CHAPTER SIX.
SHIPWRECKED EMIGRANTS AND HORRIFIED CONSPIRATORS.
The scene which presented itself on the morning after the storm is noteasily described, and the change to the trio who had up to that timelived so peacefully on Refuge Islands' Reef was so great that they foundit difficult at first to believe it was other than a dream.
On awaking, indeed, Otto saluted his brother with the exclamation--
"O Dom, I've had such a comical dream!"
"Indeed, my boy," said Dominick, "I fear it was no dream, but areality."
At this Otto suddenly sprang up, and ran out to relieve his mind on thepoint. A few seconds sufficed. On clearing the bushes he beheld thenew wreck lying not far from the old one, and saw from the crowds ofpeople who were being put into the boats that the emigrant ship had beenno mere creature of his imagination. It was evident that the boat whichhad just quitted the vessel's side contained the first band ofemigrants, for the only people yet landed were a few men, who busiedthemselves in putting up a rude shelter for the women and children, andin kindling fires for the preparation of breakfast on a little moundbetween two and three hundred yards from the golden cave.
By that time the storm had blown itself out, and the rising sun wasmounting into a cloudless blue sky, and covering the sea with dazzlingripples, which looked as if the very water were laughing with joy at thesudden change from darkness and fury to light and peace.
Conspicuous among those who worked on shore was the gigantic form of JoeBinney. Considering him an old acquaintance. Otto ran up to him andshook hands.
"How many emigrants are there of you?" he asked.
"Three hundred, more or less, master, but I ain't rightly sure; there'ssuch a many that it's difficult to count 'em when they are all a-movin'to and fro."
"Here, Joe, catch hold o' this post, an' keep it steady till I make itfast," said Hugh Morris, the seaman who has been described as one of themost turbulent among the men.
While Joe assisted in the erection of the canvas booth or shelter, hegave Otto a good deal of information regarding the vessel, theemigrants, the crew, and the misunderstandings which had occurredprevious to the captain's death.
"It's well for one man that we've bin wrecked, anyhow," remarked Morris,stepping back with an artistic air to survey his handiwork.
"You mean the young doctor," said Joe.
"That's who I mean," returned Morris. "Doctor John Marsh. He's theonly man in the ship that's worth his salt, but I fear he's a doomedman."
"I hope not, Hugh, though there _are_ one or two men on board worth morethan their salt," said Joe, with a peculiar smile, as he returned to thecare of a large kettle of beans, from which the sailor had called him.
On Otto inquiring what was the matter with the doctor, Joe Binneyexplained--
"He's been ill a'most since we left England, owin' to a fall he had intryin' to save one o' the child'n as was tumblin' down the after-hatch.He saved the child, but broke one or two of his own ribs, an' the brokenends must have damaged his lungs, for, ever since, he's bin spittin'blood an' wearin' away, till we can hardly believe he's the same stout,hearty, active young feller that came aboord at Gravesend. Spite of hishurt he's bin goin' among us quite cheerful-like, doin' the best hecould for the sick; but as Morris says, he looks like a doomed man.P'r'aps gittin' ashore may do him good. You see, bein' the only doctorin the ship, he couldn't attend to hisself as well as might be, mayhap."
While Joe and Otto were conversing, the first boat load of emigrantslanded, consisting chiefly of women and children. Dr Marsh was alsoamong them, in order that, as he said with quiet pleasantry, he mightattend to the sanitary arrangements of the camp in the new land, thoughall who saw him quit the wreck were under the sorrowful impression thatthe new land would prove to be in his case a last resting-place.
There was something peculiarly attractive in the manly, handsome face ofthis young disciple of Aesculapius, worn as it was by long sickness andsuffering, and Otto fell in love with him at first sight.
There can be no doubt that some human beings are so constituted as topowerfully attract others by their mere physical conformation andexpression, without reference to character or conduct,--indeed, beforecharacter or conduct can possibly be known. And when this peculiarconformation and expression is coupled with delicacy of health, andobvious suffering, the attractive influence becomes irresistible. Letus thank God that such is the case. Blind, unreasoning affection is agrand foundation on which to build a mighty superstructure of goodoffices, kindly acts, and tender feelings, mingled, it may be, withloving forbearance, and occasional suffering, which shall be good to thesouls of the lover, as well as the loved one.
