CHAPTER EIGHT.
THE CORONATION--CROWN-MAKING DELIBERATIONS, CEREMONIALS, ANDCATASTROPHES.
There came a day, not many weeks later in the history of our emigrants,when great preparations were made for an important and unusual event.
This was neither more nor less than the coronation of Queen Pauline theFirst.
The great event had been delayed by the unfortunate illness of the electqueen herself--an illness brought on by reckless exposure in the pursuitof the picturesque and beautiful among the islets of the lagoon. Inother words, Otto and she, when off on a fishing and sketching excursionin the dinghy of the wreck, had been caught in a storm and drenched tothe skin. The result to Otto was an increase of appetite; to Pauline, asharp attack of fever, which confined her for some time to the palace,as their little hut was now styled. Here the widow Lynch--acting theunited parts of nurse, lady of the bedchamber, mistress of the robes,maid of honour, _chef de cuisine_, and any other office that the readermay recollect as belonging to royalty--did so conduct herself as to gainnot only the approval but the affection and gratitude of her royalmistress.
During the period of Pauline's convalescence considerable changes hadtaken place in the circumstances and condition of the community. Themere fact that a government had been fixed on, the details of which werebeing wrought out by a committee of leading men appointed by the people,tended to keep the turbulent spirits pretty quiet, and enabled thewell-disposed to devote all their strength of mind and body to thevarious duties that devolved upon them and the improving of theircircumstances. Busy workers are usually peaceful. They have no time toquarrel. It is only when turbulent idlers interfere with or oppressthem that the industrious are compelled to show their teeth and set uptheir backs.
During these weeks the appearance of the shores of Big Island began tochange materially. All round the edge of Silver Bay a number of brightgreen patches were enclosed by rough but effective fences. These werethe gardens of the community, in which sweet potatoes, yams, etcetera,grew spontaneously, while some vegetables of the northern hemisphere hadalready been sown, and were in some cases even beginning to show aboveground. In these gardens, when the important work of planting had beenfinished, the people set about building huts of various shapes andsizes, according to their varying taste and capacity.
Even at this early stage in the life of the little community thedifficulties which necessarily surround a state of civilisation began toappear, and came out at one of the frequent, though informal, meetingsof the men on the sands of Silver Bay. It happened thus:--
It was evening. The younger and more lively men of the community,having a large store of surplus energy unexhausted after the labours ofthe day, began, as is the wont of the young and lively, to compete withone another in feats of agility and strength, while a group of theirelders stood, sat, or reclined on a bank, discussing the affairs of thenation, and some of them enjoying their pipes--for, you see, everythingin the wreck having been saved, they had, among other bad things, plentyof tobacco.
Dr Marsh sat among the elders, for, although several weeks on shore hadgreatly restored his health, he was still too weak to join in theathletics. A few of the women and children also looked on, but theystood aside by themselves, not feeling very much interested in thesomewhat heated discussions of the men.
By degrees these discussions degenerated into disputes, and became atlast so noisy that the young athletes were attracted, and some of themtook part in the debates.
"I tell 'ee what it is," exclaimed Nobbs, the blacksmith, raising hispowerful voice above the other voices, and lifting his huge fist in theair, "something'll have to be done, for I can't go on workin' fornothin' in this fashion."
"No more can I, or my mates," said Abel Welsh, the carpenter.
"Here comes the Prime Minister," cried Teddy Malone.
"To _be_--he ain't Prime Minister yet," growled Jabez Jenkins, who,being a secret ally of Hugh Morris, was one of the disaffected, and had,besides, a natural tendency to growl and object to everything.
"He _is_ Prime Minister," cried the fiery little Buxley, starting up andextending his hand with the air of one who is about to make a speech."No doubt the Queen ain't crowned yet, an' hasn't therefore appointedany one to be her Minister, but we know she means to do it and we're allagreed about it."
"No we ain't," interrupted Jenkins, angrily.
"Well, the most on us, then," retorted Buxley.
"Shut up, you radical!" said Nobbs, giving the tailor a facetious slapon the back, "an' let's hear what the Prime Minister himself has got tosay about it."
"What is the subject under discussion?" inquired Dominick, who, withOtto, joined the group of men at the moment and flung down a basket offine fish which he had just caught in the lagoon.
