CHAPTER SIX.
Owen was awakened by a kick in the side.
"Rouse out, there, you lazy young rascal. Light the fire, and get thebreakfast ready," said the person who had thus rudely disturbed hisslumbers.
Glancing up, he saw the first mate standing over him. He sprang to hisfeet, looking, as he felt, much astonished at the treatment he hadreceived.
"Call the other boy to help you," continued Mr Scoones. "Be sharpabout it."
Owen made no reply. He knew that to do so would be useless, and wouldprobably increase the mate's ill-temper. He shook Nat, who was sleepingnear him, by the shoulder, and told him what the mate had ordered themto do. The rest of the men were still sleeping. As Owen and Nat wentout of the tent they saw the mate take a bottle from a case which he hadkept close to where he had slept, and fill up a tin cup. It wasprobably not the first draught he had taken that morning. Owen and Natcollected all the wood they could find, and piled it up a short distancefrom the tent. A light was struck, but it was some time before theycould produce a flame.
"Be quick there, boys, or you shall have a taste of the rope's end,"shouted the mate from within the tent.
"He seems in a terribly bad humour this morning," said Nat.
"I am afraid his temper will not improve if he continues to drink as hehas begun to do," answered Owen. "What I fear is, that the men willfollow his example, and that nothing will be done to preserve our lives.However, it becomes the more necessary that we should exert ourselves,and use the sense God has given us."
"It seems strange that Mr Grey and the other officers should have beenlost, and this one have been saved," observed Nat.
"We do not understand God's ways; all we know is that He orderseverything for the best," answered Owen. "He may have allowed them tobe drowned to save them from greater suffering."
They spoke in low whispers so that the mate could not hear them. Bythis time the sun had risen above the horizon. As the sky was uncloudedits rays struck with great force on their bare heads, for they had losttheir hats.
"We must make some covering for our heads, or we shall be suffering fromsun-stroke," observed Owen. "What I dread most, however, is the want ofwater; we must search for it. I have heard that even on such sandyislands as this springs have been found. If we can discover one, it maybe the means of saving our lives. Blow away, Nat, we shall soon have ablaze."
In a short time a brisk fire was burning. The other men now began torouse up. The mate ordered Mike Coffey to act as cook. Among thearticles saved was a large iron fish-kettle. The provisions were nowturned over to discover what was most suitable for breakfast.
"Shure the best way to cook the food will be to boil all together,"observed Mike. Having filled the kettle half full of water, he cut upwhatever was brought to him; some beef, biscuits, a tin of preservedvegetables, a drowned fowl, and some handfuls of split peas. He hadfixed over the fire a tripod of three poles, to which he hung hiskettle, which Owen and Nat were told to watch in order to prevent thepoles burning through.
The mate sat in the tent, apparently with no intention of exertinghimself, while the rest of the men wandered about in twos and threesalong the shore, in search of anything that might have been cast up. Itwas possible, also, that they may have been discussing together themate's conduct, as every now and then one of them looked back at thetent to see if he was coming out. He sat still, evidently consideringthat the others were bound to obey him. By the time the seamen cameback Mike's porridge, as he called it, was ready. The lid of the kettleserved as a dish, into which he baled it with a tin cup. How it wasafterwards to be divided was the difficulty, as there were only threecup among the whole party.
"I saw some big shells on the beach," said Nat; "they will serve us forplates."
He and Owen went down and soon collected enough for all hands. The mateclaimed his share first, and ordered a shell as well as his cup to befilled. The men looked at each other, but said nothing.
Mike's porridge was pronounced excellent.
"Shure, mates, you shall have the same for dinner," he said; "but thereis one thing I've got to ask--how long is it to last? We have made agood hole in the beef cask already; we shall make a bigger one atdinner-time."
