CHAPTER XIV
THE CASTAWAYS
THE first business of the shipwrecked party, after hauling up theboat and taking out of it the various stores it contained, was tomake some attempt at exploring the place upon which they had been sounceremoniously flung. That is true, at least, of the more energeticmembers, practically consisting of Gilbert Byfield, and Simon Quarleand Pringle.
Daniel Meggison and his son, together with Mr. Tant, were left to guardthe ladies against those unknown dangers which in this strange placemight threaten them; Mrs. Stocker had already declared that she had"heard savages"--but declined to enter into particulars regarding whatparticular noise she referred to. So in the grey morning mist JuliaStocker and her husband, and Mrs. Ewart-Crane and her daughter, seatedthemselves upon the shore, and Daniel Meggison and his son with Mr.Tant stood ready to hurl themselves upon any approaching foe.
Byfield and his two companions had set off round the shore; and theyhad scarcely gone fifty yards when out of the mists they had leftbehind there came towards them, crying to them, someone running.Gilbert stood still, and even went back a few paces; and so came faceto face with Bessie. She caught at his hand, and for a moment itseemed as though the old friendly confidence was restored between them.
"I want to go with you," she panted.
"Come along then," he responded quickly; and they moved on to join theothers.
"We mustn't make up our minds that the place is an island until we'vemade the circuit of it," said Simon Quarle as they went on. "Romanticnotions are one thing--but we may be quite near to civilization."
"It only shows, sir, what a wonderful thing schooling is," saidPringle, pausing for a moment, and speaking with the utmost respect."Now when I was a nipper,--boy I mean, sir--I was only too glad to cutwhat lessons I could, sir. But suppose, for instance, I hadn't hadit well rubbed into me that an island was a piece of land entirelysurrounded by water--I might have got into quite a muddle over this.Shouldn't have known, sir, how to set about it to find out if it really_was_ an island. Wonderful thing education, sir."
By means of a pocket compass which dangled on the watchchain of SimonQuarle they discovered first that they were going due south, and thenthat they were turning towards the west. It was at about the mostwestern point of the island that they found that the character ofthe land changed, and that from some low hills a deep wood stretcheddown almost to the shore. Skirting this, and turning northward, theyfound their further progress barred by a great chain of rocks thatrose abruptly from the more level ground and plunged also straight outinto the sea. It was obviously impossible for them any longer to keepto the coast; they skirted this line of rocks inland, and came in acomparatively short time again to the sea. This time the coast pointedsouthwards; following it, they came to the boat drawn up on the beach,and to the little company of people they had left.
"I see exactly the shape of this place," said Simon Quarle, rapidlyscraping out a rough design on the sand. "It is pear-shaped, with thenarrowest part of the pear (where the stalk would be) to the north, andthe broadest part of it running from east to west. There is only onequestion we've left unsettled; what is beyond those rocks?"
"The sea, of course," said Gilbert. "Though what part of the sea, orwhat this island is, or where we are, I haven't the least notion."
"The great question is--what are we going to live on?" asked DanielMeggison, looking round upon the little company. "Fish we mightprocure, if anyone happened to be expert enough to capture them, or ifwe had rods and lines; certain berries might also be discovered whichwould sustain life. Of course in all probability so soon as the mistlifts we may be able to make signals, and to attract the attention ofsome passing ship."
"We must find out what lies beyond those rocks," said Bessie. "Will youcome with me, Mr. Quarle?"
"I'll go with you," broke in Gilbert eagerly; but she kept her eyesfixed on Simon Quarle, and presently walked away with him.
"Mr. Quarle--what is going to happen to us?" she asked when they wereout of ear-shot of the others. "I am a little afraid, because this hascome upon us so suddenly; but is there no escape--no chance of gettingaway?"
"Don't know, I'm sure--utterly impossible to say," said Quarle. "If weknew where we were, things might be different; or if the other boatsturned up with the crew in them. But I'm afraid we're a mere set ofamateurs at this Robinson Crusoe business--and I don't quite know whatreally will happen to us. At any rate we're on dry land--which isbetter than knocking about in an open boat on the sea--isn't it?"
They came again to that great wall of rock, and after some searchdiscovered a sort of natural path which went up the face of it, andwas comparatively easy to climb. As they gained the top, their worstsuspicions were realized; on the other side of what was practicallymerely a thick wall of rocks they heard the sea booming restlessly andpeered only into the mist which shrouded it. As Quarle had said, thiswas the end of the island--the narrow part of the pear-shaped place onwhich the sea had tossed them.
They scrambled down the rocks, and retraced their steps in a gloomysilence. As they were nearing the place where they had left the party,Bessie suddenly stopped, and faced Simon Quarle, and spoke withsomething of the old, quiet, steady resolution that had been hers inArcadia Street.
"Mr. Quarle--even if you and I are desperately afraid we musn't letthe others know it," she said; "we've got to go on keeping brave facesuntil something worse happens--and even then we've got to keep bravefaces. We shall have to make the best of the provisions we've got; andstill we must keep brave faces even when we're beginning to be hungry.We've got to find some place to shelter us at night; and perhaps, afterall, help may come sooner than we anticipate."