Anyhow, when Otto saw Dr Marsh helped, almost lifted, out of the boat;observed him give a pitiful little smile, and heard him utter some mildpleasantry to those who assisted him, he experienced a gush of feelingsuch as had never before inflated his reckless little bosom, andsomething like water--to his great astonishment--caused interferencewith his vision.
Running forward just as the widow Lynch was officiously thrusting herwarm-hearted attentions on the invalid, he accosted the doctor, andoffered to escort him to the golden cave.
And we may here inform the reader that the involuntary affection of ourlittle hero met with a suitable return, for Dr Marsh also fell in lovewith Otto at first sight. His feelings, however, were strongly mingledwith surprise.
"My boy," he said, with painfully wide-open eyes, "from what part of thesky have _you_ dropt?"
"Well, not being a falling star or a rocket-stick, I cannot claim suchhigh descent,--but hasn't the mate told you about us?" returned Otto.
Here widow Lynch broke in with:
"Towld him about you? Av course he hasn't. He don't throuble his hidto tell much to any wan; an', sure, wasn't the doctor slaapin' whin hereturned aboord i' the night, an' wasn't I nursin' of 'im, and d'eethink any wan could git at 'im widout my lave?"
Otto thought that certainly no one could easily accomplish that feat,and was about to say so, when Dr Marsh said remonstratively--
"Now, my dear widow Lynch, do leave me to the care of this new friend,who, I am sure, is quite able to assist me, and do you go and look afterthese poor women and children. They are quite helpless without youraid. Look! your favourite Brown-eyes will be in the water if you don'trun."
The child of a poor widow, which had been styled Brown-eyes by thedoctor because of its gorgeous optics, was indeed on the point of takingan involuntary bath as he spoke. Mrs Lynch, seeing the danger, rushedtumultuously to the rescue, leaving the doctor to Otto's care.
"Don't let me lean too heavily on you," he said, looking down; "I'mbig-boned, you see, and long-legged, though rather thin."
"Pooh!" said Otto, looking up, "you're as light as a feather, and I'm asstrong as a horse,--a little horse, at least. You'd better not go tothe camp yet, they are not ready for you, and that sweet little delicatecreature you call widow Lynch is quite able to manage them all. Come upwith me to the cave. But has nobody said a word about _us_?"
"Not a soul. As the widow told you, I was asleep when the mate returnedto the wreck. Indeed, it is not very long since I awoke. I did hearsome mention in passing of a few people being on the island, but Ithought they referred to savages."
"Perhaps they were not far wrong," said Otto, with a laugh. "I do feelpretty savage sometimes, and Dominick is awful when he is roused; but wecan't count Pauline among the savages."
"Dominick! Pauline!" exclaimed the doctor. "My good fellow, explainyourself, and let us sit down on this bank while you do so. I'm sostupidly weak that walking only a few yards knocks me up."
"Well, only two or three yards further will bring you to our cave, whichis just beyond that cluster of bushes, but it may be as well toenlighten you a little before introducing you."
In a few rapid sentences Otto explained their circumstances, and howthey came to be there. He told his brief tale in sympathetic ears.
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"And your own name," asked the doctor, "is--?"
"Otto Rigonda."
"Well, Otto, my boy, you and I shall be friends; I know it--I feel it."
"And I'm _sure_ of it," responded the enthusiastic boy, grasping thehand of the invalid, and shaking it almost too warmly. "But come, Iwant to present you to my sister. Dominick is already among theemigrants, for I saw him leave the cave and go down to the camp when youwere disputing with that female grampus."
"Come, don't begin our friendship by speaking disrespectfully of one ofmy best friends," said the doctor, rising; "but for widow Lynch's tendernursing I don't think I should be here now."
"I'll respect and reverence her henceforth and for ever," said Otto."But here we are--this is the golden cave. Now you'll have to stoop,because our door was made for short men like me--and for humble longones like my brother."
"I'll try to be a humble long one," said the doctor as he stooped andfollowed Otto into the cave.