He turned to Dr Marsh for an answer.
"Do _you_ explain your difficulties," said the doctor to the blacksmith.
"Well, sir," said Nobbs, "here's where it is. When I fust comed ashorean' set up my anvil an' bellows I went to work with a will, enjyin' thefun o' the thing an' the novelty of the sitivation; an' as we'd lots ofiron of all kinds I knocked off nails an' hinges an' all sorts o' thingsfor anybody as wanted 'em. Similarly, w'en Abel Welsh comed ashore hewent to work with his mates at the pit-saw an' tossed off no end o'planks, etceterer. But you see, sir, arter a time we come for to findthat we're workin' to the whole population for nothin', and whileeverybody else is working away at his own hut or garden, or what not,_our_ gardens is left to work themselves, an' _our_ huts is nowhere!Now, as we've got no money to pay for work with, and as stones an'shells won't answer the purpus--seein' there's a sight too much of 'em--the question is, what's to be done?"
"Not an easy question to answer, Nobbs," said Dominick, "and one thatrequires serious consideration. Perhaps, instead of trying to answer itat present, we might find a temporary expedient for the difficulty untila Committee of the House--if I may say so--shall investigate the wholeproblem." (Hear, hear from Malone, Redding, and Buxley, and a growlfrom Jenkins.) "I would suggest, then, in the meantime, that while Nobbsand Welsh,--who are, perhaps, the most useful men among us--continue toply their trades for the benefit of the community, every man in thecommunity shall in turn devote a small portion of time to working in thegardens and building the huts of these two men." (Hear, hear, from agreat many of the hearers, and dissenting growls from a few.) "But,"continued Dominick, "as there are evidently some here who are not of anobliging disposition, and as the principle of willing service lies atthe root of all social felicity, I would further suggest that, until ourQueen is crowned and the Government fairly set up, all such labour shallbe undertaken entirely by volunteers."
This proposal was agreed to with boisterous acclaim, and nearly thewhole community volunteered on the spot. While this little difficultywas being overcome, Pauline lay sleeping in the palace hard by, and theenthusiastic cheer with which the conclusion of Dominick's speech wasreceived awoke her.
"There--I know'd they'd do it!" exclaimed the lady of the bedchamberfiercely; "lie still, cushla! an' shut your purty eyes. Maybe you'lldrop off again!"
A humorous smile beamed in Pauline's countenance and twinkled in hereyes.
"Thank you, dear nurse, I've had enough of sleep. Indeed, I begin tofeel so strong that I think I shall very soon be able to undergo that--"
Pauline stopped and burst into a fit of merry laughter.
"It's that caronation, now, ye'll be thinkin' av?" said the widow Lynch,with a reproving look. "Faix, it's no laughin' matter ye'll find it,dear. It's onaisy is the hid as wears a crown."
"Why you talk, nurse, as if you had worn one yourself, and knew allabout its troubles."
"Sure, av I didn't, me progenissors did, in Munster, before you Englishkonkered us an' turned us topsy-turvy. But nivver mind. I don't bearno ill-will to 'ee, darlint, bekaise o' the evil deeds o' yerforefathers. I'm of a forgivin' disposition. An' it's a good quaneyou'll make, too, av ye don't let the men ha
ve too much o' their ownway. But I do think that you an' me togither'll be more than a matchfor them all. D'ee think ye could stand the caronation now, dear?"
"Yes, I think I could. But really, you know, I find it so hard tobelieve it is not all a joke, despite the grave deputations that havewaited on me, and the serious arguments they have used. The idea ofmaking me--_Me_--a Queen!"
Again Pauline Rigonda gave way to merry laughter, and again did her ladyof the bedchamber administer a reproof by expressing the hope that shemight take the matter as lightly a year hence.
This pertinacious reference to possible trouble being mingled with thecontemplated honour checked Pauline's disposition to laugh, and she hadquite recovered her gravity when her brother Otto entered.
"Pina, I've come to tell you that they've fixed the coronation forMonday next if you feel up to it, and that the new palace is begun--avery different one, let me tell you, from this wretched affair with itstumble-down walls and low roof."
"Indeed--is it so very grand?"
