CHAPTER X.
A Total Wreck.--An Unknown Coast.--The Green Ants.--The WhiteCockatoo.--Waifs.--The Gourd Tree.--The Fresh-water Rivulet.--A RiverVoyage Projected.
"The catamaran is lost, master," said Wilkins, as soon as he couldspeak. "But life afore property any day, and somehow I've had thoughtsof late as how I'se hardly fit to die.... Now then; look about ye, youngman. That there eddy's a _freshet_; there's a river comes in there, andthat's where as we should be, if we can make land cannily. Here, auldmaster, lend me them oars, and sit ye down and look after that youngchap."
Arthur agreed with Wilkins; but it was a perilous undertaking to carrythe canoes over the foaming breakers, the hidden rocks of that frowningcoast. His own experience rendered him hopeless of ever accomplishingthe task, and he was now thankful for the advice and assistance ofWilkins.
"Then we must tow them in the other canoe," said Arthur. "Remember,Wilkins, whether we be saved or lost, we must have them with us."
"Ay! ay!" answered he. "Let them fling us their tow-rope, and do you seeto belay it cannily; and if we be swamped, look sharp and clutch Misshere, and make a swim with her. We're nigh shallow water now, and we maydrive in, barrin' rocks."
It was only by clinging to each other, that Margaret and her father, aswell as the two women in the second canoe, were able to keep theirseats, as the waves tossed up, whirled, and washed over their frailbarks. Sometimes they seemed to be thrown upon land, and the next wavecarried them back with it.
"Now then!" cried Wilkins, holding up his oar, and signalling to Jack tofollow his example. "Now, when we ground again, you, master, jump outand hold her hard for yer life."
The next moment the canoe did ground with a shock, and Wilkins plungedthe oar into the sandy shore, and held his ground firmly till Arthur andMr. Mayburn leaped out of the canoe and held the prow; he followed theirexample, and though still up to the waist in water, they grasped theircharge, standing close to each other, and bravely withstood thereturning wave. Then rapidly retreating to the shore, they easily drewafter them the lightened canoe, and placed it high and dry on the beachbefore the next wave overtook them.
Jack and O'Brien, though they at last happily reached the same haven,had not escaped without mishap. The canoe had been capsized by the shockof grounding, and, but for the assistance of Wilkins, Ruth must havebeen lost. She was dragged out senseless, but still holding her basketon her arm; and her first words on her recovery were loud lamentationsat the discovery that two of her fowls were drowned.
In the mean time the second canoe was whirling wildly among thebreakers, and Arthur called out that, if possible, it must be saved; andall hands were soon engaged in catching the towing-rope, by which theysoon succeeded in drawing the shattered bark to the beach.
"I think that is a useless labor, Arthur," said Mr. Mayburn, "for Itrust that none here may ever again be compelled to tempt the dangers ofthe ocean in such a frail and imperfect bark. By God's mercy, our feetare once more upon the earth, the natural and ordained locality of man.Byron, the wondrous poet who apostrophized the ocean, says:--
'His steps are not upon thy paths,--thy fields Are not a spoil for him,--thou dost arise And shake him from thee!'
"I feel, Arthur, that I am in my proper place, and desert or fruitful,lonely or populous, I would still remain on land."
"So you shall, dear papa, if God permits it," answered Arthur; "but noton this bare and comfortless strand. We must penetrate to a morehospitable region. It was to render this journey less toilsome to youthat I meditated to secure and fit up the canoes, in order to use themin ascending the river which we see pouring into the sea, and which mustbe our guide to the interior."
"Ay," said Wilkins, "rivers is rivers in this queer, dry country; andother folks ken that as well as us; and when ye light on a sup of water,make sure of finding a lot of them black fellows gathered round it. Butthey're no better nor brute beasts, and we're a match for 'em any day."
"We shall have to risk encountering them," said Arthur, "for the sake ofproviding ourselves with food, for I fear we are now reduced to absolutedestitution."
"We have Ruth's plump chickens," said the mischievous O'Brien.