Pauline was on her knees in front of the fire, with her back to thedoor, as they entered. She was stooping low and blowing at the flamesvigorously.
"O Otto!" she exclaimed, without looking round, "this fire will break myheart. It _won't_ light!"
"More company, Pina," said her brother.
Pauline sprang up and turned round with flushed countenance anddisordered hair; and again Otto had the ineffable delight of seeinghuman beings suddenly reduced to that condition which is variouslydescribed as being "stunned," "thunderstruck," "petrified," and "struckall of a heap" with surprise.
Pauline was the first to recover self-possession.
"Really, Otto, it is too bad of you to take one by surprise so. Excuseme, sir,--no doubt you are one of the unfortunates who have beenwrecked. I have much pleasure in offering you the hospitality of ourhumble home!"
Pauline spoke at first half jestingly, but when she looked full at thethin, worn countenance of the youth who stood speechless before her, sheforgot surprise and everything else in a feeling of pity.
"But you have been ill," she continued, sympathetically; "this wreckmust have--pray sit down."
She placed a little stool for her visitor beside the fire.
If Dr John Marsh had spoken the words that sprang to his lips he wouldhave begun with "Angelic creature," but he suppressed his feelings andonly stammered--
"Your b-brother, Miss Rigonda, must have a taste for taking people bysurprise, for he did not tell me that--that--I--I mean he did notprepare me for--for--you are right. I think I had better sit down, forI have, as you perceive, been very ill, and am rather weak, and--and inthe circumstances such an unexpected--a--"
At this critical moment Dominick fortunately entered the cave, andrescued the doctor from the quicksand, in which he was floundering.
"Oh! you must be the very man I want," he said, grasping his visitor bythe hand.
"That is strange," returned the doctor, with a languid smile, "seeingthat you have never met me before."
"True, my good sir; nevertheless I may venture to say that I know youwell, for there's a termagant of an Irish woman down at the camp goingabout wringing her hands, shouting out your good qualities in the mostpathetic tones, and giving nobody a moment's peace because she does notknow what has become of you. Having a suspicion that my brother musthave found you and brought you here, I came to see. But pray, may I askyour name, for the Irish woman only describes you as `Doctor, dear!'"
"Allow me to introduce him," cried Otto, "as an old friend of mine--DrMarsh."
Dominick looked at his brother in surprise.
"Otto is right," said the doctor, with a laugh, "at least if feeling maybe permitted to do duty for time in gauging the friendship."
"Well, Dr Marsh, we are happy to make your acquaintance, despite thesadness of the circumstances," said Dominick, "and will do all we canfor you and your friends; meanwhile, may I ask you to come to the campand relieve the mind of your worshipper, for I can scarcely call herless."
Poor Dr Marsh, feeling greatly exhausted by excitement as much as byexertion, was on the point of excusing himself and begging his host tofetch the widow up to the cave, when he was saved the trouble by thewidow herself, whose voice was just then heard outside.
"What's that yer sayin', Joe?" she exclaimed in a remonstrative tone,"ye seed 'im go into that rabbit-hole? Never! Don't tell me! Arrahit's on his hands an knees he'd have to do it."
The voice which replied was pitched in a much deeper and softer key, butit was heard distinctly to say, "Ay, widdy Lynch, that's the door I seedhim an' a boy go through; so ye'd better rap at it an' inquire."
"Faix, an' that's jist what I'll do, though I don't half belave ye."
She was about to apply her large red knuckles to the door in questionwhen her intention was frustrated and her doubts were scattered by thedoor opening and Dominick presenting himself.
"Come in, Mrs Lynch, come in. Your doctor is here, alive and well."
"Well, is it--ah! I wish he was! Are ye there, darlin'?"
"Yes, yes," came from within, in a laughing voice. "Here I am, MrsLynch, all right and comfortable. Come in."
Being excessively tall, the widow was obliged, like others, to stoop toenter; but being also excessively broad, she only got her head andshoulders through the doorway, and then, unlike others, she stuck fast.By dint, however, of a good pull from Dominick and a gentle push fromJoe, she was got inside without quite carrying away the structure whichthe gale of the preceding night had spared.
