Chapter 5: The Castaways.
After waiting on the shore, until all hope that any more of theirshipmates survived was at an end, the party--by the mate'sorders--detached a sail from a yard that had drifted ashore, andcarried it well into the wood; where they were sheltered, to someextent, from the force of the gale. A stout pole was then cut, andlashed between two trees. The sail was thrown over this, and peggeddown at both sides. A fire was lit, with some difficulty. Then aquantity of ferns and branches of trees were cut. These made a softand elastic bed, and the whole party slept heavily until themorning.
Then they went back to the shore. It was littered thickly withfragments of wreck, casks, boxes, and other articles. Here, too,were nearly a score of the corpses of their shipmates. The firstduty was to dig a long shallow trench in the sand, beyond highwater mark; and in this the bodies of their drowned comrades werelaid.
The storm was now breaking. Glimpses of blue sky were visibleoverhead, and the wind had greatly abated. The sea upon the reefwas, however, as high as ever. Setting to work, they hauled a largenumber of boxes and bales beyond the reach of the waves. One of thecasks contained biscuits and, knocking in the head, they helpedthemselves to its contents, and sat down to talk over theirposition.
"I am not sure," the mate said, "that our poor comrades there--"and he nodded towards the grave, "--have not the best of it. Theinhabitants of most of these islands are bloodthirsty pirates who,if they find us, will either cut our throats at once, or keep us asslaves. Our only hope is that we may not be discovered, until wehave time to build a boat in which to sail away to Singapore, orback to Java.
"Had we been wrecked further south, things would have been morehopeful; for the Papuans are friendly, and inoffensive people.These islands here are inhabited by Malays, the most bloodthirstypirates in the world. However, we must hope that we may not befound, before we have finished a boat.
"My chest is among those which have been washed up, and there are afew tools in it. I always had a fancy for carpentry; and it's hardif, in a fortnight, we cannot make some sort of craft which willcarry us. Indeed, if we content ourselves with a strong framework,covered with canvas, we may be ready in four or five days."
The men set cheerfully to work, under his directions. In his chestwas a hatchet, saw, and chisels. With these, young trees offlexible wood were cut down and split. A keel was laid, 25 feet inlength. Cross pieces, 12 feet long, were pegged to this bytrenails--nails formed of tough and hard wood. The cross pieceswere then bent upwards, and fastened to the strips which were toform the gunwale. Strengthening pieces were placed along, atdistances of 7 or 8 inches apart, and firmly lashed. When the wholewas finished, after three days' labor, the framework of a boat 25feet long, 3 feet deep, and 7 feet in beam stood upon the beach. Abarrel of oil had been thrown ashore and, with this, the mateintended thoroughly to soak the canvas with which the frame was tobe covered. The boat would, he calculated, carry the whole of themen, with an ample store of food and water for the voyage.
Upon the morning of the fourth day as, on their way to work, theyemerged from the wood upon the open beach, the mate gave a low cry,and pointed along the shore. There, between the reef and theisland, was a large Malay prahu. The party instantly fell backamong the trees. The Malays were apparently cruising along thereef, to see if the late storm had thrown up the wreckage--whichmight be useful to them--and a loud shout proclaimed theirsatisfaction, as they saw the shore strewn with the remains of theDutch ship. The prahu was rowed to the shore, and fifty or sixtyMalays sprang from the bows on to the sand.
Scarcely had they done so when a shout, from one of them, calledthe attention of the others to the framework of the boat. There wasa minute's loud and excited chatter among them. Then they dashedforward to the wood, the deep footsteps in the sand showing,plainly enough, the direction from which the builders of the boathad come and gone. The latter, as the Malay boat neared the shore,had retired further into the wood but, from the screen of leaves,they were able to see what was going on. As they saw the Malaysrush, in an excited and yelling throng, towards the wood, thelittle party took to their heels.
"Scatter," the mate said. "Together, they are sure to overtake us;singly, we may escape."
"Let us keep together, Hans," Will said, as they dashed alongthrough the wild jungle. Torn by thorns, often thrown down byprojecting roots and low creepers, they kept on; their pace attimes quickening, as shouts and screams told them that some oftheir comrades had fallen into the hands of the Malays. Presentlythey came upon the little stream which flowed into the sea, closeto where they had been cast ashore.
"Let us follow this up," Will said. "They can track us, through theforest; but the water will set them off our scent."