"And perhaps, if help doesn't come, or if things get to the worst,little Miss Make-Believe may contrive to make us all think that thingsare better than they are--eh?" He smiled at her whimsically.
She stood for a moment looking out to sea; she did not turn to himwhen she spoke. "If we can live here at all, we may need all themake-believe we have in us," she said. "My poor make-believe seems tohave made shipwreck of my life, and the lives of others too; perhapshere it may be more useful. I wonder!"
Quarle moved nearer to her for a moment; spoke to her over hershoulder. "Bessie--I haven't cared to say anything to you about--aboutyourself--and about this man. I rushed off to Newhaven, thinking youmight need a friend; have you nothing to say to me?"
"Only to thank you," she replied. "There's some strange Fate workingfor me--or against me; I suppose that's why I've been dropped out ofthe world I knew into this place."
"You're not answering my question; you're not being fair to me," hesaid. "Have you nothing to say to me about this matter--about yourself?Do you love him?"
She stood still for a moment or two, looking at the waves tumbling ather feet; the man waited.
"Yes," she replied at last; and then turned swiftly to him, pouringout a very flood of words upon him. "I love him with all my heart andsoul; there's no other man in all the world like him; he's my life--myeverything. And just for that reason, and just because of what hehas done, I can never have anything to do with him. In spite of allI said to him, I know only too well why he lavished all that moneyon me; I know that he never meant to wound me, or to shame me in theeyes of other people. That wasn't his fault; it was the fault of thosewho traded upon his generosity. If I have been shamed and hurt--howmuch more has he been shamed and hurt because of me. There"--shelaughed quickly, and brushed the tears from her eyes--"that's the endof it--and that's the last time I shall ever speak of it. It's goodto tell a secret sometimes--and I've told mine to the best friendever a poor unhappy girl had. I won't ask if you're going to keep mysecret--because that would be insulting you, and would show that Ididn't know what a good friend I've got. And you won't ever speak ofthis again to me?"
He did not answer in words; he took her hand for a moment, and grippedit; when presently they moved off towards the others he still heldthat hand as she walked beside him. O
nly when they came in sight ofthose who waited for them did he drop the hand, and resume his ordinaryattitude of walking with his own clasped behind his back.
"It's an island," said Simon Quarle. "We climbed up the rocks, andthere's nothing but the sea beyond. Therefore we must make the best ofit."
"Someone ought to be appointed to look after the provisions and thingsgenerally--a sort of temporary ruler," said Daniel Meggison. "Asperhaps the oldest here I'm quite ready to take the post. It requiresdignity--and all that sort of thing."
"I think we can leave the question of the provisions to Pringle," saidGilbert, "with the understanding that he is to be careful."
"Certainly, sir; most happy, sir," responded Pringle. "Sparing in allthings, sir--and stimulants to be kept for medicinal purposes," headded.
"What the devil's the man winking at me for?" demanded Daniel Meggisonfiercely as he turned away.
As the morning advanced the day grew very hot. There was no protectionfrom the sun whatever on that side of the island, and it was presentlyarranged that one of the spare sails in the boat should be rigged upto form a species of shelter. There the women sat--a little removedfrom each other, so far as the Ewart-Cranes and Mrs. Stocker wereconcerned--and dozed at intervals; Bessie seemed to take her placenaturally enough with Simon Quarle and Gilbert in the actual work thatlay before them if they were to make any attempt to live at all.
Curiously enough, perhaps the most active of them all was that meeklittle man, Edward Stocker. Relieved for the first time in his marriedlife from the thraldom of Mrs. Stocker, he was like a boy playing somegreat game; he entered into it with the zest of a child. He it was who,setting out to make some further exploration of the island, and beinglost for an hour or so, was presently observed racing towards them withwildly waving arms, shouting something wholly unintelligible as heran. Mr. Daniel Meggison seeing him, promptly got behind Simon Quarle,interposing that gentleman between himself and coming danger.
"He is pursued by some terrible beast--and we have no weapons!" heshrieked.
However, as Mr. Stocker drew nearer it was observed that his face wasbeaming with genuine pleasure, and that he was evidently very greatlyexcited. He bounded into their midst, and announced his great discovery.
"I say--gentlemen--everybody--I've found a building!"
"A building?" they echoed, staring at him.
"Up there--beyond that long hill you can see," panted Mr. Stocker,pointing. "It seems like a big sort of hut--but I didn't care to go in.Rather dilapidated--but unmistakably a hut."
"It is pretty obvious that someone has lived here before," said JordanTant. "More than that, it's not improbable that someone is living herenow. Somebody had better go and look at the place," he added. "I'llstay here in case the ladies get alarmed."
Mr. Daniel Meggison also deciding to remain for the same gallantpurpose, the rest of the party tramped off northwards, guided by Mr.Stocker, who was obviously not a little proud of himself. Skirtingthe foot of the low hills that seemed to lie in the very centre ofthe island, they presently came to a large hut, almost obscured by atangle of trees and bushes, but in fairly good condition. After somelittle hesitation they ventured to thrust open the crazy door, and topeer inside; by the light which came streaming through an aperture nearthe roof they saw that the place was empty, and noticed with furthersatisfaction that it was dry and fairly clean. Whatever hermit had onceinhabited it had long since departed, leaving behind him but few tracesof his occupancy.