"Och! 'tis a quare place intirely, and there is some disadvantage inbein' big--thank ye kindly, sir--but on the whole--"
She got no further, for at that moment her sharp little grey eyes fellon Pauline, and once again Otto's heart was stirred to its profoundestdepths by the expressive glare that ensued. Indeed, Dominick and Marshwere equally affected, and could not help laughing.
"Ha! ye may laugh," said the widow, with profound solemnity, "but ifit's not dramin' I am, what Father Macgrath says about ghosts is true,and--"
"I hope you don't take _me_ for a ghost, Mrs Lynch," said Pauline,stepping forward with a kindly smile and holding out her hand.
"No, cushla! I don't," returned the widow, accepting the hand tenderly."Sure it's more like a ghost the doctor is, in spite of his larfin'.But wonders 'll niver cease. I'll lave 'im wid an aisy mind, for he'sin good hands. Now, Joe, clear out o' the door, like a good man, an'let me through. They'll be wantin' me at the camp. A good haul, Joe,I'm tough; no fear o' me comin' to pieces. Och! but it's a poor cabin.An Irish pig wouldn't thank ye for it."
Murmuring similar uncomplimentary remarks, mingled with expressions ofsurprise, the voice of the woman gradually died away, and the people inthe golden cave were left to discuss their situation and form hastyplans for the present emergency.
At first, of course, they could do little else than make each otherpartially acquainted with the circumstances which had so strangelythrown them together, but Dominick soon put an end to this desultorytalk.
"You see, it will take all our time," he said, "between this and sunsetto get the emigrants comfortably under canvas, or some sort of shelter."
"True," assented Dr Marsh, "and it would never do with so many womenand children, some of whom are on the sick list, to leave them to therisk of exposure to another storm like that which has just passed. Isyour island subject to such?"
"By no means," answered Dominick. "It has a splendid climate. Thisgale is quite exceptional. Nevertheless, we cannot tell when the nextmay burst on us. Come, Otto, you and I will go down to the camp. Now,Dr Marsh, you must remain here. I can see, without being told, thatyou are quite unfit to help us. I know that it is hard to be condemnedto inaction when all around are busy, but reflect how many patients youhave solemnly warned that their recovery would depend on implicitobedience to the doctor's orders! Divide yourself in two, now, and, asa doctor, give yourself strict orders to remain quiet."
"H'm! Gladly would I divide myself
," was the doctor's reply, "if whileI left the patient half to act the invalid, I could take the impatienthalf down to the camp to aid you. But I submit. The days of my onceboasted strength are gone. I feel more helpless than a mouse."
There was something quite pitiful in the half-humorous look, and theweary sigh, with which the poor youth concluded his remarks, and Ottowas so touched that he suddenly suggested the propriety of his stayingbehind and taking care of him.
"Why, you conceited creature," cried Dominick, "of what use could _you_be? Besides, don't you think that Pina is a sufficiently good nurse?"
Otto humbly admitted that she was.
Dr Marsh, glancing at her pretty face, on which at the moment therebeamed an expression of deep sympathy, also admitted that she was; but,being a man of comparatively few words, he said nothing.
It was a busy day for Dominick and his brother. Not only had they tocounsel and advise with the unfortunate emigrants as to the bestposition for the temporary encampment, with reference to wood and water,as well as to assist with their own hands in the erection of tents madeof torn sails and huts and booths composed of broken planks and reeds,but they had to answer innumerable questions from the inquisitive as totheir own history, from the anxious as to the probabilities ofdeliverance, from the practical as to the resources of the islands, andfrom the idiotic as to everything in general and nothing in particular.In addition to which they had to encourage the timid, to correct themistaken, and to remonstrate with or resist the obstinate; also to rompa little with the children as they recovered their spirits, quiet thebabies as they recovered their powers of lung, and do a little amateurdoctoring for the sick in the absence of the medical man.
In all these varied occupations they were much aided by the widow Lynch,who, instead of proving to be, as they had expected, a troublesometermagant, turned out to be a soft-hearted, kindly, enthusiastic,sympathetic woman, with a highly uneducated, unbalanced mind, apowerfully constituted and masculine frame, and "a will of her own." Inthis last particular she did not differ much from the rest of the humanspecies, but she was afflicted with an unusually strong desire to assertit.
