The Island Home

  CHAPTER THIRTY.

  THE RENCONTRE.

  THE TWO LEADERS--AN UNEXPECTED MEETING--THE COUNCIL OF WAR--AND WHATFOLLOWED.

  "Now screw your courage to the sticking point."

  "With many a stiff thwack, many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang; While none who saw them could divine To which side conquest would incline."

  I had climbed to the top of the bank as my look-out station, while thework of demolishing the canoe was going forward, and on perceiving thatMorton had accomplished his task, I was about to descend again, whentaking a final sweeping glance to the north and east, I observed severalfigures moving rapidly along the beach, at a point somewhat less than aquarter of a mile distant, of which my position commanded a view, andcoming towards us. In consequence of the indented character of theshore, and the height of the bank bordering it for some distance, theypassed out of sight almost instantly.

  Without losing a moment, I sprang down to the shore to communicate whatI had seen. Max, who had been posted upon the beach to keep a look-outnorthward, ran up at the same time, having also caught sight of thepersons approaching us, as they came round a projecting point.

  We now looked hurriedly around for some place of concealment, and Mortonpointed out a cluster of shrubs and rank weeds upon the verge of thebluff just above us, from which, without any risk of being seenourselves, we could command a view of the shore and those passing alongit. There was but little time for deliberation or choice, and hastilysummoning Browne from his post, where he was still on the watch, wescaled the almost perpendicular face of the height, with an ease andcelerity which would have been impossible under circumstances of lessexcitement.

  In the spot which Morton had designated, tall grass and flaunting weedsfringed the edge of the bluff, and we threw ourselves down among them,and awaited, with almost suspended breath, the approach of the persons Ihad seen.

  We were scarcely settled in our hiding-place, when a half-naked figure,swinging a short club in one hand, rushed into view. Another, andanother followed, until I had counted seven of them. They werewell-made, athletic men, of a fine olive colour, with long straight hairfalling over their shoulders. The maro, which is a sort of fringedbelt, was their only clothing, and they carried spears and clubs of somedark-grained wood.

  Among them was one striking figure. It was that of an old man, of largeand powerful frame, and a marked and resolute countenance, theexpression of which reminded me of an old lion which I had seen in someitinerant menagerie, years ago. His massive head was covered with atangled mass of iron-grey hair that streamed like a mane over his broadshoulders. The club which he carried might have served Herculeshimself; it certainly would have severely tasked the strength of anordinary man to wield it. I observed that all of them seemed to breathequickly as though they had been running, or exerting themselvesviolently in some way; and the old man, who came last looked backwardonce or twice, as they came opposite us, in a way that caused me tosuppose that they were pursued. The one who had first come in sight,went towards the spot where the canoe was concealed, and upon seeing itscondition, uttered an exclamation of surprise that quickly brought theothers around him, when they all commenced gesticulating, and talking ina low key, looking cautiously about every moment, as though apprehensivethat the perpetrators of the mischief might still be lurking near.

  The old man, however, neither talked nor gesticulated, but stoopingdown, he examined the canoe narrowly, as if to ascertain the preciseextent of the injury done, and whether it admitted of any remedy. Whenhe had completed his inspection he arose, and shaking his headsorrowfully, uttered some expression, which, accompanied as it was by athreatening gesture with his ponderous club, sounded much like anemphatic imprecation. Morton, who was crouching close beside me,peering cautiously through the tufts of grass, at what was going onbelow, gave a nervous start, as though the consciousness of the leadingpart he had taken in the mischief so recently wrought, made him considerhimself the special object of the old giant's fury. One of them havinggone back a little way along the beach, as if to reconnoitre, nowreturned in haste, and made some announcement, upon hearing which theold man waved his hand, and the others immediately started off upon afull run along the shore towards the south-west; he then followed themat a somewhat less hurried pace.

  "They are certainly pursued, judging from their actions," whisperedMorton, "let us keep quiet, and see what comes next."

