CHAPTER XIV
THE WRECK OF THE NANTUCKET
It was still quite dark, but it was light enough to see that the shiphad struck upon a reef. Straining their eyes, the alarmed passengerscould descry land. Indeed, the reef was an outlying part of it.
All eyes were turned upon the captain, as Mr. Holdfast was now called.
"If I had had men enough to stand watch, this would not havehappened," he said.
"Is there any hope, Mr. Holdfast?" asked Montgomery Clinton, claspinghis hands in terror.
"Plenty of it," answered the mate, curtly, "but we must leave theship."
Under his direction the remaining boat--for Captain Hill and hiscompanions had only taken away one--was lowered. Steering clear of thereef, they found themselves in a cove, bordered on three sides byland. By the light, now rapidly increasing, they saw grass and trees,and the sight gladdened them in spite of the grave peril that menacedthem.
They put in the boat as large a supply of stores as they dared, andthen rowed ashore. Landing the passengers, Holdfast selected Jack andHarry, and went back to the ship for a further supply.
"We must lay in as much as we can, for we don't know how long we areto remain here," he said.
When the second trip had been made, it was decided to rest for a timeand eat breakfast.
The little group gathered on a bluff looking out to sea, and, sittingdown, ate heartily. By this time the sun had made its appearance, andit bade fair to be a pleasant day.
"Have you any idea where we are, Mr. Holdfast?" asked Mr. Stubbs.
"I only know that we are on an island. There is no mainland nearhere," answered the commander.
"It seems to be a large one, then. While you were gone with the boys,I ascended a tree, and, looking inland, could not see the ocean inthat direction."
"I feel like exploring the island," said Harry; "who will go with me?"
Curious to see what kind of a new home they had, all set out. First,however, the professor asked:
"How long before the ship is likely to go to pieces, Mr. Holdfast?"
"Not under a day or two in this weather," was the answer. "Later inthe day I will board her again."
They struck inland and walked for about two miles. There were treesand plants such as they had never seen before, and the songs ofunknown birds floated out upon the air. It was certainly a delightfulchange from the contracted life they had been leading upon shipboard.
"Do you think the island is inhabited?" asked Harry.
"I know no more about it than you do, my lad," answered Holdfast.
"Suppose we should meet with a pack of savages armed with spears!"suggested Harry, with a side look at Clinton, who was walking by him.
"Oh, good gracious! Mr. Holdfast, do you think we will?" asked thatyoung gentleman, nervously.
"We must do the best we can. I take it we are all brave, and would bewilling to fight."
After a considerable walk, they reached a grove of trees, bearing adifferent leaf from any to which they were accustomed. They did notappear to produce fruit of any kind, but were comely and afforded agrateful shade. This was the more appreciated, because the sun hadbegun to make its heat felt, and a feeling of languor diffused itselfover all.
"I move we squat here a while," said Mr. Stubbs.
"Very well," said the mate. "We have all day before us, and I amafraid a great many more to come, in which we may explore the island."
All threw themselves on the grass without ceremony.
They returned to the shore about noon, and sitting down on the bluff,ate heartily of the stores they had brought with them from the ship.They had brought no water, but, fortunately, discovered a spring ontheir homeward walk, which promised a constant supply of refreshingdrink.
"This seems a great deal like a picnic," said Harry, as they sat downon the grass with the food in the center.
"I am afraid it will prove a larger picnic than we care for," remarkedthe professor.
When dinner was over, if their informal meal can be dignified by thatname, Mr. Holdfast said:
"I think we had better make another trip to the ship, and bring backwhat we can. We shall need a further supply of provisions, and therewill be other things that will occur to us as likely to be needed."
"May I go with you, Mr. Holdfast?" asked Harry.
"Yes," answered the mate; "I will take you and Jack, and Mr. Stubbs,too, may come, if he will."
"I am quite at your command, captain," said the Yankee.
Nothing suited Harry better than to make one of the expeditions. Heand Jack clambered up the ship's sides, and chased each other inboyish fun. Jack had no fear of a stern rebuke from Mr. Holdfast, whohad a sympathy with the young. He would not have dared to take suchliberties with Captain Hill.
"How long do you think the ship will hold together, Mr. Holdfast?"asked Stubbs.
"For a week, perhaps, unless the sea becomes rough, and dashes heragainst the reef with violence."
"At present she seems motionless."
"Yes, she is not at present receiving any damage. It will be a sad daywhen she goes to pieces," continued the mate, gravely.
"Yes, but it will hardly make our position worse. There is no chanceof our making any use of her, I take it."
"You don't quite understand me," said Holdfast. "A sailor gets to feelan attachment for the craft he sails on, and she seems to himsomething like a living creature. This is my first voyage on the oldNantucket, but it will grieve me to see her disappear."
It was not easy to decide of what the boat's load should consist. Inthe main, provisions were taken as an article of first necessity. Someclothing, also, was selected, and among the rest, at Harry's instance,an extra pair of Mr. Clinton's trousers.
It was decided not to make another trip to the ship that day.Mr. Holdfast expressed the opinion that the Nantucket was not in anyimmediate danger of going to pieces, and there was much other work inhand.
"Do you know anything about the climate here, Mr. Holdfast?" asked theprofessor.