Very like Mrs Lynch in the matters of kindly soft-heartedness andsympathy was Mrs Welsh--a poor, gentle, delicate Englishwoman, the wifeof a great hulking cross-grained fellow named Abel, who was a carpenterby trade and an idler by preference. Mrs Welsh was particularly goodas a sick-nurse and a cook, in which capacities she made herselfextremely useful.
About midday, Mrs Welsh having prepared a glorious though simple mealfor her section of the emigrant band, and the other sections having beenministered to more or less successfully by their more or less capablecooks, Dominick and Otto went up to the golden cave to dinner, whichthey well knew the faithful Pauline would have ready waiting for them.
"What a day we have had, to be sure!" said Dominick as they walkedalong; "and I'm as hungry as a kangaroo."
Without noticing the unreasonableness of supposing that long-leggedcreature to be the hungriest of animals, Otto declared that he was inthe same condition, "if not more so."
On opening the door they were checked by the expression of Pauline'sface, the speaking eyes of which, and the silent mouth, wereconcentrated into an unmistakable "hush!"--which was emphasised by asignificant forefinger.
"What's wrong?" whispered Dominick, anxiously.
"Sleeping," murmured Pauline--she was too good a nurse to whisper--pointing to the invalid, who, overcome with the night's exposure and themorning's excitement, had fallen into a profound slumber on Otto'shumble couch.
This was a rather severe and unexpected trial to Otto, who had come upto the cave brimming over with camp news for Pauline's benefit. He feltthat it was next to impossible to relate in a whisper all the doings andsayings, comical and otherwise, that he had seen and heard that day. Toeat his dinner and say nothing seemed equally impossible. To awaken thewearied sleeper was out of the question. However, there was nothing forit but to address himself to the suppression of his feelings. Probablyit was good for him to be thus self-disciplined; certainly it waspainful.
He suffered chiefly at the top of the nose--inside behind his eyes--thatbeing the part of the safety-valve where bursts of laughter werechecked; and more than once, while engaged in a whispering commentary onthe amiable widow Lynch, the convulsions within bade fair to blow thenasal organ off his face altogether. Laughter is catching. Pauline andDominick, ere long, began to wish that Otto would hold his tongue. Atlast, some eccentricity of Joe Binney, or his brother, or Mrs Lynch, weforget which, raised the pressure to such a pitch that the safety-valvesof all three became ineffective. They all exploded in unison, and poorMarsh was brought to consciousness, surprise, and a sitting posture atthe same instant.
"I'm afraid," he said, rather sheepishly, "that I've been sleeping."
"You have, doctor, and a right good sleep you've had," said Dominick,rising and placing a stool for the invalid. "We ought to apologise fordisturbing you; but come, sit down and dine. You must be hungry by thistime."
"Indeed I am. The land air seems to have had a powerful effect on mealready."
"Truly it must," remarked Pauline, "else you could not have fallenasleep in the very middle of my glowing description of our island home."
"Did I really do that?" said the doctor, with an air of self-reproach.
"Indeed you did; but in the circumstances you are to be excused."
"And I hope," added Dominick, "that you'll have many a good sleep in ourgolden cave."
"Golden cave, indeed," echoed the invalid, in thought, for his mind wastoo much taken up just then with Pauline to find vent in speech. "Agolden cave it will be to me for evermore!"
It is of no use mincing the matter; Dr John Marsh, after being regardedby his friends at home as hopelessly unimpressible--in short, anabsolute woman-hater--had found his fate on a desolate isle of theSouthern seas, he had fallen--nay, let us be just--had jumped over headand ears in love with Pauline Rigonda! Dr Marsh was no sentimentaldie-away noodle who, half-ashamed, half-proud of his condition, displaysit to the semi-contemptuous world. No; after disbelieving for manyyears in the power of woman to subdue him, he suddenly and manfully gavein--sprang up high into the air, spiritually, and so to speak, turning asharp somersault, went headlong down deep into the flood, without theslightest intention of ever again returning to the surface.