For a quarter of a mile, they followed the course of the stream;stopping breathlessly, many times, as they heard voices in thewood, not far off. Presently Will pointed to a tree, rising from aclump of bushes, close to the bank.
"Let us get through those bushes," he said. "Be careful, Hans, notto break a twig, as you go. We can climb that tree. There areplants, with stems like cords, winding round it. The top is sothick and bushy that I don't think they can see us, there."
Very carefully they parted the bushes that overhung the stream, andentered the thicket. Then they made their way, with greatdifficulty, to the foot of the tree. It was a very large one, witha trunk fully 15 feet in diameter, rising some forty feet without abranch. Then a number of great arms grew out, at right angles.These were covered thickly with parasitic vegetation. Round thetrunk, like a snake embracing its victim, a great climber had wounditself. Its main stem was as thick as a man's arm, and there weredozens of smaller, cord-like climbers. Thus, the lads had nodifficulty in climbing to the point where the branches grew out.Above these was a mass of foliage, completely covered by theclimbers; whose drooping sprays, and clusters, gave the tree theappearance of a solid mass of verdure. The boys continued to climbuntil they were nearly at the top of the tree.
"There!" Will said, wiping away the perspiration which streamedfrom his face, "if they do not track us through the bushes to thevery foot of this tree, I defy them to find us."
For some hours, the wood was alive with noises. The Malays wereevidently beating every foot of it, and were determined that noneof their victims should escape. Several times parties of men cameup the stream, searching the banks on both sides but, happily, eventheir sharp eyes did not detect the spot where the boys had enteredthe bushes and, gradually, the noises ceased and, at night, a greatglare by the seashore told the lads that their enemies had gatheredagain there; and were continuing, by fire light, the work ofbreaking open and examining the treasures which the sea had cast upfor them.
"What do you zay, Will? Zhall we get down and go furder into wood,or zhall we wait here?"
"I think, anyhow, we had better wait till tomorrow night," Willanswered. "They may search again, tomorrow, and might come upon ourtracks. If they don't find us, they may suppose that they havecaught us all, or that we have escaped right into the interior. Ifthey find no traces of us they will, likely enough, set sail beforenight."
There was no difficulty in finding a place in which they couldsleep; for the cord-like climbers from bough to bough formednatural cradles, in which they lay as securely as if in a hammock,on board a ship. In the morning they were woke, at daybreak, by thecries of the many birds which throng the forests of the EasternArchipelago. No one approached them during the day, and theydoubted not that the Malays were all hard at work, on the shore.
That night there was no reflection of a fire on the beach. In themorning they descended from their perches and made their waycarefully, and as noiselessly as possible, through the wood; to apoint upon the shore, a mile distant from the point where theylanded. Going to the edge of the trees, they were enabled to take aview along the shore. It was deserted. The Malay prahu was gone.
Confident that none of their enemies would have remained behind,they walked boldly along the shore to the spot where
the Malays hadlanded. Every box and barrel had been broken open, and the contentscarried away. Planks and beams had been split asunder, to obtainthe copper bolts and fastenings. The framework of the boat had beendestroyed, and every portion of canvas and rope carried away. Thelads sat down on the shore.
"What shall we do next, Hans?"
Hans shook his head.
"Perhaps some of the others may have got away, and may join ushere, today or tomorrow. If any are alive, they would be certain tocome back here, when they thought the Malays had left."
Hans grunted an assent.
"Anyhow, the first thing to do," Will went on, "is to gather up thepieces of biscuits. They have wasted lots, in breaking open thebarrels, and I am famishing."
Hans rose with alacrity, and they soon were at work collectingpieces of biscuits.
"Let us gather up all the pieces, carefully. There are a good lot,altogether; and we may want them, badly, before we have done."
In half an hour they had collected about 30 pounds of biscuits and,having gone to the stream and taken a drink, they made for the spotwhere their tent had stood. As they expected, they found the canvaswas gone. They set to work with their knives and, cutting a numberof boughs, erected a shelter sufficient to shield them from thenight air.
All day they hoped, but in vain, that some of their comrades wouldreturn, and listened eagerly to every sound in the forest; but nocall, or footstep, met their ears. They had no means of lighting afire, the first having been lit by the mate who--being asmoker--had had a small tin box of matches in his pocket. This hadfitted closely, and kept out the water.
"What had we better do, if no one comes back?" Will said, as theysat in their little hut.
"Build anoder boat," Hans answered.
"But how are we to do that, Hans? We might make the framework, butwe have no canvas to cover it with. Besides, even if we had, I haveno idea of the direction of Singapore, and I doubt if we could findour way back to Java."