The men, however, did not listen to the Irishman's remark, but as soonas the meal was over lay down, some in the shade of the tent, whilstothers, indifferent to the heat of the sun, stretched themselves on thesand, exposed to its full force. Some had saved their pipes, otherstheir tobacco, and the pipes being filled, were passed round. Precioustime was thus lost which should have been employed in searching forprovisions which might have been cast on shore.
"Although others are idle it is no reason why we should be so," observedOwen to Nat and Mike. "Come along, let us see what we can find."
Mike, though an Irishman, was a very steady fellow, and at once agreedto what Owen proposed. Nat was always ready, and they set out. Theyhad not gone far when they found several casks and bales which had beenwashed out of the wreck.
They dragged them up on the beach to wait an examination at a futuretime. They opened only one bale, which contained muslin.
"Very little use this to us," observed Nat. "On the contrary, it willbe of the greatest service," answered Owen. "We can make coverings withit for our heads, which will afford greater protection against the heatthan any hats we could manufacture. My head has begun to ache already."
"Mr Hartley is right," said Mike. "The Indian fellows out here alwayswear things of this sort on their heads."
Owen had no great notion how to form a turban, but he had seen picturesof Orientals, and was aware that their headdress consisted of longtwists of muslin turned round and round. He immediately set to work,and fitted one to Nat's head.
"Shure you look like an illegint hathin," said Mike. "Now, Mr Hartley,just plase to fit me with one like it."
Owen succeeded better even than he had in Nat's case. He then made onefor himself, and they all laughed heartily as they looked at each other.
"If any Indians come this way they'll be afther taking us forcountrymen, and be friendly at once," said Mike.
"I don't think there is much chance of that, but we shall save ourselvesfrom sun-stroke, and I hope the rest of the men will follow ourexample," answered Owen.
"Shure there is some big black thing out there on the beach," exclaimedMike, pointing ahead. "What can it be?"
"Can it be a big fish?" asked Nat.
"It looks to me more like a piece of wreck," said Owen.
They hurried on, eager to ascertain what object it was.
"Hurrah! it's a boat," cried Owen, who had kept ahead. On examinationthe boat was discovered to be the second cutter. The falls had been letgo when no one was in her, and she had washed clear of the rocks rightup to the sand-bank; she was, therefore, but little damaged.
The carpenter had been drowned, but the carpenter's mate had escaped,and was a good workman, and he might easily repair her and fit her forsea. She would not carry the whole of the party, but some might maketheir way to Batavia and get a vessel to return and take off the rest.Who, however, would have the command?
The only person who was capable of navigating the boat, besides thefirst mate, was Owen himself. He had had but little experience ofnavigation, and still less of the management of a boat in a heavy sea.The first mate therefore was undoubtedly the proper person to go; butwould he undertake the adventure?
These thoughts passed through Owen's mind as he and his companions wereendeavouring to haul up the boat. Their strength was only sufficient toget her a short way up the beach, so that there would be no risk of herbeing washed off again. They continued their search, tempted onwards byseeing objects floating in the surf. The most valuable, undoubtedly,were three casks of water. They also found some kegs of spirits, theheads of which they knocked in, for Owen felt convinced that should themen get hold of them, they would attack the contents until they had losttheir senses. A
lthough a considerable quantity of provisions of varioussorts had come ashore, some had been damaged by the sea water. Still,when all had been secured there was enough, with due economy, to lastfor several months, and, providing water could be found, they mightlive. But the precious fluid which had been saved would, even with avery short allowance to each man, soon be exhausted. Owen now proposedthat they should go back and get some of the men to secure their prizes.
On approaching the camp, however, they heard shouts and wild shrieks oflaughter. It was evident that they had been following the example setthem by the mate. They had got hold of a cask of spirits, which theyhad broached, as well as one of the beer casks. When Owen and hiscompanions got up to the camp, their appearance elicited loud shouts oflaughter, and cries of "Who are these young Turks? Where do you comefrom?" The men having amused themselves for some time, invited Owen,Nat, and Mike to sit down and drink with them.
"We have no time to do that," answered Owen; "but we want you to comeand help us secure a number of articles we have found."
