CHAPTER X
Marooned
Miss Birks's birthday fell on the 1st April, and so did Betty Scott's.It was not a particularly happy date for an anniversary, but they bothdeclared they liked it. To Betty it was certainly a chequered event, forthe girls treated her to the jokes they dared not play on thehead-mistress, and she had to endure a double dose of chaffing. But, onthe other hand, a birthday shared with Miss Birks was luck above thecommon. There was invariably a whole holiday, and some special treat tocelebrate the occasion. The nature of the festival depended so entirelyupon the day that it was not generally decided till the last minute,which added an element of surprise, and on the whole enhanced theenjoyment. Whether this year's jollification would be outdoors orindoors was naturally a subject of much speculation, but the morningitself settled the question. Such a clear blue sky, such brilliantsunshine, and so calm a sea pointed emphatically to an excursion bywater, and Miss Birks at once decided to hire boats, and take the schoolfor a picnic to a little group of islets due west of the headland.
The girls loved being on the sea, and did not often get an opportunityof gratifying their nautical tendencies, for they were, of course, neverallowed to hire boats on their own account. Miss Birks was too afraid ofaccidents to permit lessons in rowing, though many of her pupilsthirsted to try their skill with the oars, and had often vainly beggedleave to learn in the harbour. To-day three small yachts, with steadyand experienced boatmen, were waiting by the quay at Pontperran, andeven Mademoiselle--the champion of timorous fears--stepped insidewithout any nervous dread of going to the bottom of the ocean. It wasdelightful skimming out over the dancing, shining water, so smooth thatthe worst sailor could not experience a qualm, yet lapping gentlyagainst the bows as if it were trying to leap up and investigate thecargo of fair maidens carried on its bosom. With one accord the girlsstruck up some boat songs, and the strains of "Row, brothers, row!" or
"Speed, bonny boat, like a bird on the wing, Over the sea to Skye,"
rang clear and sweet in the fresh spring air.
Everybody agreed that the passage was too short, and they were almostsorry when they arrived at their destination. The islands were nothingmore than a group of five rocks, too small for cultivation, andinhabited only by sea-birds. Some rough grass and bushes grew on thelargest, where there was also a shelving sandy strip of beach thatformed a safe landing-place. Here all disembarked, and the provisionhampers were carried ashore, together with the big iron trivet andcauldron used for picnics. There was something very fascinating in thustaking possession of a desert island, if only for a few hours. For thepresent the school felt themselves a band of girl Crusoes, and set towork at once in pioneer fashion to make preparations for lunch. Therewas an ample supply of drift-wood lying above high-water mark to serveas fuel under their trivet, so while some got the fire going, otherstook garden spades which they had brought with them and dug sand seatssufficient to accommodate the company. The chairs destined for themistresses were quite superior erections, provided with backs, and thatof Miss Birks was adorned with shells, specially collected from therocks by a committee of decoration told off for the purpose. In shapeand elaboration of ornament it resembled a throne, and as a finishingtouch the motto "A Happy Birthday" was placed in yellow periwinkles atthe foot.
By the time these extensive preparations were finished, the cauldron wasboiling, for the fire had been well kept up, and replenished with wood.Miss Harding dropped in the muslin bag containing the tea, JessieMacpherson assumed command of the milk can, and a willing army carriedcups and laid out provisions. The boatmen were provided each with asteaming pint mug of tea, and a basket of comestibles amongst them, andretired to one of the yachts with grins of satisfaction on theircountenances. That hospitality having been settled, the cauldron--whichcombined the function of urn as well--flowed busily, filling cup aftercup till the whole school collected on the sand seats to do justice tothe provisions. There were rival birthday cakes: Miss Birks's, anobly-iced erection decorated with candied violets, was perhaps thelarger of the two, but Betty's--sent from home--had the glory of fifteencoloured candles.
"Yours ought to have had candles too, Miss Birks," she said, as shecarefully struck a match.
"I'm afraid they'd be too thick on the ground!" laughed Miss Birks. "Iused to have them when I was a child, but I barred the exhibition of myyears after I was twenty-one."
"I once knew a gentleman who had a huge birthday cake with seventycandles on, and all his grandchildren came to his party," volunteeredHilda Marriott.
"That must have been a truly patriarchal cake, and something toremember. I'm afraid I can only offer you candied violets. Betty, shallwe each cut our first slice at the same moment? Here's to everybody'shealth and prosperity and good luck for the rest of the year!"
It was the first real picnic since last autumn, so, added to the doublebirthday, it seemed a more than ordinary festivity, and everybody waxedparticularly jolly. Miss Birks told humorous Irish stories, and madeendless jokes; even Miss Harding, usually the pink of propriety, wasguilty of an intentional pun. The merry meal was over at last, and whenthe baskets had been repacked, all dispersed to wander round the tinyisland. It did not differ particularly from the mainland, but the girlsfound it amusing to investigate new coves, and ramble about on thegrassy expanse at the top of the cliffs. A few sought out Miss Birks andbegged to be allowed to explore the next largest islet of the group, soafter a little discussion half a dozen were sent off under charge ofMiss Harding in one of the boats. As there only remained about fortyminutes before it would be necessary to go back, it was arranged thatthis boat should not waste time by returning to the bigger island, butshould start on its own account, independently of the other two, as soonas its party had made a brief survey of the islet.
