CHAPTER VI.
A Pleasant Resting-place.--The Turtle.--A KnavishTrick.--Destitution.--An Exploring Expedition.--Lake Scenery.--A WreckedVessel.--Strange Footsteps.--A Prudent Retreat.--Return of theExplorers.
After walking about a quarter of a mile towards the north, they reacheda nook, surrounded by mangrove-trees, which, like the banyan-tree,formed bowers propped by pillars of successive trunks and stems, andinterwoven with roots and branches. At the part nearest to the sea, thelower branches were without leaves, and had been evidently laid bare bythe visits of the sea. These branches were now at low tide uncovered,and clustered with oysters. The mangrove-wood, spreading up the steepcliff, was backed by some loftier trees; and it appeared as if animpenetrable barricade was formed by nature to forbid approach to theinterior.
A niche formed by the up-rooting of some aged tree, of which fewremnants remained, offered a shady retreat, much more attractive thantheir late exposed encampment. Then Jenny was shown the enormous turtlelying on its back, waiting for execution, the innumerable oystersclinging to the mangroves, the crabs crawling on the uncovered rocks,and the clouds of sea-birds sailing overhead or sitting stupidly on therocks fishing; and, charmed with the promise of plenty, she said:
"We may do a bit here, Miss Marget, while this fine weather lasts, if wecan light on any fresh water. Birds and fish may serve us well enough."
"Where all those tall green trees grow," said Arthur, pointing to theheights, "there must be water to be found; and, in the mean time, wehave a large cask, which we must bring up if we make an encampmenthere."
"I have brought the kettle full," said Jenny, "and a bag of biscuitstoo. We might have got more here, but nought would serve Ruth but hugthem weary chickens with her."
"They will die, shut up in that basket, Ruth," said Gerald. "Come, Hugh,while Jack and Wilkins are killing that poor turtle, let us make apoultry-coop under the roots of the mangrove."
"Above high-water mark, remember, Gerald," said Arthur.
"Oh, botheration! Arty," answered he; "and you fancy I can't make ahencoop without a blunder; but you shall see."
The boys selected a space among the arched roots, out of reach of thetide, and interwove the sides with branches, making a snug and airydwelling for the fowls, which rejoiced in their emancipation from thebasket; and the tropical shades were startled with the novel sound ofthe crowing of a cock.
In the mean time, Jack and Wilkins had killed the turtle, cut the fleshinto pieces, and cleaned the strong back shell, which they proposedshould be useful; and, after a fire had been made, a portion of theturtle was cooked in its recent habitation, to the wonder and delight ofJenny, who was in despair for cooking-vessels. Then the rest of the meatwas placed under the trees, in the most shady situation, and scatteredover with the portion of salt they could spare from the small storethey had brought; but, in that sultry climate, they feared they shouldnot be able to preserve it more than one day.
"We could easily knock down a few of those boobies, if you would likethem, nurse," said Hugh.
"Certainly not, Hugh," said his father; "with the abundance of food wepossess, it would be merciless to destroy more life; and I am able tostudy the form and habits of the sluggish bird as conveniently while itis seated on that rock as if it lay dead on the beach."
The mosquitoes were so numerous among the trees in their newresting-place, that Mr. Mayburn, who suffered remarkably from theattacks of insects, was greatly distressed; and Margaret said to herbrothers:
"It will be impossible for papa to remain among these mosquito-hauntedtrees; we must either try to penetrate further into the island, or wemust return to the bare and quiet rocky strand we have quitted. At allevents, we must have the sail brought to make a tent."
It was finally decided that after their dinner they would, for one nightat least, return to their landing-place; and the turtle being cooked aswell as turtle could be cooked under such adverse circumstances, withNurse Wilson as _chef de cuisine_, they sat down to enjoy it. Knives andforks they possessed; plates they had not; but the shells of some of thelarge oysters tolerably well supplied the want. After they had dined,sultry as it was, they were glad to resume their burdens, and flee fromthe venomous mosquitoes which followed them for some distance; but,unwilling to forsake the trees, their tormentors abandoned them whenthey reached the bare cliffs.
A cry of dismay from Hugh and Gerald, who had preceded the rest,announced some vexatious catastrophe, and hurried them forward to seewith bitter mortification the disappearance of the casks and the variouspackages they had left on the spot where they landed.
