Willis the Pilot : A Sequel to the Swiss Family Robinson

  CHAPTER IV.

  A LANDSCAPE--SAD HOUSES AND SMILING HOUSES--POLITENESS IN CHINA--EIGHTSOUPS AT DESSERT--WIND MERCHANTS--ANOTHER IDEA OF THE PILOT'S--SUSAN,VICE SOPHIA.

  Towards five o'clock next morning everything about Rockhouse wasbeginning to assume life and motion--within, all its inhabitants werealready astir--without, little remained of the recent storm andinundation except that refreshing coolness, which, conjointly with thepurified air, infuses fresh vigor, not only into men, but also intoevery living thing. The citrous, the aloes, and the Spanish jasminesperfumed the landscape. The flexible palms, the tall bananas, withtheir unbrageous canopy, the broad, pendant-leaved mangoes, and allthe rank but luxuriant vegetation that clothed the land to the water'sedge, waved majestically under the gentle breeze that blew from thesea. The Jackal River unfolded its silvery band through the roses,bamboos, and cactii that lined its banks. The sun--for that luminaryplays an important part in all Nature's festivals--darted its rays onthe soil still charged with vapor. Diamond drops sparkled in the cupsof the flowers and on the points of the leaves. In the distance,pines, cedars, and richly-laden cocoa-nut trees filled up thebackground with their dark foliage. The swans displayed theirbrilliant plumage on the lake, the boughs of the trees were alive withparroquets and other winged creatures of the tropics. Add to thecharms of this scene, Mrs. Becker returning from the prairie with ajar of warm, frothy milk--Mrs. Wolston and Mary busied in amultiplicity of household occupations, to which their white hands andringing voices gave elegance and grace--Sophia tying a rose to theneck of a blue antelope which she had adopted as a companion--Frankdistributing food to the ostriches and large animals, and admit, ifthere is a paradise on earth, it was this spot.

  Compare this scene with that presented by any of our large cities atthe same hour in the morning. In London or Paris, our dominion rarelyextends over two or three dreary-looking rooms--a geranium, perhaps,at one of the windows to represent the fields and green lanes of thecountry; above, a forest of smoking chimneys vary the monotony of thezig-zag roofs; below, a thousand confused noises of waggons, cabs, andthe hoarse voices of the street criers; probably the lamps are justbeing extinguished, and the dust heaps carted away, filling our rooms,and perhaps our eyes, with ashes; the chalk-milk, the air, and theodors are scarcely required to fill up the picture.

  Breakfast was spread a few paces from Mr. Wolston's bed, whom the twoyoung girls were tending with anxious solicitude, and whose sicknesswas almost enviable, so many were the cares lavished upon him.

  "You are wrong, Mrs. Becker," said Mrs. Wolston, "to make yourselfuneasy, the sea has become as smooth as a mirror since theirdeparture."

  "Ah, yes, I know that, my dear Mrs. Wolston, but when one has alreadyundergone the perils of shipwreck, the impression always remains, andmakes us see storms in a glass of water."

  "I am certain," remarked Mr. Wolston, "the cause of their delay is aconcession made to Willis."

  "Very likely he would not consent to return, unless they went as faras possible."

  "By the way, madam," said Mary, "now that you have got two great girlsadded to your establishment, I hope you are going to make them usefulin some way--we can sew, knit, and spin."

  "And know how to make preserves," added Sophia.

  "Yes, and to eat them too," said her mother.

  "If you can spin, my dears, we shall find plenty of work for you; wehave here the Nankin cotton plant, and I intend to dress the wholecolony with it."

  "Delightful!" exclaimed Sophia, clapping her hands; "Nankin dressesjust as at the boarding-school, with a straw hat and a green veil."

  "To be sure, it must be woven first," reflected Mrs. Becker; "but Idare say we shall be able to manage that."

  "By the way, girls," said Mrs. Wolston, "have you forgotten yourlessons in tapestry?"

  "Not at all, mamma; and now that we think of it, we shall handsomelyfurnish a drawing-room for you."

  "But where are the tables and chairs to come from?" inquired Mrs.Becker.

  "Oh, the gentlemen will see to them."

  "And the room, where is that to be?"

  "There is the gallery, is there not?"

  "And the wool for the carpet?"

  "Have you not sheep?"

  "That is true, children; you speak as if we had only to go and sitdown in it."