  But a few minutes had passed, when half a dozen savages, resembling intheir appearance and equipments those we had just seen, came in sight,running at full speed, but with the air of pursuers rather than offugitives. Straggling bands of two or three each followed at shortintervals, all probably belonging to the same party, but scattered inthe heat of the chase. Altogether, there must have been as many asfifteen or twenty of them. A tall, wild-looking savage, large-framed,but gaunt as a greyhound, and with a kind of fierce energy in all hismovements, seemed to be the leader of the pursuing party. Just below uson the beach, he turned and gave some order to a portion of hisfollowers, speaking with great rapidity, and pointing towards the bluff;after which he darted off again along the shore at a speed that seemedreally marvellous. Those to whom he had spoken, immediately began, asif in obedience to the order just given, to climb the bank, not a dozenyards from the spot where we were lying.

  The object of this movement undoubtedly was, to anticipate and frustrateany attempt on the part of the fugitives, to escape, by quitting theshore and making towards the interior. The party thus detached hadprobably been directed to continue the chase, keeping to the higherground. If so, they would pass quite near our place of concealment, andthere was some danger of our being discovered, to avoid which, wecrouched close to the ground, and remained perfectly silent andmotionless. The point where the savages were attempting to ascend wassteep and difficult, and several of them, apparently to disencumberthemselves for the effort of climbing, threw their clubs and spearsbefore them to the top. One of these weapons, a short, heavy club, fellnear me, and fearing that the owner might come to seek it, I hastilycast it to a conspicuous place, free from vegetation, a little distancefrom the bank, and nearer the spot where they were scaling it. But thesavage had probably noticed where it first fell, for the next momentsome one came running directly towards the place, and just as I wasexpecting to see him stumble into the midst of us, a deep gutturalexclamation announced that we were discovered. Any further attempt atconcealment was clearly idle, and we sprang up at once; the man waswithin three yards of us; he seemed quite as much startled as ourselvesat so sudden a rencontre, and after standing for a minute looking at us,he turned and ran off to his fellows.

  "They will be back directly in a body," said Browne, "and we must decidequickly what we are to do--whether to trust ourselves in their power, orto make such resistance as we can, if they undertake to meddle with us."

  "I doubt if it would be safe to trust them," said Morton, "at any rate Idon't like the idea of risking it. There are but five or six of them;the rest are far enough off by this time."

  "I wish Arthur were here," said Browne, anxiously; "he understands themand their ways, and could tell us what we ought to do. I don't knowwhat the probability is of their injuring us if we throw aside our armsand submit ourselves to them, and therefore I am loth to take theresponsibility of deciding the matter."

  Meantime the savages appeared to be also holding a consultation. Theystood at a short distance talking rapidly, and pointing towards us. Atlength they began to approach the spot where we stood, but slowly, andwith some apparent hesitation.

  "Well," said Browne, "we must come to a decision quickly."

  "I distrust them entirely," exclaimed Morton, "I am for acting on thedefensive."

  "And I also," said Max, "I have no faith in them: but perhaps they won'tstop to interfere with us after all."

  "Very well, then," said Browne, "we will fight if we must. But let usstand strictly on the defensive, and offer them no provoc
ation."

  I could not help regarding this determination as unwise, but it was themind of the majority; and the present was no time for divided oruncertain counsels. I therefore kept my thoughts to myself, andgrasping my cutlass, prepared for what was to follow.

  Browne and Max were armed with the "Feejee war-clubs," of the latter'smanufacture: they were long, heavy bludgeons, of the wood of thecasuarina, rather too ponderous to be wielded with one hand by a personof ordinary strength. Morton and I were provided with cutlasses, whichwe had preferred as being lighter and more convenient to carry.

  The savages were armed with spears and short clubs, the former of whichthey presented towards us as they advanced.

  I confess that my heart began to thump against my breast with unwontedand unpleasant rapidity and violence. I dare say it was the same withmy companions; but externally we were perfectly composed and steady.

  "There are just five of them," said Browne, "two antagonists for me, andone apiece for the rest of you. If any one interferes with my two Ishall consider it a personal affront."

  "Confound those long spears!" exclaimed Max, with a disturbed air, "theyhave a mighty uncomfortable look, with those fish-bone barbs at the endof them."