Deirdre and Dulcie, who were venturesome climbers, took advantage of theextra liberty allowed them on this special day to escape by themselveswithout the tiresome addition of the usual third, and scaled the veryhighest point of the rocky centre. Here they found they had an excellentview of the whole of the small group, and could command a prospect ofcove and inlet quite unattainable from the shore. Dulcie had brought apair of field-glasses, and with their aid distant objects drew near, andwhat seemed mere specks to the ordinary vision proved to be sea-birds,preening their wings, or resting upon the rocks. They watched with greatinterest the progress of the boat to the other island.
"Didn't know Miss Birks was going to let anyone go, or we'd have goneourselves," lamented Deirdre. "Who's in her? Can you see?"
"Perfectly. Miss Harding and Jessie Macpherson, Phyllis Rowland, DorisPatterson, Rhoda Wilkins, Irene Jordan, and Gerda Thorwaldson. DavidEssery is rowing them."
"Oh, I wish we'd gone!" repeated Deirdre enviously. "Give me theglasses, and let me take a look."
It was a very long look, that swept all round the islands and took inevery detail of cliff and rock. Deirdre repeated it twice, then gave asudden exclamation.
"Dulcie, you see that big black cliff over there--rather like aseal--count three points farther on, and tell me if you don't thinkthere's a boat in that tiny inlet."
Dulcie seized the glasses, and proceeded to verify the statement.
"It is! Oh, it certainly is! It's moving out now from behind the rock.Somebody's in it, rowing--Deirdre! I do believe----"
"Not him!" shrieked Deirdre ungrammatically, snatching the glasses fromher friend. "Oh, it is! I'm perfectly persuaded it is! It's just hisfigure, and he rows in the same way exactly--the man in the brownjersey!"
"Then Gerda's engineered that expedition to go and meet him. It's asplain as plain!"
Their excitement was intense. It did indeed seem an important discovery,and an added link in their chain of circumstances. Should they staywhere they were, and watch the meeting through the field-glasses, orwould it be possible to follow the matter up more nearly? They resolvedto make a try for the latter. Climbing down as rapidly as they couldfrom their point of vantage, they fou
nd Miss Birks, and entreated to beallowed to join the party on the other island.
"John Pengelly would row us over, and we'd catch them up immediately,"they pleaded. "Oh, do please let us go!"
Miss Birks was in a birthday frame of mind, and prepared to listen toany fairly-reasonable request.
"There would be quite room for you to go home in David Essery's boat,"she acquiesced. "Yes, you may go if you wish. John Pengelly can take youat once. Tell Miss Harding I sent you, and you're to return with herparty."
The boatman was good-natured, and apparently did not mind making theextra journey. He grinned at the girls as he pushed off.
"Can't have too much of the sea, missies?" he ventured. "I'll soon pullyou over there."
He landed them carefully on the second island, then rowed back to thefirst landing-place to join his fellow boatman and smoke a pipe till itwas time to start. Deirdre and Dulcie knew exactly which way MissHarding and the girls had gone, and their plain duty was to follow themas rapidly as possible, and report themselves as additions to the party.They did nothing of the sort, however. Instead, they took exactly theopposite direction, and made for the western side of the islet, wherethey had seen the mysterious boat.
"You may depend upon it we shall find Gerda there," said Deirdre. "It'sbetter not to let her know we're here. We're far more likely to catchher."
With a little scrambling they reached an inlet, which--so theycalculated--must be the one they had marked through the field-glasses.They could see no boat, however, and no Gerda. They waited for a while,then rambled farther along the shore, but finding nothing, came back totheir former point. They had so entirely counted upon Gerda being therethat they felt decidedly disappointed.
"Perhaps she couldn't sneak off," suggested Dulcie. "Miss Harding's verytiresome and particular sometimes."
"I wonder if the boat's waiting about for her?" said Deirdre. "I shouldvery much like to know."
Obeying a sudden impulse, she advanced to the edge of the waves andreproduced, as nearly as she could remember it, the long peculiar curlewcry which Gerda had given as a signal on the former occasion. The effectwas instantaneous. There was an answering whistle, and from behind arock not very far away a small craft shot out into the creek. It wasundoubtedly the same white dinghy which they had seen before, andcontained the same tall, fair man who had spoken with their school-mate.He rowed forward with a few rapid strokes, then seeing Deirdre andDulcie he paused, took a searching glance round the shore, turned hisboat, and rowed away from the island, passing as quickly as possiblebehind the shelter of the next of the group. Deirdre stood watching himthrough the field-glasses as he disappeared. She was not altogether surewhether she had not made a false move. It was perhaps hardly wise tohave thus put him on his guard, and let him become aware that they knewof the curlew signal. She already regretted her hasty, thoughtless act.She was conscious that it would defeat her own ends. It seemed no usestaying any longer in the creek, for he would certainly not be likely toreturn after such an alarm.