  "The piano, however, I fear will be wanting, unless we can pick up anErard in the neighboring forest."

  "True, mamma, all the overtures that we have had so much trouble inlearning will have to go for nothing."

  "But," said Mrs. Becker, "by way of compensation, there is thevegetable and fruit garden, the pantry, the kitchen, the dairy, andthe poultry yard; these are all my charges, and you may have some ofthem if you like."

  "Excellent, each shall have her own kingdom and subjects."

  "It being understood," suggested Mrs. Wolston, "that you are not toeat everything up, should the fruit garden or pantry come under yourcharge."

  "That is not fair, mamma; you are making us out to be a couple ofcannibals."

  "You see," continued Mrs. Wolston, "these young people have not theslightest objection to my parading their accomplishments, but themoment I touch their faults they feel aggrieved."

  "I am persuaded," rejoined Mrs. Becker laughing, "that there are nocalumniators in the world like mothers."

  "Therefore, mamma, to punish you we shall come and kiss you."

  And accordingly Mrs. Wolston was half stifled under the embraces ofher two daughters.

  "I am certainly not the offender," said Mrs. Becker, "but I should notobject to receive a portion of the punishment; these greatboys--pointing to Frank--are too heavy to hang on my neck now; youwill replace them, my dears, will you not?"

  "Most willingly, madam; but not to deprive them of their places inyour affection."

  "In case you should lose that, Master Frank," said Mrs. Wolston, "youmust have recourse to mine."

  "But now, my friends, what do you say to going down to the shore tomeet the pinnace, and perhaps the _Nelson_?" said Mrs. Becker.

  "Ah, yes," said Sophia; "and I will stay at home to wait upon father."

  "No," said Mary; "I am the eldest--that is my right."

  "Well, my children, do not quarrel about that," said Wolston; "I feelrather better; and I dare say a walk will do me good. Perhaps, when Iget tired, Frank will lend me his arm."

  "Better than that," hastily added Frank; "I shall saddle Blinky; andlead him gently, and you will be as comfortable as in an arm-chair."

  "What is that you call Blinky?"

  "Oh, one of our donkeys."

  "Ah, very good; I was afraid you meant one of your ostriches, and Icandidly admit that my experiences in equitation do not extend toriding a winged horse."

  "In that case," said Mrs. Becker, "to keep Blinky's brother from beingjealous, I, shall charge him with a basket of provisions; and we shalllay a cloth under the mangoes, so that our ocean knights, as Jack willhave it, may have something to refresh themselves withal as soon asthey dismount."

  The little caravan was soon on the march; the two dogs cleared theway, leaping, bounding, and scampering on before, sniffing the busheswith their intelligent noses; then, returning to their master, theyread in his face what was next to be done. Mary walked by the side ofBlinky, amusing her father with her prattle. Sophia, with herantelope, was gambolling around them, the one rivalling the other inthe grace of their movements, not only without knowing it, but ratherbecause they did not know it. The two mothers were keeping an eye onthe donkey; whilst Frank, with his rifle charged, was ready to bringdown a quail or encounter a hyena.

  Some hours after the pinnace hove in sight, the voyagers landed, andreceived the warm congratulations of those on shore. When Willis hadsecured the boat, he took a final survey of the coast, penetratingwith his eyes every creek and crevice.

  "Is there no trace of the _Nelson_?" inquired Wolston.

  "None!"

  "Well, I had all along thought you woul
d find it so; the wind for fourdays has been blowing that it would drive the _Nelson_ to herdestination. Captain Littlestone, being charged with importantdespatches, having already lost a fortnight here, has, no doubt, takenadvantage of the gale, and made sail for the Cape, trusting to find usall alive here on his return voyage."

  "Yes," said the Pilot, "I know very well that you have all goodhearts, and that you are desirous of giving me all the consolation youcan."

  "Would you not have acted, under similar circumstances, precisely aswe suppose Captain Littlestone to have done?"

  "I admit that the thing, is not only possible, but also that, ifalive, it is just what he would have done. I trust, if it be so, thatwhen he gets into port he will report me keel-hauled?"

  "Keel-hauled?"

  "Yes, I mean dead. It is a thousand times better to pass for a deadman than a deserter."

  "The wisest course he could pursue, it appears to me, would be to holdhis tongue--probably you will not be missed."