"Oh, Master Gerald!" exclaimed Ruth, weeping; "and could you have aheart to kill the poor dumb creatures as have lived wi' us so long? Iwould hunger sooner nor eat a bit of one of them, not if we had friedham to it."
The volatile boy laughed heartily at Ruth's visionary fancy of chickenand ham; and Margaret assured the sorrowful girl that only the fear ofstarvation should compel them to slay her pets, though the two drownedchickens must certainly be cooked, and not left on the beach for thegulls.
They had landed not far north of the mouth of what they now found to bea considerable river, to the banks of which they soon made their way,and found that it ran between high cliffs, leaving a narrow pathway atthe side, almost impassable, with huge fragments of rock scattered alongit. But they remained fixed in their intention of following up itscourse, as the safest guide in their expedition. But first they mustrest, and have such refreshment as they could obtain, the provisions inthe canoes being washed out in the struggle to land. They sat down underan overhanging cliff, where curtains of drooping creeping plantsshielded them from the sun, the boys having brought up stones for seats;and, after fervent thanks for their safety, they all felt a peace andtranquillity scarcely to be hoped for in their destitute condition.
"It was most fortunate that the rifle was with me in the canoe," saidArthur, "and safe in the case. It is no worse for the immersion. Thecharges I always carry in my belt in the water-proof case; so we areprovided for defence. But the raft and its precious contents,Margaret!"
"Have trust in God, my son," said Mr. Mayburn. "Look up at thatmagnificent snow-white bird, one of the eagle tribe, which is even nowsoaring over our heads. Why should we doubt? He who feeds the fowls ofthe air will not forget his children on earth."
"Here are lots of oysters, papa," said Hugh, "and Gerald has run after alarge crab. There will certainly be turtles on the beach, and birds andeggs in the cliffs, and then we have water in the river."
"But there's not a kettle, nor a toasting-fork," said Ruth dejectedly.
"I'll provide you with both," answered the boy. Then from the roots of amangrove, which spread below the cliffs, he tore down an enormousmussel, the shells of which were at least six inches in length, and,drawing an arrow from his belt, he gave both to the girl, saying, "Here,Ruth, are your kettles and toasting-fork."
A plentiful, but strangely cooked, repast was soon prepared, consistingof the limbs of the drowned chickens, toasted or broiled over a fire ofdrift-wood, and served on oyster shells. Knives they had fortunatelypreserved, but nothing more, and they could not help feeling the want ofthe common necessaries of social life.
After dinner the young men cleared the canoes from the accumulated weedand water, drew them under the shelter of the cliff, spread theirboat-cloaks in them, and persuaded Margaret and their father to rest,while they held council what course to pursue next; but they foundthemselves so overcome with fatigue and anxiety, that at the firstapproach of darkness they all sought rest under the canopy of heavenbefore they should commence their labors.
"Are all assembled?" called Gerald, at the first gleam of daylight."Hugh and I have already been at the beach, and collected a hat-full ofturtles' eggs and some wood for a fire. And now, Arthur, we are off onanother excursion; we want to climb the cliffs, to see what sort ofcountry we have been thrown upon."
"Then you must accept me for a third in your enterprise," answeredArthur, "for papa would not approve of two such wild fellows setting outalone. Now, nurse, Hugh has made a fire to roast us some eggs, and witha shell of cold water from that jar we saved in the canoe, we have ourbreakfast complete."
"If you could but light on a few leaves of tea, Mr. Arthur," said Jenny,"I could manage without milk and sugar; but I shall miss my drop oftea."
Arthur could give Jenny no hopes of any
tea-leaves, or even of anysubstitute for that agreeable shrub, but he was sanguine about procuringeggs, and even birds, for dinner. Then promising to return in an hour ortwo, and taking the gun with them, each of the hardy boys cut down astrong stick, and then marched off along the narrow pathway at the footof the high cliffs which enclosed the guiding river. After walking somedistance, the shelving rocks, covered with rich tropical creepingshrubs, appeared accessible, and they climbed to the summit, shakingdown upon them, as they forced their way through the bushes, multitudesof stinging green ants. Then they walked first to the edge of the cliffsthat overhung the sea, and looked round to observe their position.