"Grand! I should think it is. Why, it has got three rooms--_three_rooms--think o' that! Not countin' a splendid out-house stuck onbehind, about ten feet square and over six feet high. Each of the threerooms is twelve feet long by ten broad; seven feet high, and paperedwith palm leaves. The middle one is the hall of Audience and Justice--or injustice if you like--the Council Chamber, the House of Parliament,the mess-room, and the drawing-room. The one on the right with twowindows, from which are magnificent views, is your Majesty'ssleeping-room and boudoir; that on the left is the ditto of PrimeMinister Dominick and his Chief Secretary Prince Otto. The sort ofhen-coop stuck on behind is to be the abode of the Court Physician, DrJohn Marsh--whom, by the way, you'll have to knight--and with whom is tobe billeted the Court Jester, Man-at-Arms, Man-of-all-work and generalretainer, little Buxley. So, you see, it's all cut and dry, though ofcourse it will take some little time to finish the palace in all itsmultitudinous details. Meanwhile I have been sent to sound you as toMonday next. Will you be able and ready?"
"If I could only get myself to believe," answered Pauline, as she leanedon one elbow on her couch, and toyed contemplatively with a fold of theshawl that covered her, "that the people are really in earnest, I--"
"Really in earnest!" repeated Otto. "Why, Pina, never were people morein earnest in this world. If you'd heard and seen them talking about itas I have, you'd not doubt their earnestness. Besides, you have no ideahow needful you are to the community. The fact is, it is composed ofsuch rough and rowdy elements--though of course there are somerespectable and well-principled fellows among them--that nothing shortof a power standing high above them and out o' their reach will have anyinfluence with them at all. There are so many strong, determined, andself-willed men amongst them that there's no chance of their everagreeing to submit to each other; so, you see, you are a sort of goodangel, before whom they will be only too glad to bow--a kind of superiorbeing, whom they will reverence, and to whom they will submit--a humansafety-valve, in short, to prevent the community from blowing up--aspecies of--of--"
Here Pauline burst into another of her irrepressible fits of laughter,and being joined therein by Prince Otto, called forth a remonstrancefrom Mrs Lynch, who declared that if that was the way they were goin'to manage the affairs of state, she would be obliged to advise thesettlers to change their minds and set up a republic.
"An' sure, mother," said Otto, who was a privileged favourite, "nothingcould be better, with yourself as President."
"Go along wid ye, boy, an' do yer dooty. Tell the people that MissPauline will be ready--wind an' weather permittin'."
"Am I to take back that message, Pina?" asked Otto, with a look of glee.
"Well, I suppose you may."
It was not in the nature of things that a coronation in thecircumstances which we have described should take place without beingmore or less intermingled with the unavoidable absurdities which markthe coronations of older and more densely peopled lands. It was feltthat as the act was a seriously meant reality, and no mere joke, itshould be gone about and accomplished with all due solemnity and properceremonial, somewhat after the pattern--as Teddy Malone suggested--of aLord Mayor's Show; a suggestion, by the way, which did not conduce tothe solemnity of the preliminary discussions.
There was one great difficulty, however, with which the embryo nationhad to contend, and this was that not one of the community had ever seena coronation, or knew how the details of the matter should be arranged.
In these circumstances an assembly of the entire nation was convened toconsider the matter. As this convention embraced the women (except, ofcourse, the queen elect), it included the babies, and as most of thesewere self-assertive and well-developed in chest and throat, it was foundnecessary to relegate them and the women to an outer circle, while themen in an inner circle tackled the problem.
The widow Lynch, being quite irrepressible except by physical force, andeven by that with difficulty, was admitted on sufferance to the innercircle, and took part in the discussions.
Like most large assemblies, this one was found so unmanageable, that,after an hour or two of hopeless wrangling, Buxley the tailor started upwith dishevelled hair and glaring eyeballs, and uttered a yell thatproduced a momentary silence. Seizing the moment, he said--
"I moves that we apint a committee to inquire into the whole matter an'report."
"Hear, hear, and well said!" shouted a multitude of voices.
"An' _I_ moves," cried Mrs Lynch, starting forward with both arms upand all her fingers rampant, "that--"
"No, no, mother," interrupted Buxley, "you must second the motion."