"Have you got any spirits or beer?" asked the men.
"No," said Owen; "but we have found some casks of water, which are offar more value."
This remark created a further laugh, and all united in inviting Mike tojoin them.
"Do not you be persuaded," said Owen. "In a short time, when the liquoris gone, they will be sorry that they exhausted it so soon."
The mate had not spoken, indeed he lay on the ground inside the tent ina worse condition than the men.
"It will be impossible to remain with these people," said Owen. "Ipropose, therefore, that we go to some distance, out of their sight, andmake a tent for ourselves. We shall find sufficient materials from thebales of cotton cloth which have been washed up."
Mike and Nat agreed. "But, shure, they've got the iron kettle, and howare we to cook our mate without that?" exclaimed Mike.
"We must roast our meat, and make use of shells for cups," answeredOwen; "anything would be better than remaining with them."
When the men saw that the two lads and Mike were going away, theyshouted after them to stop, but finding that they were resolute, beganto abuse them, Mike coming in for the largest share of vituperation.This made his temper rise.
"Arrah! but I'll be afther paying thim off for this," he exclaimed.
"Keep quiet, Mike," said Owen, taking his arm; "you were doing what wasright, and must not mind them."
Mike was at last pacified, and they went on, until they reached a partof the bank considerably higher than that where they had left theircompanions.
By means of some spars they set up a framework which was easily coveredby several folds of cotton cloth, so that in a short time they had avery comfortable tent. They then collected wood for a fire, rolled upone of the casks of water, and got together some of the provisions theyhad just discovered.
Mike, however, continued to sigh for the fish-kettle.
"We must manage to do without it, at all events for the present," saidOwen; "perhaps to-morrow you will find something which will answer thepurpose. Here we shall have to remain until the men have drunk up allthe spirits and beer, and then perhaps they will regain their senses,and steps may be taken to enable us to escape."
They could just distinguish the top of their shipmates' tent, but theirown being low, would not, they hoped, be observed, and they should thusescape molestation from any of the tipsy crew. That their fire mightnot be seen at night, Owen proposed to put it out.
"We'll not do chat, Mr Hartley," said Mike. "We'll just scrape theashes into a hole, and put a little wood on them, and the fire will keepin until to-morrow morning, and so it will be ready for lighting, andsave our matches."
As long as there was sufficient light they continued their search alongthe beach, and were rewarded by discovering a case which contained,among other articles, fish-hooks and lines. This was indeed a prize,for undoubtedly fish swarmed along the shore, and they might catchenough to supply themselves with food for an indefinite period. Still,Owen recollected that unless water was found they must perish.
There was little chance of rain falling at that season of the year, andif it did, they had but scanty means for securing it. Still heendeavoured to overcome any gloomy anticipations about the future, andendeavoured to be prepared for all contingencies. Thus several dayspassed by. The party at the large tent continued their revels, as Owendiscovered when going in that direction by hearing their voices singingand shouting; occasionally, too, from the noises which reached him, hesuspected that they were quarrelling and fighting.
At last Nat proposed that they should launch the boat, and try and maketheir escape from the island.
"There are several reasons against our so doing," answered Owen. "Inthe first place, the boat requires repairs; she has neither mast, norsails, nor oars, and none of us three is well acquainted with themanagement of a boat. Wait patiently; when the liquor is gone we mayperhaps get the boat repaired, and a crew to sail in her. The firstthing I propose to do is to rig up a flagstaff, so that we may have abetter chance of attracting a passing vessel; and as we have plenty offuel, we ought to keep a good blaze during the night. This would havebeen done at first had the mate kept sober."