  "Ah! you think that her Majesty's blue jackets can disappear in thatway, like musk-rats? But no such thing. When the captain in command atthe station hails on board, every man and boy of the crew, from thepowder-monkey to the first-lieutenant, are mustered in pipe-clay onthe quarter-deck, and there, with the ship's commission in his hand,every one must report himself as he calls over the names.

  "Then the captain will tell the simple truth."

  "Well, you see, truth has nothing at all to do with the rules of theservice, the questions printed in the orderly-book only will be asked,and he may not have an opportunity of stating the facts of the case;besides, discipline on board a ship in commission could not bemaintained if irregularities could be patched up by a few words fromthe captain. When it is found that I had been left on shore, thequestions will be, 'Was the _Nelson_ in want of repairs?' 'No.' 'Didshe require water?' 'No.' 'Provisions?' 'No.' 'Then Willis hasdeserted?' 'Yes.' And his condemnation will follow as a matter ofcourse."

  "In that case, the Captain would be more to blame than you are."

  "So he would, and it is for that reason I hope he will be able to showby the log that I was seized with cholera, tied up in a sack, and dulythrown overboard with a four-pound shot for ballast."

  "I cannot conceive," said Becker, "that the discipline of any servicecan be so cruelly unreasonable as you would have us believe."

  "No, perhaps you think that just before the anchor is heaved, and theship about to start on a long voyage, the cabin boys are asked whetherthey have the colic--that lubbers, who wish to back out have only tosay the word, and they are free--that the pilot may go a-hunting if helikes, and that the officers may stay on shore and amuse themselves indefiance of the rules of the service? In that case the navy would berather jolly, but not much worth."

  When Willis was once fairly started there was no stopping him.

  "Dead," he continued; "that is to say, without a berth, pay, or even aname, nothing! My wife will have the right to marry again, my littleSusan will have another father, and I shall only be able to breathe bystealth, and to consider that as more than I deserve. You must admitthat all this is rather a poor look-out a-head."

  "Really, Willis," said Mrs. Wolston, "you seem to take a pride inmaking things worse than they are, conjuring up phantoms that have noexistence."

  "It is true, madam. I may be going upon a wrong tack. Judging from allappearances, the sloop, instead of being on her way to the Cape, istranquilly reposing at the bottom of the sea. But it is only death fordeath; hanged by a court-martial or drowned with the sloop, it comes,in the end, to the same thing."

  "I dare say, Willis, had there really been an accident, and you hadbeen on board, you would not have felt yourself entitled to escape?"

  "Certainly not, madam; unless the crew could be saved, it would lookanything but well for the pilot to escape alone."

  Willis, however, to do him justice, seemed trying to smother hisgrief; and, in the meanwhile, the two girls had been spreading a purewhite cloth on a neighboring rock, cutting fruit plates out of thethick mangoe leaves, cooling the Rockhouse malaga in the brook, andgiving to the repast an air of elegance and refinement which had theeffect of augmenting the appetite of the company. The viands were notbetter than they had been on many similar occasions, but they were nowmore artistically displayed, and consequently more inviting.

  Who has not remarked, in passing through a street of dingy-lookinghouses, one of them distinguished from the others by its fresh andcheerful aspect, the windows garnished with a luxuriant screen offlowers, with curtains on either side of snowy whiteness and elaborateworkmanship? Very likely the passer-by has asked himself, Why is thishouse not as neglected, tattered, and dirty as its wretched neighbors?The answer is simple; there dwells in this house a young girl, blithe,frolicsome, and joyous, singing with the lark, and, like a butterfly,floating from her book to her work-box--from her mother's cheek to herfather's, leaving an impress of her youthfulness and purity onwhatever she touches.

  For a like reason the _al fresco_ dinner of this day had a charm thatno such feast had been observed to possess before.

  "We are not presentable," said Fritz, referring to his seal-gutuniform.

  "Ah," replied Mrs. Wolston, "it is your costume of war, brave knights;and, for my part, I admire you more in it than in the livery of HydePark or Bond Street."

  "In that case," said Ernest, "we shall do as they do in China."

  "And what is that?"

  "Well, the most profound remark of respect a host can pay to hisguests, is to go and dress after dinner."

  "Just when they are about to leave?"

  "Exactly so, madam."

  "That is very decidedly a Chinese observance. Are they not somewhatbehind in cookery?"