"Howld yer tongue, ye dirty spalpeen! Isn't it the second motion thatI'm puttin'? _I_ moves that the committee is Mr Dumnik Rig Gundy an'Dr Marsh--"
"An' _Mister_ Nobbs," shouted a voice.
"An' _Mister_ Joe Binney," said another.
"An' _little_ Mister Buxley, be way of variashun," cried Teddy Malone.
"An' Mistress Lynch, for a change," growled Jabez Jenkins.
"Hear, hear! No, no! Hurrah! Nonsense! Howld yer tongue! Beserious!"--gradually drowned in a confusion of tongues with a yellingaccompaniment from infantry in the outer circle.
It was finally agreed, however, that the arrangements for the coronationshould be left entirely to a committee composed of Dominick, Dr Marsh,Joe Binney, and Hugh Morris--Joe being put forward as representing theagricultural interest, and Hugh the malcontents. Teddy Malone was addedto make an odd number, "for there's luck in odd numbers," as he himselfremarked on accepting office.
Immediately after the general meeting broke up, these five retired tothe privacy of a neighbouring palm grove, where, seated on a verdant andflowering bank, they proceeded calmly to discuss details.
"You see, my friends," said Dominick, "it must be our most earnestendeavour to carry out this important matter in a serious andbusiness-like manner. Already there is too much of a spirit of levityamong the people, who seem to look at the whole affair as a sort of gameor joke, playing, as it were, at national life, whereas we actually_are_ an independent nation--"
"A small wan, av coorse," murmured Malone.
"Yes, a small one, but not the less real on that account, so that we areentitled to manage our own affairs, arrange our own government, and,generally, to act according to our united will. These islands and theirsurroundings are unknown--at least they are not put down on any chart; Ibelieve we have discovered them. There are no inhabitants to set up acounter claim; therefore, being entitled to act according to our will,our appointment of a queen to rule us--under limited powers, to behereafter well considered and clearly written down--is a reality; not amere play or semi-jest to be undone lightly when the fancy takes us.That being so, we must go to work with gravity and earnestness ofpurpose."
Teddy Malone, who was an impressionable creature, here became sosolemnised that his lengthening visage and seriously wrinkled browrendered gravity--especially on the
part of Dr Marsh--almostimpossible.
Overcoming his feelings with a powerful effort the doctor assented towhat Dominick said, and suggested that some mild sort of ceremonialshould be devised for the coronation, in order to impress the beholdersas well as to mark the event.
"That's so," said Teddy Malone, "somethin' quiet an' orderly, like anIrish wake, or--. Ah! then ye needn't smile, doctor. It's the quietestan' most comfortin' thing in life is an Irish wake whin it's gone aboutproperly."
"But we don't want comforting, Teddy," said Dominick, "it is rather asubject for rejoicing."
"Well, then, what's to hinder us rejoicin' in comfort?" returned Teddy."At all the wakes I ivver attinded there was more rejoicin' thancomfortin' goin' on; but that's a matter of taste, av coorse."
"There'll have to be a crown o' some sort," remarked Hugh Morris.
"You're right, lad," said Joe Binney. "It wouldn't do to make it o'pasteboard, would it? P'r'aps that 'ud be too like playin' at a game,an' tin would be little better."
"What else can we make it of, boys?" said Malone, "we've got no gooldhere--worse luck! but maybe the carpenter cud make wan o' wood. With alick o' yellow paint it would look genuine."
"Nonsense, Teddy," said the doctor, "don't you see that in this life menshould always be guided by circumstances, and act with propriety. Herewe are on an island surrounded by coral reefs, going to elect a queen;what more appropriate than that her crown should be made of coral."
"The very thing, doctor," cried Malone, with emphasis, "och! it's thegenius ye have! There's all kinds o' coral, red and white, an' we couldmix it up wi' some o' that fine-coloured seaweed to make it purty."
"It could be made pritty enough without seaweed," said Binney, "an' it'smy notion that the women-folk would be best at makin' of it."
"Right, Joe, right, so, if you have no objection, we will leave it tothem," said Dominick, "and now as to the ceremonial?"
"A pursession," suggested Joe Binney.