  The still more "uncomfortable" thought that those fish-bone barbs wereperhaps poisoned, suggested itself to me, but I considered it expedientto say nothing on the subject at the present juncture.

  "Pshaw!" cried Browne, "the long spears are easily managed, if you willonly remember my fencing-lessons, and keep your nerves steady. It isthe simplest thing in the world to put aside a thrust from such aweapon: depend upon it, those short clubs will prove much moredangerous."

  The savages, having now had a sufficient opportunity to note ourequipments, and our youthful appearance, quickly lost all hesitation,and came confidently forward until they stood facing us, at the distanceof but ten or twelve feet. Then, seeing that we maintained a defensiveattitude, they paused, and one of them, stepping a little before therest, spoke to us in a loud and authoritative voice, at the same timemotioning us to throw aside our weapons.

  "Can't you muster a few words of their heathen talk, Archer?" saidBrowne, "perhaps if we could only understand one another, we should findthere is no occasion for us to quarrel. It seems so irrational to runthe risk of having our brains knocked out, if it can be avoided."

  I shook my head: the few phrases which I had picked up from Arthur andEiulo, could be of no use for the present purpose, even if they shouldbe understood.

  The spokesman, a sinewy, hard-favoured savage, whose native ugliness wasenhanced by two scars that seamed his broad squat face, repeated thewords he had before uttered, in a higher key, and with a still moreimperative air, accompanying what he said, with gestures, whichsufficiently explained what he required.

  "If I understand you, my friend," said Browne, appearing to forget inthe excitement of the moment that what he was saying would be utterlyunintelligible to the person he addressed, "If I understand you, yourdemand is unreasonable. Throw away your own weapons first; you are themost numerous party:" and he imitated the gestures which the other hadmade use of.

  The savage shook his head impatiently, and keeping his eyes steadfastlyfixed upon Browne, he began to speak in a quiet tone. But I saw thatthough looking at Browne, his words were addressed to his companions,who gradually spread themselves out in front of us and without makingany openly hostile demonstrations, handled their weapons in what seemedto me a suspicious manner.

  "Be on your guard," said I, speaking in my ordinary tone, and withoutlooking round, "I am sure they are meditating sudden mischief."

  Scarcely were the words uttered, when, with the quickness of lightning,the spokesman hurled his club at Browne, narrowly missing his head, thenbringing his spear into a horizontal position, he made a thrust full athis chest with his whole force.

  Browne, however, was on his guard, and knocking aside the point of thespear, he swung round his long club; and, before the other could drawback, brought it down with such effect upon his right shoulder that hisarm fell powerless to his side, and the spear dropped from his grasp.Browne promptly set his foot upon it, and the owner, astonished andmortified, rather than intimidated at his repulse, shrunk back withoutany attempt to regain it.

  This attack was so sudden, and so soon foiled--being but a blow aimed,parried, and returned, in a single breath--that no one on either sidehad an opportunity to interfere or join in it. The other savages nowuttered a yell, and were about to rush upon us: but the leader, as heappeared to be, motioned them back, and they drew off to a shortdistance. If we were for a moment inclined to hope that we should nowbe left unmolested, we soon learned the groundlessness of such anexpectation. The discomfited savage, instead of being discouraged bythe rough treatment he had received, was only rendered more dangerousand resolute by it; and he prepared to renew the attack at once, havingtaken from one of his companions a club somewhat heavier and longer thanhis own.

  "I wish," said Max, drawing a long breath as he eyed these ominousproceedings, "that we had a few of Colt's revolvers, to keep thesefellows at a respectable distance: I confess I don't like the notion ofcoming to such close quarters with them as they seem to contemplate."

  "A genuine Yankee wish!" answered Browne, grasping his club with bothhands, and planting himself firmly, to receive the expected onset; "tomake it completely in character you have only to wish, in addition, fora mud breastwork, or a few cotton bags, between us and our friendsyonder."

  "Which I do, with all my heart!" responded Max, fervently.

  "Let Kaiser Maximilien represent the high Dutch on this occasion," saidMorton, edging himself forward abreast of Browne, who had stationedhimself a trifle in advance of the rest of us; "he has no claim to speakfor the Yankees except the mere accident of birth. Archer and I willuphold the honour of the stars and stripes without either revolvers orcotton bags."