"I mistrusted that rogue," exclaimed Wilkins, "specially when he didn'tturn up to his dinner. He's a deep un, and no mistake."
The boys went to the sea, now flowing over the reefs, and saw that thespars of the broken-up raft, which had been thrown on shore, were alsogone. It was plain the artful villain had constructed another raft, andset out on it, carrying off their provisions, one of the guns, and thepowder and shot.
"And worst of all," said Jack, "my tool-chest, and my axe, which heborrowed from me this morning."
"More fool you to lend it to him," said Wilkins, furiously enraged. "Itseems to me as how roguery thrives better nor aught, say what ye willotherwise."
"Do not speak so foolishly, Wilkins," said Margaret. "Wickedness cannever thrive, even on this earth. This bad man has probably run intogreater distress than he has left, with the added torment of a badconscience. It is only when we walk in truth and honesty that we canhope for the protection of God."
"Where can the fellow mean to steer to?" asked Hugh.
"With a light raft," answered Arthur, "he may perhaps work round to theeast of the island, if it be an island, and from thence he probablyhopes to reach the mainland. We have sustained a heavy loss from hisknavery; but we shall sleep sounder to-night from the knowledge that heis not near us."
After a good night's rest, they arose to look round them and considerwhat was the best course in their destitute situation. Mr. Mayburn wasdejected, Margaret was anxious, but the boys were full of hope andenergy.
"Hugh and Gerald," said Arthur, "I call on you to listen seriously tome. It is all very well to hunt turtles, and I do not object to yourknocking down a few boobies, for we must have the means of supportinglife; but we have a great object in view at present. We must ascertainwhere we are, and what step we are next to take. We cannot yet be surethat this is, as we suspect, an island."
"It seems a desolate spot," said Margaret, shuddering.
"Worse than Robinson Crusoe's island, Meggie," said Hugh, "for we havenot even the goats. Not a four-footed animal have I set eyes on yet, andthe bipeds are few and ugly."
"I wish we may not find some bipeds," said Arthur, "that are moreoffensive than the gulls and boobies."
"Oh, botheration!" said Gerald. "Sure you won't mean the savages, Arty.What jolly fun if we had an invasion! Wouldn't we drub them like Britishheroes as we are?"
"And pray, most valiant knight of Ireland," answered Arthur, "where areyour weapons of warfare?"
"Oh, murder! what a blunderer I am!" replied the boy; "I had forgottenthe state of our armory. Let us consider. We have one rifle, with asmall amount of ammunition, one bowie-knife, two penknives, one capitalstick-knife, the table-knives, and----has anybody else any dangerousweapons?"
"I have a silver fruit-knife and a pair of scissors," said Margaret.
"Quite useless," replied he. "Now, nurse, turn out your pockets."
Jenny produced a housewife, containing needles, thread, and scissors,thimble, a nutmeg-grater, a cork-screw, and the half-dozen useful forks.Jack, always prudent, still retained in his pockets a large clasp-knife,a hammer, and a few nails. Mr. Mayburn had a small microscope, forceps,a case of delicate instruments of surgery, some blotting-paper, and asketching-book and pencils; all of which were regarded with contempt bythe warrior Gerald.
"Well," said he, "we must just set to work to make bows and arrows,pikes and clubs
. Those trees we saw yesterday will supply us withmaterials."
"We will trouble you, then," said Arthur, "to take your axe and cut downa tree."
"There you are caught again, Pat," said Hugh. "Another blunder! Poorunhappy fellows we are; destitute of means, we can neither fight nor runaway, if this be an island we have been thrown on."
"That brings us to the point again," said Arthur. "That is the thingnecessary to be known; so, without further delay, we three will set outand make a careful inspection of the coast. We will leave Wilkins andJack to guard the encampment; I will carry the rifle and the few chargeswe have left, but I trust I may not be called on to use them, for Ishould grudge them exceedingly."
"Shed no blood, I beseech you, my son," said Mr. Mayburn. "We areintruders; do not let us become invaders. If we can obtain immunity forourselves, let us be satisfied. Even if we should be attacked, we haveno right to retaliate, but should rather take to flight."
"But, dear papa," answered Hugh, "we cannot fly without wings. We are atbay here, and must fight or fall. But, depend on it, we shall becautious, with Arthur the prudent to lead us; and remember, this is onlyan exploring and foraging expedition."