It was plain that they were now upon the mainland, and that they hadbeen driven into a wide bay, with headlands running out on each side,while the entrance was barred by coral reefs which it seemed miraculousthat they should have escaped. Beyond the reefs they distinguishedshadowy dots, which they concluded were small islets, probably similarto that which had sheltered them so long, and which they nowcongratulated themselves they had exchanged for a wider field and morepromising prospect of reaching a permanent resting-place.
"How I wish papa was here," exclaimed Hugh. "Do look at those curiousbirds, and tell me what they are, Arthur. Oh, now I know they must becockatoos, from their odd cry. Would it be right to kill them?"
"I shall have a shy at one," said Gerald, who had luckily brought hisbow slung on his back; and he directly brought down with an arrow a finelarge bird about eighteen inches in length, with snowy plumage and abright orange crest.
"What will Margaret say?" exclaimed Hugh. "But it is a handsomecreature, and papa will be delighted to preserve it."
"It must help to preserve us," replied Arthur, "for we are in true need.We must try to find some nests in the cliffs, and at least procure eggsto increase our rations; for a cockatoo, which has a large amount offeather upon it, will be but a small dinner for nine hungry people."
They examined the crevices of the rocks, and found many nests of gullsand cockatoos, containing eggs and even tolerable-sized young birds, ofwhich they brought away half a dozen, and filled their pockets witheggs, and then turned from the coast to take a glance inland. The viewbefore them was wild, and scattered over with rocks, but seemed wellwooded; and from the curious mingled cries from the bushes, they judgedthat the feathered tribes were abundant.
Then they commenced their perplexing descent through the tangled bushes,shaking off, as they proceeded, the tormenting ants, which ran over themin countless numbers, each little creature seeming determined to makeits presence felt.
"After our observations," said Arthur, "I am still of opinion that, ifthe canoes can be repaired, we must try to make them useful in ascendingthe river, the banks of which promise to afford us abundant food; whilethe waters supply us with their precious refreshment. We may encounterthe natives, certainly; but we shall be able to escape from them moreeasily in the canoes, than if we were dragging slowly on by land. Wemust begin immediately to fit them for the voyage."
"I saw a fine gum-tree above," said Hugh, "that will supply us withmaterials for mending or making. We must bring Jack here; but oh! Arty,I quite forgot--his tools would be all swept away with that unluckycatamaran."
"It is a most unfortunate loss," replied Arthur; "but we must notdespair. If we have not the best means, we must take the next best; wemust consider and contrive, and not care for hard work."
They returned with their booty, and found Jack standing with a pensiveand disturbed countenance over the canoes; while Wilkins and Margaret,the tide being now low, had wandered down to the sea; where Geraldquickly followed them, and found that their object was to watch, inhopes that any part of the cargo of the catamaran might be thrown on theshore. Their first prize was a locker filled with potatoes, which Jackhad fortunately nailed up to prevent the water coming in, and thus thecontents were quite uninjured. But they found a greater treasure still,in the estimation of Margaret; a portmanteau of linen, which the thiefPeter had either overlooked or despised, and which had been one of thegreatest comforts left them in their bereaved condition. They werefortunately all wearing good stout boots, and their outer clothing, inthat charming climate, was of minor importance.
The waifs were speedily removed from the beach to the encampment, wherethey found Jenny and Ruth in great distress.
"This is worse than all, Miss Marget," said nurse. "With that brightbonnie river running in sight of us, we have not a sup of water fit fora Christian to drink. It's as salt as pickle; enough to poison one, andcan sarve for nothing that I can think on, but just to boil fish in."
"I had not considered, Arthur," said Mr. Mayburn, "till nurse made herexperiment, that the tide naturally rises up the river, probably formany miles, thus cutting us off from one of the most importantnecessaries of life. Now, perilous as it may be to leave the coast, itis imperative on us to move, or we must perish."