  "Fair play!" cried Max, pushing Browne aside, "I won't have you for abreastwork at any rate, however much I may desire one of turf or cottonbales." And we arranged ourselves side by side.

  "Really," said Morton, with a faint apology for a smile, "it appearsthat we have to do with tacticians--they are going to outflank us."This remark was caused by our antagonists separating themselves; theleader advancing directly towards us, while the others approached, twoon the right and two on the left.

  "Well," said Browne, "we shall have to form a hollow square, officers inthe centre, as the Highlanders did at Waterloo, and then I shall claimthe privilege of my rank."

  But our pleasantry was, as may easily be imagined, rather forced. Ouradversaries were now evidently bent upon mischief, and thoroughly inearnest. We were none of us veterans, and notwithstanding an assumptionof coolness, overstrained and unnatural under the circumstances, ourbreath came thick and painfully with the intense excitement of themoment.

  At a signal from their scarred leader, the savages rushed upon ustogether. I can give no very clear account of the confused strugglethat ensued, as I was not at the time in a state of mind favourable tocalm and accurate observation. A few blows and thrusts were exchanged;at first cautiously, and at as great a distance as our weapons wouldreach; then more rapidly and fiercely, until we became all mingledtogether, and soon each of us was too fully occupied in defendinghimself to be able to pay much attention to any thing else. At thecommencement of the attack I was standing next to Browne, who beingevidently singled out by his former opponent, advanced a step or two tomeet him. He skilfully parried several downright blows from the heavyclub of the latter, who in his turn dodged a swinging stroke whichBrowne aimed at his head, and instantly closed with him. The nextmoment they went whirling past me towards the edge of the bank, lockedtogether in a desperate grapple, which was the last that I saw of them.I was assailed at the outset by an active and athletic savage, armedwith a short club. He was exceedingly anxious to close, which I, quitenaturally, was as desirous to prevent, knowing that I should stand nochance in s
uch a struggle, against his superior weight and strength.While I was doing my best to keep him off with my cutlass, and he waseagerly watching an opportunity to come to closer quarters, Morton,locked in the grasp of a brawny antagonist, came driving directlybetween us, where they fell together, and lay rolling and strugglingupon the ground at our feet. My opponent, abandoning me for a moment,was in the act of aiming a blow at Morton's head, when I sprang forward,and cut him across the forehead with my cutlass. The blood instantlyfollowed the stroke, and gushing in torrents over his face, seemed toblind him: he struck three or four random blows in the air, then reeledand fell heavily to the ground. Throwing a hasty glance around, Iperceived Max among some bushes at a little distance defending himselfwith difficulty against a savage, who attacked him eagerly with one ofthose long spears, towards which he entertained such an aversion.Browne was nowhere to be seen. Morton and his strong antagonist werestill grappling on the ground, but the latter had gained the advantage,and was now endeavouring, while he held Morton under him, to reach aclub lying near, with which to put an end to the struggle. Another ofthe enemy was sitting a few steps off apparently disabled, with theblood streaming from a wound in the neck. I hastened to Morton'sassistance, whereupon his opponent, seeing my approach, sprang up andseized the club which he had been reaching after. But Morton gained hisfeet almost as soon as the other, and instantly grappled with him again.At this moment I heard Max's voice, in a tone of eager warning,calling, "Look-out, Archer!" and turning, I saw the savage I supposed tobe disabled, with uplifted arm, in the very act of bringing down hisclub upon my head. I have a confused recollection of instinctivelyputting up my cutlass, in accordance with Browne's instructions formeeting the "seventh" stroke in the broad-sword exercise. I have sincebecome convinced by reflection, (to say nothing of experience), that theprinciples of the broad-sword exercise, however admirable in themselves,cannot be applied without some modification when iron-wood clubs, withhuge knobs of several pounds' weight at the ends of them, aresubstituted for claymores. However, I had no time then to make theproper distinctions, and as instead of dodging the blow, I endeavouredto parry it, my guard was beaten down--and that is all that I can relateof the conflict, from my own knowledge and personal observation.