CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
AN EXPEDITION ALONG THE COAST--PIRATES APPEAR.
The nature of the ground had led us somewhat out of the course for thehouse. We now struck across the country, hoping to reach it, the groundbeing less covered with trees and underwood. We had gone for somedistance, when we saw before us a high mound. It could not be called amountain, but it was of considerable elevation, and of a conical shape,with a flat top. My uncle believed that it had been formed by volcanicaction, though now being covered with brushwood and herbage and a fewtall trees, it was evident that it had been thrown up some time. Weclimbed to the top of it, expecting to find a view of the sea beyond;but the trees which clothed the base were too lofty to allow us to seeto any great distance. Here and there, however, there was a small gap,through which we caught a glimpse of the ocean.
"This would make a fine place for a fort, if any of those pirate fellowscome this way," observed Dick Tarbox as I was standing near him. "Iwould undertake to fortify it against all comers, if we had a littletime to make ready. I have seen some work of that sort in my youngerdays, when I served aboard a man-of-war; and it would require daringfellows to get inside such a place as we could make it, if we defendedit with the spirit which I know we should. Why, bless you, Walter, theyoung ladies and the old Frau would load our muskets for us, and wemight blaze away till we had picked off every Malay who might attempt toget up the hill."
"But why do you think pirates are likely to come here?" I asked.
"As to that, they are cruising about in these seas, and are as likely tocome here as to any other place, if they think they can get anything bycoming. Your uncle did wisely to build his house in the forest out ofsight, or he would have been carried off long ago; and as they have notbeen here for some time, it is the more likely that they will comesoon."
There was a hollow in the centre of the cone which had probably formedthe mouth of the old volcano, if volcano it had been, thus making a rimor bank all the way round; and on the top of this Tarbox proposederecting palisades, and a stage, from which we might fire. By makinghollows in the earth where we might store our goods and provisions, andwhere the ladies might remain free from the risk of shot, our fort wouldbe perfect. My uncle overheard our conversation. "I hope there islittle risk of such an event," he observed carelessly. The wood belowus was so thick, that it seemed scarcely possible we could penetrate it.However, we were compelled to get there some way or other, or we shouldhave had to go back the way we had come. While hunting about, we foundwhat appeared to be the bed of a stream, though perfectly dry. Myuncle, on examining it, said he was sure it led in the direction wewished to go. After proceeding a little way, we found that it wasentirely free of trees or shrubs. The bottom was covered with stones,rounded by the once boiling torrent which poured down from the highground during the rainy season. They were, however, not spheres, butdisk-shaped fragments of slate, very thin, the sharp corners rounded offby the water. Here and there, too, we found boulders of opaque,milk-white quartz. Generally the bed was level, but occasionally therewere holes where the torrent had been wont to rest in its course towardsthe ocean. We proceeded along it at a far more rapid rate than we hadhitherto been able to move. The shadows which came across our path hadbeen growing longer and longer, when my uncle recognised some treeswhich grew in the neighbourhood of the house. We had once more to useour axes, and by exerting them actively, we cut our way through to thepath which he had formed. It was almost dusk when we saw the highpointed roof of the house before us. Our shouts brought out theinmates, the Frau leading the way, though not accustomed to running.She clasped Emily and Grace in her arms, bursting into tears when shesaw them.
"Oh! so glad you come back!" she exclaimed. "We so frightened that youhave been carried away by de pirates!"
What she could mean we could scarcely understand, nor was Tanda at firstvery explicit. Mr Hooker, however, after our greetings were over, toldus that as Tanda had been on the sea-shore, collecting shell-fish as avariety to their repast, he had seen, at no great distance from theland, several prows, which, from their build and general appearance, hewas sure were those of Sooloo rovers, or perhaps pirates from the coastof Borneo. He had just arrived with the alarming intelligence, and hewas afraid they were coming to land on the island. The fading lightwould scarcely enable us to discover them, for though a few minutesbefore it had been broad daylight, darkness comes on so rapidly in thatlatitude, that day, as it were, leaps into night in the course of a fewminutes. We hurried down, however, to the beach; but when we got there,we could only distinguish in the far distance some shadowy forms, whichmight have been the piratical vessels. Which way they were steering,however, the most practised eyes among us could not discover, anddirectly afterwards they were totally hid from sight. We returned tothe house to consult what was to be done.