Arthur reflected for a few minutes, and then said, "Let us have someeggs, Meggie; then Jack will accompany us, and we will set out to tracethe river up the ravine; and I cannot but think we shall certainly meetwith tributary streams from the hills, of perfectly fresh water."
"But how shall we bring back the supplies to the camp?" asked Hugh. "Wehave no vessels except mussel-shells, or our cups."
"Oh, warra!" exclaimed Gerald, "if the sea would only be civil enough togive us back our water-cask! Could we not go out to the reefs, Arthur,and look for it?"
"It was too heavy to be easily thrown on shore," answered Arthur. "It ismost likely fixed in some sand-bank, whence it will require a storm tomove it. We must each choose one of the largest of the mussels we sawthis morning clinging to the banks, and bring them in filled with freshwater--provided we meet with the water--carrying it as steadily as weare able. If we only had the canoes in working condition, we would moveat once above the influence of the tide. Can we possibly repair them,Jack? We can procure bark and gum."
Jack turned out the contents of his pockets--neatly tied knots of smallcords, a clasp knife, a hammer, and about a pint of nails.
"I always have a hammer and a few nails about me, you see, Mr. Arthur,"said he, "and if I had but an axe and a saw, I'd not fear any work. Butit's a sin to be drowned; something will be sure to turn up; so withGod's help we'll manage these bits of boats, and then, thank God, MasterO'Brien saved his bow."
"And here you see the remains of mine, Jack," said Hugh. "I have pickedit up on the beach. You must try and fit me out again, and then neitherstorm nor savage shall tear it from me. Only think, papa, if I had hadmy bow, we might have brought down a splendid white-headed hawk!"
"Would that you had succeeded, my boy," answered his father. "Awhite-headed hawk would indeed have been a gem in my collection, ananomaly in the known feathered race. But, indeed, every living creaturein these regions is an anomaly to all naturalists. This cockatoo isobviously of an antipodean race. Its form, habits, and peculiar notes,mark it to be of a distinct and modern family, having even littlerelation to the _psittacidae_ of the ancient race. I am pleased with thisremarkable bird, my dear boys, and feel no inclination to have it cookedand eaten like a common barn-door fowl."
"For my part," said Margaret, "I should feel less remorse in devouringthis stranger than one of our old familiar friends, Ruth's belovedpets."
There was a common outcry against this household homicide, or gallicide,as Hugh called it; but there were young birds and eggs sufficient forthe day's provision; so the cockatoo was reprieved, and Mr. Mayburncarefully preserved the bird in all the glories of its white plumage andyellow crest, so curiously movable at the will of the bird.
Once more the young men set out for the very important object ofdiscovering fresh water; and the tide being down, they walked up themargin of the river with less difficulty than in the morning, but it wasnot till after they had gone two or three miles beneath the thicklycovered cliffs, which were perfectly alive with multitudes of strangebirds, that they came to a narrow ravine, opening at the north,
fromwhich a low cascade poured a clear but slender rill into the river.
They at once decided to ascend this branch stream. Its narrow bed wasguarded by lofty rocks, which hid from their eyes every prospect butthat of the clear blue sky above them, and their voices sounded hollowas if from below the ground; but, to their great satisfaction, the waterwas fresh, clear, and cool, and no sparkling champagne was ever enjoyedmore truly than the draughts they quaffed from the shells of thefresh-water mussels which were abundantly clustered on the banks andstrewed around.
"Don't you feel, Gerald," said Hugh, "as if we were passing through somegloomy glen to arrive at a grand old Moorish castle--full ofenchantments of course?"
"That's a capital idea, Hugh," answered he. "Then there will be abeautiful princess shut up in the steel tower, with a hideous blackenchanter keeping guard over her, and a fiery red dragon at the gate,and we have to conquer him with one rifle and half a dozen cartridges,that we may release the princess."
