CHAPTER XVIII.
THE ISLAND.
But the sight that greeted Tom's eyes as he emerged on deck speedilydrove all other thoughts from his mind. The wind had died down, and,although a heavy swell was still running, the sea was by no means rough.Across the gray waves, not more than a mile or so from the schooner, wasvisible the outlines of a rocky island.
Under the pall of gray sky, and surrounded by the leaden, sullen seas,it looked a dismal spot of land. So far as Tom could make out, it wascraggy and mountainous in the extreme. On the side by which they wereapproaching it, the island was wooded down almost to the water's edge.
Tom found the professor at his elbow. He began to talk to him at once.There was no fear of any one overhearing them. The crew and the leadersof the gang were far too busy scanning the island. In the lee riggingSimon Lake hung by one arm, while, with his free hand, he held a pair ofglasses to his eyes.
"What land do you suppose that is?" asked Tom, as the schooner plungedonward toward it.
The professor thought a moment before answering. It was evident he wasmaking some sort of mental calculation. At last he spoke, and by thistime Mr. Chillingworth was one of the group about him.
"I should judge it to be one of the group of islets found to thesouthward of the Queen Charlotte group," he replied. "They are scatteredpretty thickly through these waters, and, as they are seldom visitedexcept by whalers short of water or seal poachers, they would naturallyafford an ideal place for men plying the trade that you have informed meLake is engaged in."
"I agree with you," said Mr. Chillingworth, in a low, hopeless sort oftone. "Once on one of those islands and the chance of our ever beingheard of again is so remote as to be among the impossibilities. Greatheavens, my poor wife----"
He broke off with a groan. The professor, after a quick glance about himto make sure they were not overheard, laid a comforting hand on hisshoulder.
"Brace up, sir," he said. "I have by no means given up hope yet. At allevents, once on land we shall have more of a chance to get away than wewould have on board this schooner."
His tone seemed to cheer the despondent rancher considerably. He glancedgratefully at the philosopher and then said:
"You are right, professor. It is foolish to give way like this when weought to be bending our energies in other directions. I shall complainno more."
"That's right," said the professor heartily. The next instant he turned,as Monday plucked his sleeve.
"What is it, Monday?" he asked.
"Boss, me at dese island once in whaler, Tuesday he here, too. Long timeago," said the Kanaka, an excited light burning in his eyes. "Boss, wetell you something 'bout dese island. Him very queer island. Back in demhills, across dem hills, dey----"
"Hush," cautioned the professor. "Not another word now, my man. Herecomes the head of this rascally collection of law-breakers."
Monday subsided instantly. A vacant look crept into his eyes, which aninstant before had been dancing excitedly. His companion also relapsedinto apparent listlessness. In many ways these natives of the South Seaswere fully the equal of any white man in their quick perception and keeninsight. They were quite as much in possession of the facts concerningLake and his crew as were the rest.
As the professor's sharp eye had noted, Lake had clambered down from therigging a few minutes before. His face bore a satisfied look as he cametoward the castaways.
"Waal, thar's your future home," he grinned, as he approached the littlegroup.
"Perhaps you can tell us if I am correct in my assumption that theisland is one of the Queen Charlotte group off the coast of Canada?"inquired the professor, adjusting his spectacles and turning to Lake.
"I ain't sayin'," was the sullen rejoinder. "It's enough fer yer terknow thet we're bound fer thet island, and ye're a mighty lucky lot notto be at the bottom of the sea at this minnit. I tell yer I hed a hardtime persuading Zeb Hunt and ther crew not ter finish yer off."
Tom shuddered at the rascal's calm tone. He spoke without the slightestconcern. As he gazed at the rapacious face of the leader of the Chineserunners, Tom did not doubt that the unfortunate Chinaman at that momentreposed where, according to Lake, Zeb Hunt and the crew would have likedto see them.