Owen and his two companions immediately set to work to carry out hissuggestion. An ensign, although somewhat torn, had been washed onshore, and spars of various sizes lay on the beach. These they draggedto the highest part of the bank. By lashing them together they got aflagstaff nearly forty feet long. They found sufficient rope only fortwo stays, and having fixed one of the stays securely to the sand by theaid of stakes driven deep into it, the butt end was placed in theground. Owen and Nat then going over to the opposite side hauled away,while Mike assisted to lift up the flagstaff, which was thus in a shorttime set up. Provided the wind remained moderate, they had no doubtthat it would stand.
"Should a vessel pass within four or five miles of the sand-bank itwill, I hope, be seen," observed Owen, "and it may be visible evenfurther off, if the weather is clear."
Owen had at first entertained some fears that Mike would join the otherparty, but the Irishman remained faithful, and did with alacrityeverything he advised.
For a whole day or more none of the men had been seen, nor had any soundcome from the direction of the camp. Owen began to fear that somethingmight have happened to them. Mike offered towards night to go andascertain how matters stood.
"Just keep up a bit of a fire to light me back," he said. "I'll soonfind out if they are sleeping all this time."
He set off, and Owen and Nat waited some time expecting his return.Still he did not come back. They began to fear that an accident hadhappened to him, or that he might have remained, notwithstanding hisgood intentions, with his drunken shipmates.
At last they heard some one approaching.
"All right!" cried Mike; "I've got the fish-kettle into the bargain.Every man alive of them is fast asleep, for they have drunk out the lastdrop of their liquor. I sounded each cask, and made sure it was empty.They will for a good reason be sober enough now."
"Now we have got the fish-kettle we will make use of it; but I wish,Mike, you would return it, as they will otherwise justly accuse us ofstealing it."
"Shure, we have as good a right to it as they have," answered Mike; "itwill be a mighty long time before they want it, and, seeing that theirfire has gone out, even if they get the kettle they can't use it at allat all."
"When they want fire, we must, however, give it to them," observed Owen;"because some of them have behaved ill to us, we must not refuse to helpthem."
"If they find out that we have got a store of water, they will be comingto drink it all up, and we shall be left without any," said Mike.
"Still we must try to help them when they require assistance," observedOwen.
"Would it not be wise to hide our casks of water in the sand?" suggestedNat; "then if they come and ask for it, we can give them a little at atime, and they
will value it the more."
"A very good idea," said Owen.
Nat's suggestion was forthwith acted upon; and with some staves of oneof the broken casks they dug holes in the higher part of the sand-bank,in which they concealed two casks of the precious fluid, covering themcarefully over again, so that they were not likely to be discovered.The water was thus kept cooler than it would have been if left exposedto the hot sun. This being done, Mike lost no time in cooking a supplyof "his porridge," as he called it, sufficient for their supper and forthe next day.
They all felt the better for the comfortable meal, and lay down to rest,grateful for the protection hitherto afforded them.
Mike had volunteered to get up every two or three hours to see if thebeacon-fire which they had lit was blazing up.
Owen and Nat had been sleeping for a couple of hours or more, when theywere aroused by Mike's voice.
"Bedad! but the weather has changed entirely, and our beautiful fire hasgone flying away right over the island," he exclaimed.
Owen and Nat started up. A fierce gale was raging, threatening everyinstant to carry away their tent; while the sea, which had hitherto onlylapped the edge of the sand-bank, now came foaming up against it inheavy billows.
"The boat, the boat!" cried Owen. "Our first care must be to secureher, if she is not knocked to pieces already. She is of more importancethan the tent or anything else." They hurried off to where the boatlay, some little distance from their tent. They were but just in time,as already the sea had driven her broadside to the beach and had begunto break into her. She was already nearly half full of water, and,being thus very heavy, they could only drag her up a foot or two.Fortunately there came a lull.
"If we had anything to bale her out with we might succeed," observedOwen.
"The lid of the kettle will be the thing," cried Mike. "Nat, run andget it!"