"I don't think it is ever cold. It is too far south for that."
"I mean as to the chance of rain. I am told that in these tropicalplaces, rain comes on very suddenly at times."
"I suspect that this is the dry season, professor."
"Still, it may be wise to provide ourselves with some shelter."
"True; have you anything to suggest?"
"It occurred to me that we might procure some of the sails, and use asa roof covering to shield us from the heat of the sun, and from anyunexpected showers."
"A good idea. I am glad you mentioned it. On the whole, I think I willmake one more trip to the ship this afternoon for the special purposeof bringing back materials for a roof. Then we can put it upto-night."
"Better bring hatchets, if there are any on board, some nails andcordage."
"Also well thought of. You are a practical man, professor."
"We shall all have to think for the general benefit. I am sorry Ican't do more work, but I never was handy with tools."
"I am," said Stubbs. "In fact, most Yankees are, and I am a Yankee.You can command my services, Mr. Holdfast, in any way that you seefit."
Mr. Holdfast made another trip to the vessel, and brought back quitean expanse of sailcloth. All hands, with the exception of Mr. Clinton,went to work at once, and by sunset a considerable space was roofedover, which the little company regarded with complacency.
"Aren't you going to have any sides or doors?" asked Clinton.
"That can be considered hereafter," said Holdfast. "I don't think weshall need any, since the probability is that the island is notinhabited."
The next morning a great surprise awaited them.
It might have been because it was the first night on land, or perhapsbecause they were unusually fatigued, but at any rate the little partyslept unusually late. The first one to awake was Harry Vane. It tookvery little time for him to dress, since he had only taken off hiscoat. He glanced at his slumbering
companions, who were scatteredabout in different postures.
"I'll go up to the spring, and have a wash," Harry decided. "I won'twake anybody, for there's no hurry about waking up."
Returning from the spring, Harry for the first time looked in thedirection of the ship. What he saw filled him with amazement. Thewreck which he had thought deserted, was alive with men. He saw adozen on deck, including two who were obviously not sailors. He couldnot immediately discern the figures, and ran hastily to the top of thebluff. Then he made the startling discovery that these intruders werethe captain and his companions, who had abandoned the ship in theexpectation that it was doomed, and, after floating about in the longboat, had by a wonderful coincidence drifted to the very point whichthey themselves had reached.
The news was too important to keep, and he returned to the encampment,and entering, approached the mate, who was sleeping soundly. He leanedover and shook him gently.
"Mr. Holdfast!" he cried.
The mate slowly opened his eyes and started up.
"What's the matter?" he asked. "Has anything happened?"
"I've got great news for you, Mr. Holdfast. Captain Hill has arrived."
"What!" exclaimed the mate, in amazement. "Arrived--where?"
"He is at this moment on the Nantucket, with all the men thataccompanied him in the long boat."
Uttering an expression of amazement, Mr. Holdfast sprang from theground, and hastily made his way to the edge of the bluff.
"By Jove!" said he, "you're right. I never heard of anything morewonderful."
Harry could not tell from the expression of his face whether heconsidered the news good or not.
"Go and wake up the rest, Harry," he said. "They will be surprised,too."
It is needless to say that the news produced surprise and excitement.All hurried to the edge of the bluff.
"Will they come on shore, do you think?" asked Harry of the mate.
"They will have to; but I shall at once go out to the ship and reportto my superior officer. You and Jack may go with me."
It is needless to say that both boys were very glad to accept thisinvitation. The rest of the party remained on shore and watched theboat's course.
"What will be the issue of this, Mr. Stubbs?" asked the professor,thoughtfully.
"I am afraid there will be friction. The captain is a natural despot,and he will undertake to control us."
"He can have no authority after the ship is wrecked."
"He will claim it, as sure as my name is Stubbs. The fact is, I amrather sorry he hadn't managed to drift to another island.Mr. Holdfast is a much more agreeable man to deal with."
"I agree with you. As a passenger, I shall not recognize the captain'sauthority on shore."
"Nor I."
Meanwhile, the mate and the two boys had pulled to the ship, and,securing the boat, scrambled on deck.
"Good-morning, Captain Hill; I am glad to meet you once more," saidthe mate.
"Humph!" growled the captain, not over politely. "When did you reachhere?"
"Yesterday morning."
"Where are the rest of the party?"
"We have a little camp just back of the bluff."
"I see you have been removing articles from the ship," continued thecaptain, in a tone of disapproval.
"Certainly," answered the mate. "We need them, and I didn't know howlong the ship would last."
"It seems in no immediate danger of going to pieces."
"Things look more favorable than they did yesterday morning. What sortof a trip did you have in the boat?"
"A curious question to ask," said the captain, captiously. "We were indanger of being swamped more than once."
"We had better have remained on board the Nantucket with you,Mr. Holdfast," said Appleton, the Melbourne merchant.
Captain Hill chose to take offense at this remark.
"You were quite at liberty to stay, Mr. Appleton," he said. "I didn'turge you to go with me."
"True, Captain Hill; but I trusted to your opinion that the ship wasunsafe."
The captain looked angry, but did not make any reply.
By the sailors Mr. Holdfast was warmly greeted. He was much betterliked than the captain, being a man of even temper and reasonable inhis demands.