"Why, you Irish blunderer," replied Hugh, "whoever heard that eitherdragon or enchanter could be overcome by powder and shot? If you havenot fairy patronage, you must have valor and prudence, and resolution;and there's Arthur, though he looks so meek and quiet, would be theconquering hero."
"We will leave the siege of the enchanted castle for a more convenientopportunity," said Arthur, "and be content to carry home such valuabletrophies of conquest as a few shells of fresh water. But why has Hughclimbed that almost perpendicular cliff?"
"He fancied he saw a palm-tree on the height," answered Gerald; "but ifit really be a palm, I must say it is an ugly tree; and, for my part, Iwould much rather have found an apple-tree, only, as I supposeSeptember is spring in this antipodean world, the apples could not beready."
"Moreover, apples are not indigenous in Australia," said Arthur; "norshall we, I fear, meet with any equivalent fruit. Some of the palms arereally useful, but I cannot think what species of palm that can be."
A voice was heard from above, commanding them to clear the way, and ahuge gourd was hurled down, rolling to the very edge of the stream. Itwas plainly not fresh plucked, but must have lain long on the ground;and when Hugh descended, disappointed that he had not been able to findany fruit on the tree, Arthur explained that the gourds that were knownwere not generally edible, but most useful as vessels for holding water.Then Jack cut a hole in the shell, which they cleansed from all thedecayed matter, and washed frequently to remove the bitter taste of thecontents. The gourd was slung by a cord, which Arthur himself placedover his shoulders, and filled with the fresh water for their friends.
Jack having found the _Eucalyptus_ or gum-tree that he required, theystripped it of the bark, and, having filled a mussel-shell with thefresh oozing gum, they returned to the encampment, well pleased withtheir successful, though very tedious expedition; for the flowing tidemade their return along the banks most difficult. In fact, Arthur was ofopinion that if they waited for a spring tide, the river would entirelyflood the ravine, and render their progress impossible except by boat.
"I was not aware," said Mr. Mayburn, "that the wide-spreading butfastidious genus _Cucurbita_ extended to these strange regions; yetthis gourd surely belongs to it I am curious to see the tree, toascertain if it is of any known species."
"At all events," said Margaret, "it will be very useful to us. Itscontents are truly precious, and we are most grateful to our perseveringand active purveyors. And we welcome them heartily to their dinner ofbroiled ducklings, or whatever else these delicate little birds may benamed, with one potatoe for each person, which has been boiled with saltwater in a mussel-shell."
The potatoes were pronounced to be improved by their saline immersion,and the ducklings had no fault except youth and leanness. But oysterswere plentiful, and the report of the explorers announced abundance inthe regions up the river; so that it was with thankful hearts the familysought repose after their labors, to fit them for the renewed toil ofthe next day.
Jack commenced his work at daylight. He fixed large patches of bark withgum over the weak or damaged part of the canoes, and left them to hardenin the sun. Then, with immense labor, they cut down with their knivessome boughs for poles to propel the vessels. A single oar had beenthrown ashore by the last tide, and some broken spars, from which a pairof short oars were rudely formed. Hugh and Gerald had been employed inthe mean time in the search for turtles' eggs, and had been fortunateenough to meet with a quantity, as well as with a small turtle. None ofthe party had much taste for the rich food, but nothing eatable was tobe despised in their situation; so the turtle was sacrificed, andanother kettle provided for the cooks.
"The gum seems already hardened on the boats," said Arthur, "and I donot see, papa, that we have any temptation to remain on thismosquito-haunted coast longer than necessary. In another hour the tidewill be flowing up the river, and will assist our voyage greatly. Shallwe then at once set out on our important expedition?"
"I see the necessity of it, my son," answered Mr. Mayburn, "and amsatisfied. Let us implore a blessing on our undertaking, and then goforth, confiding in the protection of the Most High."
Wilkins attended the family devotions with decorum now; but what effectwas produced in his heart was yet to be developed. Hugh and Margaret, towhom he listened more patiently than to the rest, were satisfied thatsome change was taking place in the sinful man, and earnestly believedthat he would, by God's grace, be turned to the truth.