Nat was not a couple of minutes away, and, jumping into the boat, hebaled away with all his might, while Mike and Owen endeavoured to dragher up. The greater part of the water having been baled out of her theysucceeded better than at first, and at length got her, as they hoped,beyond the reach of the seas. The stake to which she was secured wasthen carried up as far as the painter would allow, and then fixed asdeeply as possible into the sand. The tent had withstood the wind, andthey further secured it by placing the casks and bales on the lower partof the cloth, so that, although it might be torn, it was not likely tobe carried bodily away. They were thus engaged when they heard shoutsand cries coming from the direction of the camp. The cause was tooevident. The sea, driven by the wind, had risen considerably, and wasrolling much further up the higher part of the bank than it had hithertodone. Too probably, therefore, it was sweeping over the lower end, onwhich their shipmates had remained.
"The sea must have caught them while they were still asleep, and theyhave only just discovered their danger," exclaimed Owen. "They won'tknow in which direction to run, and they are not aware of this higherspot on which they might take refuge."
"Thin the best way will be to light up a bit of fire to show them theway," said Mike. "There are a few embers up there still burning."
Mike and Nat quickly collected some of the burning pieces of wood, and asmall fire was soon blazing up. It required constant watchfulness,however, to prevent it from being blown away. In the meantime Owen andhis companions shouted together at the top of their voices.
Again and again cries were heard. Owen proposed starting off to guidethem to the only spot where safety could be found, but Mike and Natentreated him not to make the attempt. Indeed it was evident that hewould run great risk of being lost. Already the white foam could beseen through the darkness like masses of snow sweeping over theintermediate space between them and the camp, where the ground wasapparently of a somewhat lower level.
Although possibly their companions were on somewhat higher ground, yetat any moment the sea might sweep over it. The three shouted andshouted again. At last they heard voices crying out in reply, but itwas too dark to enable them to distinguish any one. All this time theboat, their tent, and the flagstaff were running great risk of beingcarried away. But the preservation of their fellow-creatures was ofmore consequence than anything else. At length they caught sight of afigure emerging from the gloom, rushing through the seething water whichswept by him. The party on the sand-bank shouted to encourage him. Nowhe stopped, afraid of being carried off his legs.
"On, on!" shouted Owen, who had brought from the tent a long line oftolerable thickness.
"Hold on to this," he cried to Mike and Nat. "I will fasten it round mywaist, and should any of the men be knocked down, I will try and savethem."
Such appeared very likely to happen to the person they saw approachingthem. Already he seemed half covered with foam. Again, however, thesea receded, and taking courage he rushed forward, and Owen, catchinghim in his arms, dragged him up. He proved to be the carpenter's mate.Just then two more people appeared, making their way towards thebeacon-fire. They were followed by a third, who quickly overtook them,and pushing on without hesitation soon reached the bank. Owenrecognised Mr Scoones.
"I am glad you are safe, sir," said Owen.
"No thanks to these fellows, for no one roused me when they saw the seabreaking close up to their feet."
Of the two other men who were making their way, one hesitated, while theother, following the example of the mate, rushed boldly forward. He waswithin a few yards of the bank, when the sea, sweeping by as it receded,rose up to his middle. He vainly attempted to stem it; he was liftedoff his feet, and was being hurried out among the breakers when Owen,springing forward into the receding water as it swept round thesand-bank, caught him by the arm, and they were both pulled up by theircompanions.
"Thank you, sir," said the man, whose name was Bill Pratt, generallycalled Bill, and who was a well-conducted fellow when sober. "I owe youa good turn for this, Mr Hartley."
The mate and the other men had thrown themselves down, overcome by theirexertions. The fourth man was yet some distance off, and as another seacame rolling up, he was lifted off his feet. He shrieked wildly forhelp, but had he been even a good swimmer no strength of arm could havesaved him.
In an instant the foaming waters closed over his head, and although Owenstood ready to plunge in and attempt to save him, he could nowhere beseen. His was probably the fate of the rest. Three or four otherfigures were seen for an instant making their way towards the fire; thenthey suddenly disappeared. Owen waited a short time, but no one elsecame.