"Just so," said Hugh Morris, "the very thing as was in my mind."
"And a throne," cried Malone, "there couldn't be a proper quane widout athrone, you know. The carpenter can make that, anyhow, for there's woodgalore on the island--red, black, an' white. Yis, we must have a grandthrone, cut, an' carved, an' mounted high, so as she'll have two orthree steps to climb up to it."
In regard to the procession and the throne there was considerabledifference of opinion, but difficulties were got over and smoothed downat last by the tact and urbanity of Dominick, to whom, finally, thewhole question of the coronation was committed. Thus it frequentlyhappens among men. In the multitude of counsellors there is wisdomenough, usually, to guide in the selection of the fittest man to takethe helm in all important affairs.
And that reminds us that it is high time to terminate this longdigression, and guide our readers back to the beginning of the chapter,where we stated that the important day had at last arrived.
Happily, in those highly favoured climes weather has not usually to betaken much into account. The sun arose out of the ocean's breast withthe same unclouded beauty that had marked his rise every morning for aweek previously, and would probably mark it for a week to come. Thesweet scents of the wooded heights floated down on the silver strand;the sharks ruffled the surface of the lagoon with their black fins, thebirds hopped or flew from palm-tree to mimosa-bush, and the waterfowlwent about according to taste on lazy or whistling wings, intent ondaily business, much as though nothing unusual were "in the air."
But it was otherwise with the human family on Big Island. Unwontedexcitement was visible on almost every face. Bustle was in everyaction. Preparations were going on all round, and, as some members ofthe community were bent on giving other members a surprise, there wasmore or less of secrecy and consequent mystery in the behaviour of everyone.
By breakfast-time little Mrs Nobbs, the blacksmith's laughter-lovingwife, had nearly laughed herself into fits of delight at the crown,which she assisted Mrs Welsh and the widow Lynch to fabricate. Thelast had devised it, Mrs Welsh had built it in the rough, and MrsNobbs had finished it off with the pretty little wreath of red and whitebranching coral that formed its apex. Apart from taste it was astupendous erection.
"But don't you think that it's too big and heavy?" cried Mrs Nobbs,with a shrieking giggle and clapping of her hands, as she ran back tohave a distant view of it.
"Pooh!" exclaimed Mrs Lynch contemptuously, "too heavy? No, it'snothin', my dear, to what the kings an' quanes of Munster wore."
"But Miss Pauline is neither a king nor a queen of Munster, an' I dothink it's a bit over-heavy," objected Mrs Welsh, as she lifted thestructure with difficulty.
"Well, ye might take off the wreath," was the widow's reply.
Mrs Nobbs removed the only part of the erection that was really pretty,but still it was pronounced by Mrs Welsh to be too heavy, especiallyfor the fair and delicate brows of Pauline Rigonda.
While they were thus engaged Dr Marsh entered the hut, where, for thesake of secrecy, the crown had been prepared, but Dr Marsh was aprivileged man, besides he was there professionally; little Brown-eyeswas sick--not seriously, but sufficiently so to warrant medicalintervention.
"Well, what have we here, ladies?" said the doctor blandly, "part of thethrone, eh?"
"Sure it is, in a sort of way, for it's the crown," answered Mrs Lynch,"an' they think it's over-heavy."
"Not at all; by no means," cried the doctor heartily. "It's splendid.Put the wreath on--so. Nothing could be finer. Shall I carry it up foryou? The coronation is fixed for noon, you know, so that we may havetime to finish off with a grand feast."
"No, no, doctor dear. Thank 'ee kindly, but we must cover it up, so'snot to let the people see it till the right time."
"Well, see that you're not late with it."
Having caused Brown-eyes to put out her little tongue, and felt herpulse, and nodded his head gravely once or twice without speaking, allof which must have been highly comforting and beneficial to the child,the doctor went out.
Not long afterwards the people began to assemble round the palace, infront of which a wondrous throne had been erected. Down in a dellbehind a cliff some fifty men had assembled secretly with the crown on acushion in their midst. They were headed by Dr Marsh, who had beenunanimously elected to place the crown on Pauline's head. In the palacePauline was being prepared by Mrs Lynch and Mrs Nobbs for theceremony.