  "By no means, madam; on the contrary, they have attained a very highdegree of perfection in that branch of the arts. It is customary, atevery ceremonious dinner, to serve up fifty-two distinct dishes. Andwhen that course is cleared off, what do you think is produced next?"

  "The dessert, I suppose."

  "Eight kinds of soup, never either one more or one less. If the numberwere deficient, the guests would consider themselves grossly insulted,the number of dishes denoting the degree of respect entertained by thehost for his guests."

  "I beg, Mrs. Wolston," said Mrs. Becker laughing, "that you will notestimate our esteem for you by the dinner we offer you."

  "Well," replied Mrs. Wolston in the same tone, "let me see; to betreated as we ought to be, there are fifty-seven dishes wanting,therefore we must go and dine at home. John, call my carriage."

  At this sally they all laughed heartily, and even Willis chimed inwith the general hilarity.

  "Then, after the soups," continued Ernest, "comes the tea, and withthat the dessert, as also sixty square pieces of silver paper to wipethe mouth. It is then that the host vanishes, to reappear in abrilliant robe of gold brocade and a vest of satin."

  "These people ought all to perish of indigestion."

  "No; they are moderate eaters, their dishes consist of small saucers,each containing only a few mouthfuls of meat, and, as for Europeans,the want of forks and spoons--"

  "What! have they no forks?"

  "Not at table--nor knives either; but, on the other hand, they areexceedingly expert in the use of two slender sticks of ivory, whichthey hold in the first three fingers of the right hand, and with whichthey manage to convey solids, and even liquids, to their mouths."

  "Ah! I see," said Jack; "the Europeans would be obliged, like Mrs.Wolston, to call their carriage, in spite of the fifty-two saucers ofmeat: it puts me in mind of the stork inviting the fox to dine withher out of a long-necked jar."

  "We are apt to judge the Chinese by the pictures seen of them on theirown porcelain, and copied upon our pottery," said Becker; "but thisconveys only a ludicrous idea of them. They are the most industrious,but at the same time the vainest, most stupid, and most credulouspeople in the world; they worship the moon, fire, fortune, and athousa
nd other things; people go about amongst them selling wind,which they dispose of in vials of various sizes."

  "That is a trade that will not require an extraordinary amount ofcapital."

  "True; and besides, as they carry on their trade in the open air, theyhave no rent to pay."

  "Their bonzes or priests," continued Becker, "to excite charity,perambulate the streets in chains, sometimes with some inflammablematter burning on their heads, whilst, instead of attempting to purifythe souls of dying sinners, they put rice and gold in their mouthswhen the vital spark has fled. They have a very cruel mode ofpunishing renegade Lamas: these are pierced through the neck with ared-hot iron."

  "What is a Lama, father?"

  "It is a designation of the Tartar priests."

  For some time Willis had been closely examining a particular point inthe bay with increasing anxiety; at last he ran towards the shore andleapt into the sea. Becker and his four sons were on the point ofstarting off in pursuit of him.

  "Stop," said Wolston, "I have been watching Willis's movements for thelast ten minutes, and I guess his purpose--let him alone."

  Willis swam to some object that was floating on the water, andreturned in about a quarter of an hour, bringing with him a plank.

  "Well," he inquired, on landing, "was I wrong?"

  "Wrong about what?" inquired Wolston.

  "The _Nelson_ is gone."

  "The proof, Willis."

  "That plank."

  "Well, what about the plank?"

  "I recognise it."

  "How, Willis?"

  "How! Well," replied the obstinate pilot, "fish don't breed planks,and--and--I scarcely think this one could escape from a dockyard, andfloat here of its own accord."

  "Then, Willis, according to you, there are no ships but the _Nelson_,no ships wrecked but the _Nelson_, and no planks but the _Nelson's_.Willis, you are a fool."

  "Every one has his own ideas, Mr. Wolston."

  Towards evening, when they were on their way back to Rockhouse, Sophiaconfidentially called Willis aside, and he cheerfully obeyed thesummons.

  "Pilot," said she, "I have made up my mind about one thing."

  "And what is that, Miss Sophia?"

  "Why, this--in future, when we are alone, as just now, you must callme Susan, as you used to call your own little girl when at home, notMiss Susan."

  "Oh, I cannot do that, Miss Sophia."

  "But I insist upon it."

  "Well, Miss Sophia, I will try."

  "What did you say?"

  "Miss Sus--"

  "What?"

  "Susan, I mean."

  "There now, that will do."