Hans had no further suggestion to offer.
"I suppose we could live in the forest for some time," Will said."I read a book called Robinson Crusoe, and a sailor there lived ona desert island for years; but then he had a gun, and all sorts ofthings. There are plenty of birds but, even if we could make bowsand arrows, I suppose we should be months before we could shootstraight enough to hit them."
Several days passed. The lads found plenty of fruit; but the seasonwas advancing, and Will said one day to Hans:
"What on earth are we to do, when the fruit and biscuits are allfinished?"
Wandering in the woods, they found the bodies of the whole of theircompanions. All were headless, the Malays having carried off thesecoveted trophies. They did not attempt to bury the bodies for, insuch a climate, decomposition sets in rapidly, and swarms ofinsects complete the work. In the grass near the hut they found onetreasure--the mate's ax--which had evidently fallen from his belt,in his flight, and had been overlooked by the Malays.
"I tell you what, Hans," Will said, one day, "fruit is gettingscarcer and scarcer, and there are not more than five or six poundsof biscuits left. I vote that we make through the forest into theinterior of the island. There must be some villages scatteredabout. If we enter one boldly, they may not kill us. I don't knowwhether they have any respect for the laws of hospitality, as somesavages have but, even if they did kill us, it's better than beingstarved to death, here. It's a chance, anyhow.
"What do you say, Hans?"
"I don't zay noding," Hans answered. "I don't have no obinion, atall. If you dink zat is ze best plan, let us do it."
So saying, Hans collected the biscuit, tied it up in hishandkerchief, and was ready to start at once.
"There is no hurry, Hans," Will said, laughing; "still, if we areto make a start, we may as well go at once."
Turning their backs upon the sea, they struck into the wood. Theyhad never before gone farther than a mile from the shore. After anhour's walking, they found that the character of the forest waschanging: the ground rose rapidly, the thick, tangled undergrowthdisappeared, and they were able to walk briskly forward, under theshade of the large trees. The hill became steeper and steeper, asthey advanced; and Will knew that they were ascending the hill thatthey had seen from the ship, when she was coming towards the shore.
Three hours after leaving the coast, they were upon its top. Theground was rocky here and, in some places, bare of trees. Inland,they saw hill rising behind hill, and knew that the island must bea large one.
Illustration: Will and Hans in Search of a Shelter.
"Look, Hans, there is smoke curling up at the foot of that hill,over there. Don't you see it? It is very faint, but it is certainlysmoke. There must be a house there and, most likely, a village.
"Come on, we shall get there before the sun sets. I don't think itcan be more than a mile and a half away."
Hans, as usual, assented and, in about half an hour, they arrivedat a Malay village. The aspect was curious, each hut being built ina tree. At the point where the lower branches started, a platformwas made. The tree above this was cut down, and on the platform thehut was erected--access being obtained to it by a ladder. Severalof the inhabitants were walking about. These, upon seeing the lads,uttered cries of warning and, instantly flying to the ladders,which were constructed of light bamboo, climbed to the huts andraised the ladders after them. Then, at every door, men appearedwith bent bows and pointed arrows, threatening the invaders.
Will had cut a green bough, and this he waved as a token of peace;while Hans threw up his hands, to show that he was unarmed. Thenthey bowed several times, almost to the ground; held out their armswith outstretched hands and, finally, sat down upon the ground.
The Malays apparently understood that their visitors came in peace.They held a long conversation among themselves and, at last, theladder of one of the huts--which appeared larger and betterfinished than the others--was lowered, and four men descended. Oneof these carried a kriss in his hand. His bow was slung behind hisback. The others kept their bows bent in readiness for instantaction.
The chief was a tall and well-built man, of about forty years ofage. He, like his followers, was dressed only in a loincloth; hehad copper bracelets round his wrists. As he approached, the ladsrose and bowed deeply; then Will held out to him the ax and,placing it in his hand, motioned to him that it was a present.
The chief looked pleased at the gift, placed his hands on Will'sshoulder and nodded, and performed the same gesture to Hans. Thenhe led them towards his hut, and motioned to them to sit down atthe foot of the tree.
Curious faces were watching from every hut and, as soon as it wasseen that peace was established, the ladders were lowered and aswarm of men, women, and children soon surrounded the visitors. Atthe chief's order a woman approached them, bringing a dish of food.This was composed, the boys found, principally of birds; cut up andstewed, with some sort of vegetable. The dish was by no means badand, after living for nearly a fortnight upon biscuit and fruit,they much enjoyed it.