On the top of a mound close to the palace a band of conspirators wasassembled. These conspirators were screened from view by some thickbushes. Otto Rigonda was their ringleader, Teddy Malone and littleBuxley formed the rest of the band. Otto had found a dead tree. Itstrunk had been hollowed by decay. He and his fellow-conspirators hadsawn it off near to the ground, and close to the root they had drilled atouch-hole. This huge piece of ordnance they had loaded with a heavycharge of the ship's gunpowder. Otto now stood ready with a piece ofslow-match at the touch-hole, and another piece, lighted, in hand.
Suddenly, about the hour of noon, Abel Welsh the carpenter, and Nobbsthe blacksmith, issued from the palace with two long tin implements.Secretly, for two weeks previously, had these devoted men retired everynight to the opposite extremity of Big Island, and frightened into fitsthe birds and beasts of that region with the sounds they produced inpractising on those instruments. Applying the trumpets to their lips,they sent forth a tremendous, though not uniform, blast.
The surrounding crowd, who expected something, but knew not what,replied with a cheer not unmixed with laughter, for the two trumpets,after the manner of asses, had to make some ineffectual preliminaryefforts before achieving a full-toned bray. An answering note from thedell, however, repressed the laughter and awoke curiosity. Next momentthe doctor appeared carrying the crown, and followed by his fifty men,armed with muskets, rifles, fowling-pieces, and revolvers. Theirappearance was so realistic and impressive that the people forgot tocheer. At the same moment the palace door was thrown open,
and Dominickled the youthful queen to the foot of the throne.
Poor little Pauline looked so modest and pretty, and even timid, andwithal so angelically innocent in the simplicity of her attire, that thepeople burst into an earnestly enthusiastic shout, and began for thefirst time to feel that this was no game or play, but a serious reality.
Things had been so arranged that Pina and Dr Marsh reached the foot ofthe throne together. Then the latter took the pretty coral wreath offthe huge crown, and, to widow Lynch's felt, but not expressed,indignation, placed _that_ on Pauline's head.
"Pauline Rigonda," he said in a loud voice, "I have been appointed bythe people of this island to crown you, in their name and by theirauthority, as Queen of Refuge Islands, in the full belief that yourinnocence and regard for truth and righteousness will be their bestguarantee that you will select as your assistants the men whom you thinkbest suited to aid you in the promotion of good government."
The serious tone of the doctor's voice, and the genuine shouts ofsatisfaction from the people, put the poor little queen in such aflutter that nearly all her courage forsook her, and she could scarcelyreply. Nevertheless, she had a mind of her own.
"Doctor Marsh, and my dear people," she said at last, "I--I scarcelyknow how to reply. You overrate me altogether; but--but, if I rule atall, I will do so by the blessed truths of this book (she held up aBible); and--and before taking a single step further I appoint as my--myPrime Minister--if I may so call him--Joe Binney."
For one moment there was the silence of amazement, for neither Dominicknor Dr Marsh knew of Pauline's intention. Only the widow Lynch hadbeen aware of her resolve. Next moment a hilarious cheer burst from thecrowd, and Teddy Malone, from his retreat, shouted, "God bliss theQuane!" which infused hearty laughter into the cheer, whereupon Welshand Nobbs, thinking the right time had come, sent out of their tintubes, after a few ineffectual blurts, two terrific brays. Fearing tobe too late, one of the armed men let off his piece, which was thesignal for a grand _feu de joie_.
"Now for it," thought the chief conspirator in the bushes, as he appliedhis light to the slow-match. He thought nothing more just then, for theslow-match proved to be rather quick, fired the powder at once, and themonster cannon, bursting with a hideous roar into a thousand pieces,blew Otto through the bushes and down the mound, at the foot of which helay as one dead.
Consternation was on every face. The queen, dropping her crown, sprangto his side, Dr Marsh did the same, but Otto recovered almostimmediately.
"That _was_ a stunner!" he said, with a confused look, putting his handto his head, as they helped him to rise.
Strange to say, he was none the worse of the misadventure, but did hispart nobly at the Royal feast that followed.
That night she who had risen with the sun as Pauline Rigonda, laid herfair young head upon the pillow as--the Island Queen.