"If you would take my advice, gentlemen," said Mr Thudicumb, "you willhave provisions done up, and arms and ammunition ready for a quickmarch, and anything else that you consider most valuable to carry away.We will then station a look-out down on the beach, or at the end ofFlagstaff Rock, to give us early notice of the approach of the enemy.If they come, they are pretty sure to find this house out; and, if theyget hold of us, to knock us on the head or cut our throats. As,however, you have explored the interior of the country, we shall know inwhat direction to go, and we shall be able to have the start of them,and may therefore get away into a safe place, where they cannot find us.Probably they will be content with such booty as they can find here--though there is not much to their taste--and will, after a time, takethemselves off."
Mr Thudicumb's advice was considered good, and my uncle and Mr Hookeragreed to adopt it.
"If they do come, though, what a grievous pity it would be to have allour collection destroyed," said Mr Hooker. "Is there no place where wecan stow them in safety?"
"We may hide them away, certainly," answered my uncle; "but the piratesare pretty sure to ferret them out, thinking that some treasure iswithin; and though they may not carry them away, they will break openthe cases, and then the contents will very soon be destroyed."
"Still we must give them a chance of safety," said Mr Hooker; "andafter we have made the arrangements for our flight, we must see what canbe done with them."
The poor Frau was in a state of great agitation and alarm, but Emily andGrace were very far from frightened.
"We will help you to fight the pirates, if they come," said Emily; "andwith so many brave men, I am sure we shall beat them off."
"And you must teach me to load a musket," said Grace. "I think I knowhow to do it, but I am not quite certain. I hope, however, they willrun away before we have to fire at them. I don't like the thought ofyour having to kill people. It is very dreadful!"
Before we sat down to supper all arrangements were made. The girls wereexcessively busy. Each had made up a large package of various articleswhich they thought it would be necessary to carry--provisions and otherthings. It was arranged that two men should go down to the beach at atime to watch. Tanda and Dick Tarbox agreed to go first, and PottoJumbo and Roger Trew were to take the second part of the night.
"I think, however, you need not trouble yourselves, my friends," saidMr Sedgwick, "for they will scarcely attempt to approach this coast inthe dark. There are but few places that I have visited in theneighbourhood where boats could come ashore without risk, and they wouldscarcely find them out, unless with daylight."
This remark somewhat comforted the Frau, and we had supper before Tandaand Tarbox started. Mr Hooker and the mate had much recovered. Theformer was in much better spirits than he had been since he landed.Altogether we had a very pleasant meal, and no one would have supposed,seeing us seated round the table, that a piratical fleet was in theneighbourhood, likely to attack us.
After Tarbox and Tanda had set off, however, the spirits of the partybegan to flag. No one cared to go to bed, as we did not know at whatmoment we might be roused
up. As the night drew on we became more andmore anxious. It was indeed a trying time, for even should they notland at night, it was too probable that they would be down upon usbefore daybreak. Still we could not help anxiously waiting for thattime. The hours appeared very long. Now and then I fell off to sleep,and was awoke either by the noises of the animals in my uncle'smenagerie, or by some strange sounds from the neighbouring forests--thevoices of night-birds or beasts of prey. At last the two men who hadtaken the first watch came back, reporting that they had seen nothing;then Potto Jumbo, who had been lying down snoring loudly, started up,and with Roger Trew went down to the shore. The second part of thenight appeared even longer than the first. Still I knew that it wouldhave an end. At length the streaks of early dawn appeared in theeastern sky. The usual sounds of returning day came up from the forest.The birds began to sing their cheerful notes, and ere long the sunbeamslighted up the topmost branches of the lofty trees above our abode.Just then the black and Roger Trew returned. "Hurrah, hurrah!" sung outthe black, "dey all sail away, and no come here!" Roger corroboratedhis companion's statement; and Oliver and I, running down to the shore,caught a glimpse of the pirates' sails, if pirates they were, justsinking below the horizon. It was some time, however, before FrauUrsula's mind could be tranquillised. She insisted that if they were inthe neighbourhood they would very likely return.