"Stay by the fire, Nat," he said; "we must now look after the boat."
He hurriedly told the mate that the boat had been washed on shore, andbegged him and the two other men to assist in securing her, as he wasafraid every instant that she would be lost. Although scarcely yetrecovered from his debauch, the mate was sufficiently alive to theimportance of this object not to hesitate. Leaving Nat to watch thebeacon-fire, the whole party set off to where the boat had been left.They found her in even a worse condition than she had been before. Thesea was beating against her with great force, and would in a few minuteshave rendered her a complete wreck.
Owen, who had thoughtfully brought the lid of the kettle with him,jumped in and baled her out, while the rest, uniting their strength, gother head round, and by great exertions Mike and Bill, putting theirshoulders under her, managed to drag her up early to the highest part ofthe bank.
"If the sea does her any harm here, it won't much matter, for we shallall be swept away at the same time," observed the mate.
As they were returning to the tent, a crash was heard; the flagstaff hadgone. It was useless attempting to put it up that night, and theyreturned to the tent, where the mate, throwing himself down, declaredthat he was too much fatigued to work any more.
Owen, still hoping that more men might be saved, joined Nat to watch atthe beacon-fire. Should any one be seen they would be ready to givethem help. But after watching for some time
in vain, they returnedtogether to the tent with hearts saddened at the thought that so many oftheir shipmates had lost their lives mainly through their own folly.The condition of the survivors was still perilous in the extreme. Thesea, as far as they could judge, was still rising, and might at anymoment overwhelm them. The gale raged as fiercely as at first. Therain, so unusual in that latitude, came down in torrents. Had theyprepared anything for catching it, it would have proved of the greatestbenefit. Owen recollected the bale of cotton cloth. He called Nat andMike to undo it. They cut off a couple of lengths, which they held overthe empty fish-kettle, and by stretching it tightly the rain ran off itinto the fish-kettle, which was quickly filled. Two of the casks, outof which Owen had emptied the spirits they had contained, lay near thetent. He immediately brought one of them and filled it with theprecious fluid which had been obtained.
"Quick--quick," he cried, as he replaced the fish kettle; "let us havethe other cask, not a drop of water must be lost if we can help it."Bill Pratt, the carpenter's mate, who, seeing what they were about? hadjoined them, rolled up the cask, and that also was nearly filled whenthe rain ceased.
"That cask has had better stuff in it than water not long ago," observedBill, putting his nose to the bung-hole.
"It was the stuff which caused the death of so many of our poorshipmates, and has brought thousands and tens of thousands of others toruin and death," answered Owen. "Before long, you would thankfullyexchange a dozen casks of spirits, if you had them, for one cup of suchpure water as we have just obtained. If we are wise we shall collectall the empty casks we can find, and be ready to fill them shouldanother shower fall."
"Ah, sir, I believe you are right; and I wish that others had had aslittle love for liquor as you have, and we shouldn't have been where wenow are, with our stout ship knocked to pieces," said Bill, glancing atthe mate who lay asleep in the tent.
"We have now to do our best, and pray to God for deliverance," observedOwen. "Perhaps we shall be blessed with another shower, and be able tofill up this cask, and any others we can find."
Although the rain had ceased, the wind blew as hard as ever. Still thewater rose until the white foam reached almost close up to the spot onwhich their tent stood. A few minutes more might decide their fate.Owen felt deeply the awfulness of their situation. Ere long he and hiscompanions might be standing in the presence of their Maker.
Throughout that live-long night the shipwrecked group sat beneath theirtent on that narrow strip of sand. Its length they had not ascertained,but its width, as far as they could judge, was now scarcely fifty yardsacross. They waited on, knowing that, should the tide rise high, asingle wave might sweep them all off. Mike proposed getting into theboat, there to await their fate.
"She would not live ten minutes with such a sea running outside.Without oars to steer her, we should be worse off than we are now,"answered Bill Pratt.
And thus they sat on and on, anxiously watching for daylight.