CHAPTER II.--A WEARY TIME.
Yes, it was indeed a weary time that succeeded the alarming news broughtone morning to Captain Talbot. For when the steward went to draw waterfrom a cask, he found the wooden tap leaking, and naturally endeavouredto send it home a little. At the very moment he did so the wholecollapsed, and the remains of the ant-eaten staves floated away in dustor little else.
All the other casks were found to be in the same condition, so that themariners had nothing now to fall back upon except a kind of artificialrain-water well, which they had found on the surface of a rock, and thiswas most carefully covered over to prevent its evaporation by the raysof the sun.
What a terrible outlook! And no signs were there of further rain, noteven the tiniest cloud.
Well might they pray for rain now as did the prophet of old, for if itfell not soon, sad indeed must be the fate of all.
The captain and first mate now held a consultation, and that night itwas decided that they should endeavour to build a boat of some kind, andtherein sail for the distant mainland.
Pity it was they had not thought of this sooner, for in two hours afterthe decision had been arrived at, another circular storm arose. Suchstorms in the Indian Ocean are not infrequent, and terrible they arewhile they rage.
Rain fell at first and at the latter part of it, otherwise it was aburning hot wind, that caused one to choke and gasp for breath.Nostrils and lips became dry, the mouth parched, and the eyes were likecoals of fire beneath their lids.
On this occasion the sea rose higher than it had done before.
A huge ocean bore, that could be seen even in the uncertain light of thestars, came roaring on towards the rocks, and the spray dashed high overthe camp.
Next morning not a timber of the unfortunate _Flora M'Vayne_ was to beseen. She had been sucked backwards with that great tidal wave, and wasengulfed in the deeper water farther out.
As ill-luck would have it, most of the carpenter's tools had been lefton board, for until the storm came on--when they had to rush on shorefor dear life's sake--the men had been busy cutting out pieces of plankwith which to fashion a boat.
There was not the slightest chance of building such a thing now, and thewater grew scarcer and scarcer.
A raft was then thought of, but in the weakened condition of the men forwant of water it would take a long time to build.
"There passed a weary time. Each throat Was parched, and glazed each eye. A weary time! A weary time! How glazed each weary eye!"
Once more fell rain. Once more the little rocky tank, which was alwaysleft exposed at night, was filled, and once again the men's eyesbrightened.
During the gale of wind that had resulted in the wreck of the _FloraM'Vayne_, the poor monkey had been washed overboard, but old Pen wasstill here, and so, too, was honest Vike.
They had suffered as much from the want of water as anyone, but to thecredit of our heroes be it told, they received their daily water ration.
Old Pen used to waltz with joy when he had taken a drink, but Vike wasless demonstrative, only he never failed to lick the hand with lovingtongue that served the water out.
But hope rose higher now. That water would last for weeks--would last,perhaps, till water came again. Hope rose to a pitch of excitement thatno one who has never known shipwreck, or never known what it is to floata mere hulk upon a breezeless sea, can form any conception of, when,just as the sun leapt red and fiery above the main next morning, asteamer was observed but a few miles away in the west. God! how the menrushed to the cliff edge, and how wildly they waved their arms, theircoats, and shouted. Shouted and shouted until every tongue
"Seemed withered at the root; And they could not speak, no more than if They had been choked with soot".
But all in vain!
The ship passed on.
"They cannot have seen us! They cannot have seen us! Lower the flag tohalf-mast. Light the fire; they will see the smoke."
All this was done.
All this was done in vain. There was not breeze enough to float theflag.
The fire, too, was a failure. No smoke arose, for the flames licked itup.
No wonder the men gazed after the retreating vessel with weary, wearyeyes.
Oh, cruel, cruel, to desert us so!
This was all anyone could say.
And now Duncan bethought him of the balloon.
Surely there was some hope left in that.
As they sat under the shade of some dwarf and straggling trees, ourthree younger heroes, with Captain Talbot and Morgan, they seriouslyreviewed the whole question of their situation. Not only Duncan, buteven Conal and Frank had become somewhat more earnest in their manner oflate. Their sufferings had sobered them.
"Boats, and even a raft, are denied us," said Duncan, "and ships do notcome."
"No," answered Talbot; "and yet some British cruiser, or even an Arabdhow, is bound to come this way before very long."