"Why do you think they will come here, good Frau?" said Mr Hooker."They are not likely to be aware that anybody is on this island, andtheir object is to attack well-laden traders or towns, where booty canbe obtained. Even if they knew of our existence, we have little here totempt them."
It was, however, but too probable that had they caught sight of thewreck, a large portion of which was still above water, they would havecome in, and we might have suffered severely, had they not eithercarried us off as captives or put us to death. We had therefore greatreason to be thankful that they had passed by without visiting theisland.
Mr Thudicumb, though still not well enough to begin building thevessel, assisted us in repairing the boat. I was anxious to go out andfish; for having gained a good deal of experience with poor Macco, I wasin hopes of being able to supply the table with the result of myindustry. We had fortunately brought some fishing-lines and hooks. Iproposed manufacturing some lobster-baskets such as I had seen used, inthe hope of catching lobsters or crabs. We had plenty of materials inthe smaller creepers, some of which were of a tough fibre; and RogerTrew, like many more sailors, understood basket-work. We were thereforenot long in manufacturing a dozen pots, which we baited with pieces ofpork. I should have said that my uncle had domesticated several pigswhich he had caught young, and which ran about in the neighbourhood ofthe house, without any wish apparently to stray further. Roger Trew,Oliver, and I made the first expedition, while the rest of the partywere making preparations for the vessel. It was not settled, however,where she was to be built. We agreed, however, that in theneighbourhood of the house it would be very inconvenient to launch her.Our first expedition was very successful, and we brought home a goodsupply of fish. The next day we carried out our lobster-pots, to tryour fortune with them. Before returning home after fishing we pulledalong the coast, when we saw at a distance a lofty cliff, with a numberof large birds flying about it. Some went off to a great distance, anddid not, as far as we could see, return. The report we gave of these,on our return, made Mr Sedgwick desirous of accompanying us on our nextexpedition.
"They must be, I suspect, from your account of them, Walter, cormorants,or rather that species of them known as the frigate-bird."
No one is so eager as a naturalist when in search of a specimen, and wesoon saw that Mr Sedgwick would be far more pleased if we took himround to the cliff, than should we catch a boat-load of fish.
"Suppose then, sir, that we start the first thing for the cliff, and wecan then return and land you if you do not wish to remain for thefishing," I observed.
"A very good idea, Walter," he answered. "You and Roger Trew can go,then, to manage the boat, and I will take my rifle. It is difficult toapproach those birds near enough to shoot one, and I have long wished toobtain some specimens in full feather."
It was arranged, therefore, that the next morning we should startdirectly after breakfast. As, however, there was time during thatevening, we carried out our lobster-pots, and placed them in a long rowon a rocky bed, where we had every hope that lobsters would be found,and we agreed to take them up on our return. We hurried over breakfast,as Mr Sedgwick was eager to be off, and we then pulled away along theshore, looking into the various indentations and bays as we passed, inthe hope of finding a spot where our proposed vessel might be launched,and which might at the same time serve as a harbour. It was veryimportant to find a small harbour of some sort, where we might fit herout after she was afloat. We had not gone far when we came to a pointwith a reef running almost at right angles with it, which served as abreakwater. Inside was a sandy beach.
"Why, that is just the place we are looking for, Walter," observed MrSedgwick. "See! we shall find, I think, an entrance at the other end ofthis reef; and if so, nothing can be more perfect."