The bold little party then set out towards the mangrove-wood, throughwhich, with much toil and many windings, they forced their way, andgained more open ground. They crossed the bed of a river, which was now,however, but a series of muddy pools, from which, though anxious to havea draught of fresh water, they felt no inclination to drink. Beyond thisspot some low bare sandhills rose, which they crossed, and thence to asteep eminence. They climbed up this, and found themselves among vastpiles of rocky fragments mixed with tall wiry grass.
They looked round; all was silence and desolation, the barren chaoticscenery being varied only by the tall bare trunks of a species ofacacia, which here and there broke the monotony of the prospect; and nowthe boys felt convinced that they were placed on a truly desert island.
Still they moved forwards, though depressed and silent, over the dismalwilderness; till at length they were cheered by the sight of vegetation,and hailed with pleasure some tall trees. Arthur recognized thecabbage-palm, the slender stem sixty feet in height, with the round tuftof edible leaves at the summit. Hugh would willingly have tried to climbthe tree to procure the leaves, but his brother persuaded him to deferthe exploit till a more favorable opportunity, and pointed out to him afringe of the graceful casuarina, which promised the blessing of water.They made up to it, and found it bordered a broad and glittering lake,in the clear waters of which they distinguished multitudes of largefish, while on the banks the noisy water-fowl were building their nests.The edge of the lake was stuck over with fresh-water mussels; and butfor the flies and mosquitoes which haunted the trees, this spot appeareda terrestrial paradise compared with the dreary bay they had left.
"This is the place for our camp and fortress," said Hugh; "let us bringup our rear-guard at once. We shall have the lake for our water-tank,and its feathered and finny inhabitants for our rations."
"And these winged monsters for our besieging foes," added Gerald,striking a mosquito from his nose.
"It is a pleasant and tempting situation, certainly," said Arthur; "andwe might select a spot sufficiently distant from the water to avoidthese bloodthirsty insects. But we must be certain that we shall have noneighbors more dangerous than the mosquitoes. We had better explore tothe coast."
Hugh and Gerald had contrived to knock down two pairs of ducks, whichthey slung across their shoulders, and marched forward towards morefertile plains, where high grass and low bushes spread a verdantcovering over the soil, till they reached a thick wood, slopingdownwards, through which they penetrated, and found themselves on anarrow strand, similar to that on which they had landed.
A rocky promontory ran out to the sea at a little distance; the broken,rugged, rocky sides were clothed with brushwood, and a lofty headlandjutted out at the summit. Their further progress would have been cut offhad it been quite high water; but the tide was still low enough topermit them, with some care, to turn round the promontory, and gain abroader strand, which was strewed with huge fragments of rock, amongstwhich they saw, with great astonishment, the wreck of a large vessellying. The hull was divided; the forecastle-deck was in one place, andat a distance lay part of the quarter-deck.
At first the boys were struck speechless with this unexpected sight;then they began to climb over the rocks to reach the wreck, and Geraldbreathlessly asked: "Will we find any of them alive?"
"Alive, man!" exclaimed Hugh. "You may see at once this is no recentaffair; look at this chain, the sea must have washed over it somehundreds of times, for it is covered with rust."
The sea was even now breaking over the scattered rocks, making theapproach to the wreck at once difficult and dangerous; but the boys madeout that the vessel must have been first thrown on the rocks, andafterwards broken up by the sea. It now remained a melancholy spectacle;timbers, decks, masts, and yards, scattered or piled in confused heaps,apparently untouched by man for weeks or months. The upper parts of thestern and hull as far forward as the mizen chains were entire, lying onthe stern-frames; but no bodies were found, and the boats being missing,Arthur suggested that the crew must have got off, carrying with them theuseful articles they might need; for little could be seen except themere timbers, except that where the marks of an axe were found on themizen-mast, the axe itself, though much rusted, was lying near, andgladly seized by the boys.
"Margaret will become alarmed," said Arthur, "if we delay our return;but to-morrow we must examine this wreck more closely. Much hasdoubtless been carried off by the boats or the waves; but even the yardsand chains may be useful to us."
"I wish we could find any thing to eat," sighed Gerald.