"It is just that which I greatly doubt, sir," said Morgan. "We seem tobe landed at the back of the north wind, and out of the way ofeverything."
"But the balloon," continued Duncan. "I and Conal--"
"And I," interrupted the Cockney boy.
"Well, and you if the balloon is strong enough."
"It would carry you all, and a horse besides," said the skipper withjust the ghost of a smile.
"Well, we should ascend until we found a wind to carry us towards themainland, where we could descend and find assistance."
"It is a forlorn hope, Duncan."
"Seems to me, though, that it is our last chance," said Morgan. "Thewater can't last long. What if it rains no more for months. All thatcould ever be found of us in that case would be our skeletons bleachingin the sun."
"Not so pessimistic, please, Morgan. I still have hope in God. If itbe His will to help us we shall be rescued. If not, it is our duty tosubmit."
Truly a brave man was Talbot.
And the merchant-service has many a thousand such, who, without doubt,will be of infinite service to their country in our day of direstneed--when wild war comes,
"In a fostering power, while Jack puts his trust As fortune comes--smiling he'll hail her, Resign'd still, and manly, since what must be must; And this is the mind of a sailor."
----
Talbot arose at last.
"I cannot go," he said, almost solemnly, after gazing for over a minuteat the blue above and the blue below, the sky without a cloud, the seawithout a ripple. "For weal or for woe, boys, I must stay with my men.Now am I resigned. I will pray for you, lads, and so shall we all."
"But," he added, "serve out some water and a modicum of wine. God blessour poor fellows yonder, for their conduct and discipline have beensplendid. Many men in their hopeless condition would have broken intothe spirit stores and died maudlin drunk, or murderously mad."
The men quickly came to the call of "All hands!" and just as quicklyTalbot explained the position, and told them what the three youngstersproposed doing. The cheer that followed his words was not a lusty one,but it was very sincere.
And now, though with no nervous haste, the work of arranging andinflating the balloon was commenced and for some days steadily proceededwith.
On the third day dark clouds came sweeping down, and a thunder-stormbroke over the island. What a God-send! Somewhat unusual, too, for thetime of year. Not only was the rocky tank filled with water andrapidly-melting hail, but many hollows elsewhere, and every drop wasprecious.
Compared with Andree's great Arctic balloon, the _Hope_, as Talbot's hadbeen named, was quite a baby, but it was strong enough for anything, andcould have supported and carried far more than they needed for weekstogether.
Long before this, Talbot had instructed his youngsters in the art ofmanaging a balloon, and now there was little more for them to learn onthis score.
The inflation was completed at last
. The net, a very strong one, was inits place. The car attached, and the splendid ball dragged impatientlyat her moorings, as if longing to soar away into freedom.
Food, arms, ammunition, wine, and water--everything was in its place,everything secure, yet handy.
Then the last night came.
It was clear and starry, with a bright scimitar of a new moon in thewest.
Duncan slept but little. His mind was in a whirl of anxiety. Therewere so many things to think about, and they came cropping up in hismind all in a bunch, as it were, all demanding explanation at once.
One thing which would grieve him very much was parting with Vike.Animals have died of grief many times and oft ere now, and somehow hefelt that he would never see his favourite dog again.
But lo! about the first news he got next morning after getting up wasthat Viking was missing. He had evidently wandered away, it wasthought, and tumbled over a cliff.
When the boys went to bathe for the last time that morning they werealmost dumb with grief.
But while returning to camp they met Johnnie Shingles and Old Pen.
Both were capering with joy.
"Vike he all right, sah, foh true. Golly, I'se shaking wid joy allober."
"And where is he?"
"In the sky-car, sah. O ees, he dere shuah enuff."
It was true. Vike evidently knew all about it, and had taken his seatalready. Booked in advance!
He could not be coaxed out. But he took his breakfast when handed tohim, and a drop of water afterwards.
"Boys," said Talbot, "you must take him. It seems very strange, but italso seems fate."
"Fate be it, then," said Duncan.
And indeed the poor fellow's mind was greatly relieved.
----
That very forenoon the great balloon was cast off, and with blessingsand farewells on both sides. Upward she soared into the clear blue sky,and was soon seen by those below only as a tiny dark speck, no largerthan a lark.