy!" he exclaimed, as, after tenderly liftingthe child into the boat, he caught Donald under the arms to help himin. "You've taught us a lesson in heroism this day."
Donald sat down in the bow so utterly exhausted that he was hardlyconscious of Mr. Paterson's warm words, nor of the hearty praise of themen, but he had an exquisite sense of relief and of having become aperson of importance.
The first to greet him on the deck of the vessel were the parents ofthe child, and Mrs. Sutherland turned from hugging her rescued darlingto throw her arms around Donald's neck and kiss him again and again,greatly to the bashful boy's embarrassment, while her husband wasthumping him on the back, and exclaiming huskily, "How can I ever repayyou for saving my child's life?"
It was really very trying to Donald to be the subject of suchdemonstration, and he was quite glad to get away from the gratefulparents and the applauding crowd to his own cabin to put on some dryclothes. But when the first excitement subsided and he found that hehad not only won the respect of his shipmates, but also the warmfriendship of the Sutherlands, who were very fine people, he felt thatthe game was well worth the candle, and that he was splendidly repaidfor the risk he had taken.
The first part of the long voyage across the great Atlantic Ocean wasdevoid of special incident. The ships presently scattered, so thateach was alone in the vast expanse; and the days followed one anothermonotonously enough until the _Bonnie Scotland_ sighted the AzoresIslands, and, to the delight of all on board, it was announced that acall at Fayal would be made in order to replenish the supply of water.
By this time Donalblane had got a pretty good understanding of all hisfellow-voyagers. His likes and dislikes were clearly defined, and,young as he was, his natural shrewdness told him that there were onlytoo many in the company it would have been far better to have left athome.
The Sutherlands were his special friends. He had won their heartscompletely, and he took great delight in the company of their littleson Walter, who loved him as though he fully understood that he owedhim his life.
At Fayal the four of them went ashore together, and Donalblane thoughthe had never before realised how pleasant it was to be on the solidground as after these weeks of tossing about in an overcrowded ship.
"Eh, but this is bonnie!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, as his bigeyes roamed over the novel and picturesque landscape. "I'd like wellif this were Darien, and we need gang no farther."
Mr. Sutherland smiled at the boy's frankness. "You've evidently hadenough of the _Bonnie Scotland_, Donald," he said. "So, too, have I.I'd be right glad to be rid both of the ship and many of her company.But we're not half-way to Darien yet."
The striking combination of rugged grandeur with tropical beauty whichthe Azores presented delighted Donald, and during their stay he spentthe whole day ashore exploring the islands, usually in company with Mr.Sutherland. They revelled in the oranges and other fruit that were tobe had almost for the asking, and Donald used to amuse Mr. Sutherlandexceedingly by his lively effort to make himself understood by theinhabitants, who were chiefly Portuguese.
One adventure befell him that might have had a serious result. He hadgone off wandering on his own account, and lost his way amidst theravines which pierce the mountains in every direction, and lead oneinto another in a puzzling fashion. The harder he strove to extricatehimself from the maze, the deeper he got into it, until at last, alittle before sundown, he found himself in a regular _cul-de-sac_, fromwhich there appeared to be no exit save by climbing the precipitouscliffs which shut him in, and it would soon be too dark to attemptthat. "Losh me!" he sighed ruefully, "but I'm fair trapped, and whatshall I do for the nicht?"
The question was more easily asked than answered. Of course to a sonof the Highlands the spending of a night in the open was not a seriousmatter, so far as exposure was concerned; but how about danger fromwild animals? This was what concerned Donalblane, and he was glad thathe had put a pistol in his belt before leaving the ship. Wearied andperplexed, he had thrown himself down on the sward, when there suddenlyhove in sight a big boar leading a small band of sows and piglings. Hewas a tusker of most forbidding appearance, and the instant his wickedlittle eyes fell upon Donalblane he bristled up and began gnashing histusks ominously.
The boy sprang to his feet and drew his pistol, while he lookedanxiously about him for a way of escape. "Save us a'!" he cried."What a fearsome brute! He means ill to me, I'm thinking."
There seemed nothing for it but to stand firm and trust to his pistol.So, after a swift glance to make sure that the priming was in itsplace, he braced himself for the attack.
The boar did not waste much time. Having satisfied himself that thisintruder upon his domain deserved no mercy, he charged fiercely at him,the foam flying from his gleaming tusks, and the thick bristlesstanding out on his mighty front.
Donalblane wisely waited until the fierce creature was within a fewyards of him, and then fired, taking aim at the very centre of theforehead. At the report of the pistol the boar pitched forward,driving his snout into the ground, so great was his impetus, andDonalblane, thinking him dead, shouted triumphantly, "Noo, ye fool!will ye be trying to scare folk who meant ye no harm?" But his wordshad hardly left his lips when the boar, which had been only stunned,his tough, wrinkled hide proving an effectual shield, got upon his feetagain and renewed the charge so furiously that Donalblane barely savedhimself by a sudden spring aside. Baffled for the moment, the madden
edbrute swiftly swung round for a fresh onset, and Donalblane was fain toflee towards the cliffs, followed by the boar and his whole family,grunting and squealing.
There was no boy in Leith could out-foot him, and he dashed away atsuch a speed as gave him a good lead. But where was he to go, in orderto escape the relentless monster that sought to rend him? And if itcame to a question of endurance, the boar would assuredly run him downin the end.