"Depend on it, Gerald," said Hugh, "the greedy sea will have devouredthe provisions. I cannot even see an empty cask which might be useful.But, halloo! captain, our retreat is cut off; the sea is washing theheadland, and we may be glad to use the old hull as an ark now."
"I think we may be able to turn the next point," said Arthur, pointingto another jutting rock of the indented coast which stood out about ahundred yards in the opposite direction, and where a sort of shelf a fewfeet from the water afforded an unsafe pass. "Be quick, boys; we mustbeat the waves if we would escape before next tide."
Away the daring boys darted among the windings and over the barriers ofbroken rock, till they reached the second promontory, and with the wavesdashing close below them, rounded it, coming out on an almost impassablenarrow hem of encumbered beach, which stretched before them for severalhundred yards. Crawling close to the cliffs, they found at length thestrand grew broad and level, and they sprang forward to enjoy morefreedom, when they were suddenly startled by the sight of the shell ofa turtle, which they could not but suspect the hand of man had removedfrom the back of the rightful proprietor.
They looked intently on it, then Arthur said, "This shell hasundoubtedly been roughly cut from the animal. The important question is,who cut it?"
"Perhaps the crew of the wrecked vessel," suggested Hugh.
"It may have been so," answered Arthur, somewhat relieved.
Then O'Brien shouldered the large shell, and they moved forwardthoughtfully for a few minutes; till a dark spot at some distance fromthe water attracted the attention of Arthur; they hastened towards it,and saw to their great consternation, not only the traces of a recentfire, but the naked footmarks of men, the head of a turtle still bloody,a long wooden spear, plainly hardened by fire, and an instrument whichArthur recognized from description to be a throwing-stick for the spear,as it had a hook at one end which fitted a notch at the heel of thespear, which the holders were thus enabled to project with great force.
"We must carry away these curious arms," said Hugh.
"Certainly not, I think," replied Arthur. "In the first place, we haveno right to take them, since they have been left here in good faith, aswe might have left our spades in our own grounds at home; and nex
t weshould thus place ourselves in the position of invaders and marauders,and incur the enmity of dangerous foes. We had better obliterate alltraces of our visit, and, like prudent fellows, retreat quietly."
"Run away! Arthur," exclaimed O'Brien. "You may as well speak plainly.And won't Margaret think us a set of poltroons?"
"We will talk of that as we retreat," said Arthur, laughing; "but wemust carefully examine the way we came, that we may leave no footsteps."
As it happened, the vivacity and restless curiosity of the boys hadinduced them to keep close to the cliffs, leaping from rock to rock,peeping into crannies for nests, so that no traces were left, exceptwhere the tide would soon wash them away, and Arthur resolved now toascend the cliffs at once, instead of going round the island, to escapeany risking of meeting the savages. He calculated that they had reacheda part of the shore nearly opposite to that on which they had firstlanded; and by directly crossing the island, which he felt could not bemore than three miles over, they might safely and speedily rejoin theirfriends.
"I do not think it probable," he said, "that this barren island has anypermanent inhabitants. The people who have left their traces on thecoast may come over from some more productive soil, solely to catch theturtles."
"Do you think they came from the mainland?" asked Hugh; "I fancied fromthe heights of the east cliffs, I could make out a gray line, which wasdoubtless Australia."
"I scarcely can fancy," answered Arthur, "that a people whom we haveseen described as so deficient in intelligence should be able toconstruct canoes to come such a distance. It is more likely they areinhabitants of one of the hundred dangerous islands of this sea. Itwill be prudent, at all events, to avoid them if we can."
As they rapidly made their way directly across the island, O'Brienwished there had been a boat left on the wreck, and Hugh said, "Couldn'twe build a boat, Arthur? Jack is up to any work of that sort."
"We have not tools or time, Hugh," answered Arthur. "Only consider howlong it would take, even if we had the means, to complete a boat to beuseful to us. No; at present we must content ourselves to make the bestof our situation; and as I do not think the savages have found the bayof the wrecked vessel, I shall propose that we move our encampment intothat snug nook."
"What capital fun," cried Gerald. "We will bring them off directly."
"Softly, good youth!" said Arthur. "We must hold a council on such animportant matter. But see Jack perched on yon tall tree, to watch for usand give notice; and here comes Meggie to meet us and hear the news."