"We'd better go and find Miss Harding," suggested Dulcie.
It was undoubtedly high time they reported themselves, so, putting thefield-glasses back in their case, they set off for the other side of theisland. Arrived at the opposite cove, they looked eagerly for theirschool-mates, but nobody was to be seen.
"I expect they're a little farther on," suggested Deirdre, hiding thefear she dared not own.
But they were not farther on, and though the girls climbed the cliff, soas to have a thorough view of the shore, and shouted and cooeed tillthey were hoarse, there was not a sign of a human being anywhere. Far onthe horizon were three tiny specks.
Dulcie took out the all-useful glasses, and adjusted the focusanxiously. One glance confirmed her worst apprehensions--the boats hadgone, and left them behind! It was perfectly easy to see how it hadhappened. Miss Birks, having sent them specially across the sound,believed them to be with Miss Harding's party, and Miss Harding did noteven know that they had left the larger island. It was their own faultentirely for not reporting themselves. While they had been watching themysterious boatman on the wrong side of the island, the others must havebeen starting, utterly unconscious that two of their number weremissing.
"We're marooned! That's what it amounts to." Deirdre's voice shook alittle as she made the unwelcome admission.
"Well, of all idiots we're the biggest! We have got ourselves into ajolly fix!" exploded Dulcie.
It was highly probable that they would not be missed until the arrivalat the harbour. Then, no doubt, someone would come back for them, butthe tide was rising rapidly, and perhaps by the time a boat could returnit would not be possible to land and take them off. The prospect of anight spent on a desert island was not enlivening. Then, too, cameanother fear. The mysterious stranger was in the near neighbourhood.Hidden behind rocks and creeks he might have accomplices, who might takeit into their heads to reconnoitre. The idea was horrible. They felt anintense dread of the unknown man in the brown jersey. He must be veryangry that they had discovered his signal. Suppose he were to find them,and wreak his vengeance upon them? They bitterly rued their folly,though that did not mend matters in the least.
"We won't go over to that side of the island again, in case he might seeus," quavered Dulcie. "Let us sit down here, in this sheltered corner.How cold it's getting!"
"I'm hungry, too," sighed Deirdre. "There's nothing to eat on the placeexcept raw periwinkles!"
The sun had set behind a bank of grey clouds, and even in the last tenminutes the daylight had faded noticeably. A chilly wind had sprung up,and the girls shivered as they buttoned their coats closely.
"Do you hear something?" said Dulcie presently.
It was a sound of oars, and both pricked up their ears, half-nervously,half-hopefully. They did not venture to show themselves till they couldascertain whether it were friend or enemy. Hidden under the shadow ofthe rock, they watched the darkening water, then gripped each other'shands in terror--it was the white boat that appeared round the corner.Its brown-jerseyed occupant was rowing slowly and leisurely, with acareful eye on the shore as he went. Would he see them? They were onlypartially concealed, and a keen observer might easily detect theirpresence. To Deirdre those few minutes equalled years of agony--herlively imagination summoned up every possible horror. He paused at laston his oars, and gave the long shrill curlew call. A hundred seagullsscreamed in reply. Twice, thrice he repeated it, then apparently judgingit a failure, he rowed away in the direction of the mainland.
Dulcie was crying with fright and cold. She let the tears trickleunwiped down her plump cheeks. She was not cut out by nature for aheroine, and would gladly just then have given up all chance of seeingher portrait in the newspapers if she could have found herself safelyback in the schoolroom at the Dower House. Adventures might be all verywell in their way, but this one had gone decidedly too far.
"I wish you'd never suggested our coming," she said fretfully. "It wasyour fault, Deirdre."
"Don't be mean, and try and throw the blame on me! You were just as keenas I was!"
"I'm not keen now! I wish to goodness we'd never bothered our headsabout Gerda. You won't catch me on such a wild-goose chase again!"
"I'm utterly disgusted with you, Dulcie Wilcox!" returned Deirdrewitheringly; and Dulcie wept yet harder, to have added to her physicaltroubles a quarrel with her chum.
It was almost dark before a search party, consisting of Miss Birks andthree boatmen, arrived to fetch them, and the tide had risen so highthat it was impossible to land as before, so that John Pengelly had towade through the water and carry each of them in turn on his back to theboat. Miss Birks said little, but they knew it was the ominous silencebefore a storm, and that she would have much to say on the morrow. Theywere intensely thankful when they at last saw the lights of Pontperran,and felt they were within measurable distance of food and fire.
"You provided a nice birthday treat for Miss Birks, I must say,"commented Jessie Macpherson
sarcastically. "What possessed you to go offon your own in that silly way? There was nothing in the leastinteresting on that side of the island, and you knew where we were, andthat we should be starting almost directly. I simply can't understandsuch foolishness! Why did you do it?"
But an explanation of the motives that had influenced their conduct wasthe very last thing in the world that Deirdre and Dulcie felt disposedto offer, even to mitigate the scorn of the head girl.