But of this mighty upheaval and overturning of his sentiments hebetrayed no symptom whatever, excepting two bright spots--one on eithercheek--which might easily have been mistaken for the effects ofweakness, or recent excitement, or bad health, or returning hunger.Calmly he set to work on the viands before him with unusual appetite,conversing earnestly, meanwhile, with Dominick and Otto on the gravityof their situation, and bestowing no more attention upon Pauline thanwas barely consistent with good breeding, insomuch that that prettyyoung creature began to feel somewhat aggrieved. Considering all thecare she had so recently bestowed on him, she came to the conclusion, inshort, that he was by no means as polite as at first she had supposedhim to be.
By degrees the conversation about the present began to give place todiscussions as to the future, and when Dominick and Otto returned fortheir evening meal at sunset, bringing with them Mr Malines, the mate,and Joe Binney and his brother David and Hugh Morris as beingrepresentative men of the emigrants and ship's crew, the meetingresolved itself into a regular debating society. At this point Paulinedeserted them and went down to the camp to cultivate the acquaintance ofthe widow Lynch, Mrs Welsh, and the other female and infantine membersof the wrecked party.
"For my part," said Malines, "I shall take one o' the boats, launch itin the lagoon, and go over to the big island, follow me who may, for itis clear that there's not room for us all on this strip of sand."
"I don't see that," objected Hugh Morris. "Seems to me as there's spaceenough for all of us, if we're not too greedy."
"That shows ye knows nothin' about land, Hugh," said Joe Binney."What
's of it here is not only too little, but too sandy. I votes forthe big island."
"So does I," said David Binney. "Big Island for me."
Thus, incidentally, was the large island named.
"But," said Hugh, still objecting, "it won't be half so convenient togit things out o' the wreck, as where we are."
"Pooh! that's nothing," said Malines. "It won't cost us much trouble tocarry all we want across a spit of sand."
Seeing that the two men were getting angry with each other, Dominickinterposed by blandly stating that he knew well the capabilities of thespot on which they were encamped, and he was sure that such a partywould require more ground if they meant to settle on it.
"Well now, master," observed Joe, with a half-laugh, "we don't 'zactlymean for to settle on it, but here we be, an' here we must be, till aship takes us off, an' we can't afford to starve, 'ee know, so we'lljust plough the land an' plant our seed, an' hope for good weather an'heavy crops; so I says Big Island!"
"An' so says I--Big Island for ever!" repeated his brother David.
After a good deal more talk and altercation this was finally agreed to,and the meeting dissolved itself.
That night, at the darkest hour, another meeting was held in the darkestspot that could be found near the camp. It chanced, unknown to themeeting, to be the burial-ground at first discovered by the Rigondas.
Unwittingly, for it was very dark, Hugh Morris seated himself on one ofthe old graves, and about thirty like-minded men gathered round him.Little did they know that Otto was one of the party! Our little hero,being sharp eyed and eared, had seen and overheard enough in the campthat day to induce him to watch Morris after he left the cave, andfollow him to the rendezvous.
"My lads," said Morris, "I've done my best to keep them to the reef, butthat blackguard Malines won't hear of it. He's bent on takin' 'em allto the big island, so they're sure to go, and we won't get the help o'the other men: but no matter; wi' blocks an' tackle we'll do itourselves, so we can afford to remain quiet till our opportunity comes.I'm quite sure the ship lays in such a position that we can get her overthe ledge into deep water, and so be able to draw round into the opensea, and then--"
"Hurrah for the black flag and the southern seas," cried one of theparty.
"No, no, Jabez Jenkins," said Morris, "we don't mean to be pirates; onlyfree rovers."
"Hallo! what's this?" exclaimed another of the party. "A cross, I dobelieve! and this mound--why, it's a grave!"
"And here's another one!" said Jabez, in a hoarse whisper. "Seems to mewe've got into a cannibal churchyard, or--"
"Bo-o-o-o-oo!" groaned Otto at that moment, in the most horriblysepulchral tone he could command.
Nothing more was wanted. With one consent the conspirators leapt up andfled from the dreadful spot in a frenzy of unutterable consternation.