We eagerly pulled round the reef, sounding as we went with our oars, andhad the satisfaction of finding that there was ample water for such avessel as we proposed to build. We could see the forest coming closedown to the water's edge, and affording an ample supply of timber. Weshould therefore have but a little way to carry it. We agreed to takeMr Thudicumb there the following day, and if he agreed with us, to loseno further time in laying the keel for our vessel. A little further onwe came in sight of the cliff on which we had seen the birds. No soonerdid we point them out to Mr Sedgwick than he exclaimed--
"Yes; those, from their flight, must be frigate-birds. No ordinary_cormorant_ would fly as they do. They have come there to breed; for itis seldom, except on that occasion, that those wonderful birds evervisit the land. What extraordinary power of wing they possess! It issaid that they are never seen to swim or to repose upon the waters. Icertainly have never seen them except on the wing."
There was a stiffish breeze, which had created a little sea; and itseemed doubtful, although Mr Sedgwick was a good shot, whether he wouldbe steady enough to hit one of the birds he so much desired. We pulledon, however, keeping as close as we could venture under the cliff, so asto be concealed from their sight till we got near them. Roger Trew tookthe two oars, while I sat at the helm to steer the boat more steadily.My uncle stood up, rifle in hand, eagerly waiting till we got withinrange of the birds. However, they were so eagerly engaged in preparingthe homes for their future young that they scarcely appeared to noticeour approach, but kept flying about round the cliff as they had done theday before when we first saw them. At length one of the magnificentbirds came within range of my uncle's rifle. Though his nerves were aswell strung as those of most men, I fancied his hands trembled in hiseagerness to obtain his prize. He recovered himself, however, in amoment, and, balancing his feet at the bottom of the tossing boat,fired. An instant afterwards a vast mass began to descend, at firstslowly, then it passed rapidly through the air like a huge piece of snowcast before an avalanche, and down it came with a loud thud into thewater.
"Pull! pull!" he cried; and Roger Trew exerting his arms, we were soonup to the bird. It was still alive, though unable to impel itselfthrough the water or to rise. It stretched out its beak towards us, butall power had gone; and as my uncle eagerly seized it, and drew it intothe boat, it ceased to struggle. The shot had alarmed the other birds,some of whom were seen to soar high up into the air. Up, up they went,till they became mere specks in the blue sky, then disappearedaltogether. Others, however, retained their position round the rock,flying about in a startled manner, apparently unable to ascertain thecause of the loud sound they had heard. Meantime Mr Sedgwick againloaded, and a second bird was brought down. He offered a great dealmore resistance, but a blow from Roger Trew's oar quickly settled him.My uncle
was highly delighted with his success. The second shot had putall the birds to flight, and it did not appear likely that a third wouldbe killed. We therefore put the boat's head round, and pulled along theshore homewards.
On our way back Mr Sedgwick expatiated on the powers and beauty of thefrigate-bird. "See," he observed, "these feathers are not of thatcoarse and downy texture peculiar to aquatic birds; indeed, its gracefulform and all the internal arrangements seem especially adapted--I wasalmost going to say for eternal flight. See these wings, twelve feetfrom tip to tip. Observe this forked tail, these short legs, the thighsnot more than an inch in length. Unless perched on some rocky pinnacle,it is unable to take flight. Neither, you will observe, is it adaptedfor living on the waves. See its feet; they are unlike those ofwater-fowl, being but partially webbed. Now, when I come to show youthe interior of the creature, you will see with what surprisingarrangements it is furnished for flight without fatigue in the loftiestregions of the air, where it can even sleep without the danger ofdescending. See beneath its throat this large pouch; it communicateswith the lungs, and also with the hollow and wonderfully light bone-workof its skeleton. When it wishes, therefore, to rest in air, it firstspreads out its mighty wings, which are almost sufficient to float itslight body. It then fills its enormous pouch with air, from whence itis forced into all its bones, and even into the cavities between theflesh and the skin. Now this air enters cold, but in a short time, fromthe heat of the bird's circulation, which is greater than that of otheranimals, it becomes rarified, and will consequently swell out both thepouch and every cavity I have spoken of, thus giving the bird awonderful buoyancy, even in the highest regions of the atmosphere. Wesaw how high those birds went just now, but they probably have gone farhigher. In the same way, when the weather is stormy near the earth, thefrigate-bird rises into the higher and calmer regions, where, withoutspread wing, it remains suspended, motionless, and at rest. There itmight remain for days together, unless compelled by hunger to descend.When this is the case, it expels the rarified air from its body andpouch, and drops swiftly towards the ocean. It never, however, dives,or even swims, but as it comes within a few feet of the waves, itinstantly brings itself to a stop, and skimming along, catches theflying-fish with its hawk-like bill or talons, holding its neck and feetin a horizontal direction, striking the upper column of air with itswings, and then raising and closing them against each other above itsback."