Presently, women brought bundles of dried fern and spread them atthe foot of the tree and, soon after it was dark, the boys lay downupon them. It was long, however, before they went to sleep; for thedin and chatter in the village continued, until far into the night.The lads guessed that the reason and manner of their coming waswarmly debated; and judged by their reception that the prevailingopinions were favorable, and that the visit from the two white menwas considered to be a fortunate omen.
The next day they were again amply supplied with food, and wereconstantly surrounded by a little group of women and children, towhom their white skins appeared a source of constant wonder. Theirmovements were entirely unchecked, and they were evidentlyconsidered in the light of guests rather than prisoners.
The next night the village retired to rest early. The boys sattalking together, for a long time, and then lay down to sleep.Presently, Will thought that he heard a noise and, looking up, sawin the moonlight a number of savages, stealthily ap
proaching. Theycarried with them ladders; and intended, he had no doubt, tosurprise the sleeping villagers. They were already close at hand.
Will shook Hans--who had already gone off to sleep--and pointed outto him the advancing foes. These were already in the village and,separating, fixed a ladder against each of the huts. So far theboys, who lay in the shadow of the hut, had not been noticed. TheMalays--who belonged to a hostile village--began to climb theladders; when the lads, grasping the heavy sticks which they alwayscarried, and springing to their feet with loud shouts, ran to theladders, before the Malays could recover from their astonishment atthe approach of the white-faced men, rushing upon them.
Half a dozen of the ladders were upset, the men who had mountedthem coming heavily to the ground. Some of these, as they rose, atonce took to their heels; others, drawing their krisses, rushed attheir assailants. But the lads were no longer alone. At the firstshout, the doors of the huts had opened; and the inhabitants rushedout, with their arms. The remaining ladders were instantlyoverthrown, and a shower of arrows poured upon their assailants.
Will and Hans knocked down the foremost of their assailants; andthe whole body, foiled in their attempted surprise, discomfited atthe appearance of the strange white-faced men, and exposed to thearrows of the defenders, at once darted away--several of theirnumber having already fallen, under the shafts from above. Withexulting shouts, the warriors of the village poured down theirladders from the huts, and took up the pursuit; and soon no oneremained in the village, save the white lads and the women andchildren.
Towards morning the warriors returned, several of them bringingwith them gory heads, showing that their pursuit had not been invain. The village was now the scene of great rejoicings. Huge fireswere lighted, and a feast held in honor of the victory. The chiefsolemnly placed the white men, one on each side of him, and madethem a speech; in which, by his bowing and placing his hand ontheir heads, they judged he was thanking them for having preservedtheir village from massacre. Indeed, it was clear, from therespectful manner of all towards them, that they were regarded inthe light of genii, who had come specially to protect the villagefrom the assaults of its enemies.
After the feast was over the chief, after a consultation with therest, pointed to a tree close to that in which his own hut wassituated. The whole village set to work, ladders were fixed againstit; and the men, ascending, hacked away with krisses and stonehatchets at the trunk. Hans--seeing their object--made signs to thechief to lend him his ax and, ascending to the tree, set to workwith it; doing, in five minutes, more work than the whole of thenatives employed could have accomplished in an hour. After workingfor some time, he handed the ax to one of the natives, whocontinued the work. The tree was not a large one--the trunk, atthis point, being about 18 inches in diameter. Half an hour's worksufficed to cut it through; and the upper part of the tree fell,with a crash.
In the meantime the women had brought in, from the forest, aquantity of bamboos and, with these, the men set to work andspeedily formed a platform. Upon this a hut was erected, the roofand sides being covered with palm leaves laid closely together,forming a roof impervious to rain. Two large bundles of fern, forbeds, were then taken up; and the chief, ascending, solemnlyinvited the boys to come up and take possession.
A woman was told off to prepare food for them, and attend to theirwants and, by nightfall, the lads found themselves in a comfortableabode of their own. Pulling up the ladder, after the manner of thenatives, they sat down to chat over their altered prospects. Theywere now clearly regarded as adopted into the village community,and need have no further fear as to their personal security, ormeans of living.
"For the time we are safe," Will said; "but--as I don't want toturn Malay, and live all my life with no other amusement thankeeping my own head on, and hunting for those of the enemies of thevillage--we must think of making our escape, somehow; though atpresent, I own I don't see how."