As the schooner drew closer to the island, Tom perceived what Lake hadnoticed through the glasses some time before. This was, that on thebeach, flying from a tall, white flagstaff, was a square of red bunting.What this meant he was presently to find out in an odd manner.
Lake and Hunt went below as the schooner approached the island. Theirheads were close together in deep consultation as they entered thecompanionway. Tom wondered what they could be discussing--the fate ofthe castaways likely.
The island, seen at closer range as the schooner drew nearer, appearedeven more uninviting than it had from the distance. Tall, bare hills,rock-ribbed and cloven with deep crevasses, ran back from its shores,piling up to a mass of rugged peaks and inaccessible-looking precipices.At the foot of these hills--or rather mountains in miniature--was adense growth of dark, melancholy looking trees, of dark green andblackish foliage. These Tom learned later were mostly pine trees andother conifers.
It was the part of the island immediately about the flagstaff, though,that interested him the most. Here quite a clearing seemed to have beenmade in the dense forest, and a cluster of rough huts could be seen,with several figures moving about. Against the dark background the redflag floated out like a flame.
While the others stood in a group at the rail watching all this, Tomretired to a seat on the edge of the cabin skylight. As it had grownwarm with the dropping of the wind, one of the sections of the light wasopen, and through it the voices of Hunt and Lake drifted up from thecabin as they sat talking.
"We won't be able to lose much time, cap," Tom could hear Zeb say; "thered flag is up and that means that the steamer has called with anotherload of Chinks and gone away again. The sooner we run them through thebetter, more especially as Chillingworth is out of the way."
"Why, thar's no hurry, is thar?" inquired Lake. "I'd like a bit of a runashore thar to git my head in shape again. Then, too, thar's thet goldback in ther hills. I mean ter sic' that professer onter thet, Zeb."
"You still think thet's gold-bearing rock, then?"
"I'm sure uv it. Ef only it is, we'll get rid of this crew uv ours, Zeb,and you and I 'ull chuck this Chink running business and settle down termining. It's not so dangerous, an' almost as profitable."
"Well," came Hunt's voice, "I've only one thing ter say, pervisions isshort, an' ef ther steamer has landed another bunch of Chinks, the lesstime we keep 'em ashore the better. Then, too, this wife ofChillingworth's is bound ter kick up a turribul rumpus when she findsher husband is gone. All things considered, I say let's get the job overand done with, as quick as possible."
"I dunno but what ye're right," rejoined Lake, "and----"
But here the noise of the crew, as under the orders of Zeb's assistant,a little bow-legged fellow, with a fringe of beard under his chin, theybegan to work the schooner on another tack, drowned all other sound.
Tom arose from his seat, not wishing to court discovery by remainingthere longer. He felt that he had overheard an important conversation,though. In the event of Lake's and Zeb's having to make a quick run backto the coast, perhaps it would be possible in some way to smugglethemselves on board, or at least work out some plan to get back to theirown people. Then, too, there had been some hope in what the Kanaka hadsaid. Evidently he and his companion knew something about the islandwhich was of high importance to persons in their position.
Altogether Tom felt quite heartened compared to his despondency of ashort time before.
By dinner time the schooner had been worked quite close to the island,and when they came on deck after the meal they found that not more thana few hundred yards separated her from the shore. While they had beendown in the cabin she had slipped in through a passage in a s
ort of reefthat extended from the shore. She now lay in deep, calm water, scarcelymoving. As Zeb shouted the command and the anchor rattled and roared tothe bottom of the lagoon, several boats put off from the shore and cametoward them.
Tom looked toward the rough, precipitous shores with a strange minglingof excitement and apprehension. What lay in front of them on thatisland? Was it to prove the scene of their indefinite imprisonment inpractical slavery to Lake and his crew?
The boy could not but think that the outlook appeared as sombre as theleaden skies, the drab, rocky hills, and the sullen, gray sea outsidethe reef. But he determined to put a brave face on it, and began towatch, with some interest, the boats pulling toward them.