On seeing this wonderful bird I could easily believe the accounts myuncle gave me. I remembered, when on board the _Bussorah Merchant_,seeing some tropic birds, which, like the frigate-bird, can ascend to avast height. One appeared out of the blue sky, when, descendingsuddenly towards the ship like a falling star, it checked its course,and hovering for a while over our masts, darted away with its two longprojecting tail-feathers streaming in the air towards a shoal offlying-fish, which had just then risen from the water. It caught one,and again ascended in the most graceful way towards the blue heavens, toenjoy its repast.
The Chinese, my uncle told me, train the common cormorant to fish forthem, the birds being taught to return with their prey to the boat inwhich their master sits, when they receive a small fish as their reward.As, however, the bird might help itself, and refuse to work for anemployer, the cunning Chinese fastens a band round its throatsufficiently tight to prevent it from swallowing the fish, but not toimpede its free action in other respects. The hungry bird, therefore,very gladly returns to the boat to have this inconvenient appendageremoved, in order that it may enjoy its limited repast, considering that"half a loaf is better than no bread." My uncle showed me on our returna sketch, which will explain the mode of proceeding even better than myverbal description.
We were still talking of these wonderful birds, when we came near wherewe had placed our lobster-pots. They must have been on the edge of thebank, for we found that two or three had been carried away into deepwater. However, we caught sight of their floats at some distance.Having drawn up the first we put down, several of which had largelobsters, or fish and crabs, with various other creatures in them, wepulled away to recover the rest. Two were empty.
"I suppose it is scarcely worth while hauling up the other one," Iobserved.
"We shall lose it if we do not, though there is no great chance of ithaving anything within it," answered Roger Trew.
However, as we began to haul it up, we discovered by the feel that ithad something in it. As we got it up to the side, Roger Trew remarkedthat it was after all only a squid, probably, or some nasty creature ofthat sort.
"Haul it in! haul it in, and let me look at it!" exclaimed Mr Sedgwick.
"Wonderfully beautiful!" he exclaimed. "What a prize!" And as if hewere handling the most delicate piece of mechanism, he carefully liftedthe basket into the boat.
"What is it?" I asked. "What can it be?"
"What is it!" exclaimed my uncle. "It is worth coming all the way fromEngland to obtain, and living out here many years. Why, this is aperfect nautilus!" With the greatest care he drew out the fragile shellwith the creature inside. "See," he said, "it belongs to the genus_Cephalapoda_. It is one of the _Polythalamous_, or many-chamberedshells."
"Well, I should call it a big snail of rather a curious shape," observedRoger Trew.
However, as far as the shape was concerned, it more approached a hornwith the end curled up and placed in the mouth. My uncle said he wasrather doubtful that, when alive, the nautilus did float on the water.However, he confessed that many naturalists assert that it does so, asdo certainly the people of the coast near which it is found. He told methat possibly this idea had arisen because the shell, when empty, swimson the surface. The creature, when at the bottom, crawls along like anyother snail. Sometimes it dies and falls out, when the shell rises tothe surface by means of the gases generated in its chambers; and thusthey are seen floating on the waves. Others say, however, that theanimal itself with the shell, putting out its head and all itstentacles, spreads them upon the water with the poop of the shell aboveit. The light part of the shell rising above the waves is taken for thesail with which it is said to move over the surface. Numbers are seentogether after a storm, by which it is supposed that they congregatealso at the bottom in troops. They certainly do not sail for any lengthof time; but having taken in all their tentacles, they turn over theirboat, and thus once more descend to the bottom.