A few rough boards had been nailed together in one corner to form asort of bed; and on this some old brushwood still lay. An empty barrel,with nothing upon it to indicate what it had once contained or fromwhence it had come, stood in one corner; and on a heavy flat stone justunder the aperture in the wall stood an old battered cooking-pot, quitesound, and with the ashes of some ancient fire still surrounding it.The place had a ghostly look, even on that bright sunshiny day; but itwas better than nothing.
"With a touch here and there, sir, this place could be made a palace,"said Pringle. "It's a good sizeable place too; a bit primitive,perhaps, sir, but none the worse for that. At any rate we could get itready for the ladies, sir, against to-night."
"Is it bein' suggested that the gentlemen of the party sleep in theopen air?" asked Aubrey. "I've nothin' to say against it for myself,mind you--but I've not been used to it, and I don't quite see why itshould be necessary, even under special circumstances. Of course Iwouldn't wish----"
"The ladies will sleep here to-night," said Gilbert. He turned toBessie, who had accompanied the party. "Do you think the ladies willobject?" he asked.
"I don't know," she responded, with a half-smile, "but I should thinkthey'd be glad. Don't you think, Mr. Byfield, that things are turningout rather well?"
"Splendidly!" he exclaimed, glad of that friendly word from her."But I wonder who can have lived in this place--and lived alone; orso it seems, at least. Whoever it was must have been taken off, Isuppose, by some passing vessel; but how many years ago--or under whatcircumstances--it's impossible to say."
"Whoever it was, we certainly hope and trust he was a gentleman," saidAubrey, as he moved away. "My word," he added from a safe distance, "ifit wasn't for my sister I might have somethin' to say about this thatwould astonish people!"
That great discovery was duly communicated to the ladies; Mrs.Stocker, who had had visions of sleeping in the open air, guarded byMr. Stocker, heaved a sigh of relief at the prospect of shelter. Mrs.Ewart-Crane, on the other hand, took Jordan Tant aside to speak of avital matter.
"Island or no island, it is of course distinctly understood that I donot share the same sleeping accommodation with the Stocker woman, orwith this girl. Kindly arrange that some other hut is discovered, or atall events that the present one be divided into two parts."
"Doesn't it strike you, ma, that we're rather lucky to get any placeto sleep in at all--and that the girl, at any rate, isn't half a badsort?" asked Enid good-naturedly.
"Silence, Enid; you do not seem to understand that certain socialdistinctions must be observed, even in such a place as this. In LondonI should not know the Stocker woman; why should I know her here? Theisland is large, I am informed; let her discover some other place forherself."
Even in that crisis the wonderful Pringle proved equal to theemergency. It being mentioned by Jordan Tant to Gilbert that there wasa difficulty as to the sharing of that limited accommodation designedfor the ladies, Gilbert in despair summoned his henchman; and Pringlesmiled and suggested a way out.
"It's always the way with the ladies, sir--bless 'em!" he repliedcheerfully. "My poor old mother never could get on with the next-doorneighbour, sir--no matter whether we lived in a small and humbleway--or whether we was in what you might call the mansions of thegreat; mother being a caretaker, sir, and rather a good caretaker atthat. Of course it isn't to be expected that a lady of the stiffness ofMrs. Crane should wish to lay herself down in the presence of peopleshe doesn't really know; so I'll rig a sail up, sir, across the middle,and they can toss for sides if they can't decide any other way, sir.Leave it to me, sir; if you'll excuse the liberty, sir, I may say Iknow their little failings--an' I know just how to humour them, sir."
So the sail was rigged up, and Mrs. Stocker and Bessie took possessionof one side of the hut, while Mrs. Ewart-Crane and Enid occupied theother. Pringle had collected brushwood and dried grasses, and had madetwo very respectable beds; the moon, when it came to the hour forretiring, was fine and fair above them, and the night was warm.
But before that there had come another great surprise, in the form ofan impromptu supper. Certain provisions had been served out during theday, in a promiscuous fashion, by Pringle; but now, when everyonewas gathered about the hut, the final preparations were being made,and "good nights" being said, Pringle appeared with something of aflickering smile about his face, and made a startling announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen--supper is served!"
"Look here, my man--a joke is a
joke--but pray remember your place, anddon't carry a joke too far," said Daniel Meggison sternly. "Rememberwho you are--and take yourself off."
"This way, if you please, sir," said Pringle, taking not the faintestnotice of Daniel Meggison. "Not far, sir--just round the corner, as youmight say."
He led the way, and the others followed wonderingly. Presently theycame to a little clearing, sheltered by the hill that rose behind it;and in that clearing was a fire upon the ground, and over the fire waspropped the old cooking-pot that had been discovered in the hut. Bessiewas bending over the cooking-pot, and from it there wafted to thehungry little company an appetizing odour.
"By Jove!--this is capital," exclaimed Gilbert. "We can sit round herein gipsy fashion, and enjoy it. Pringle--this is really clever of you."
"I see no necessity for my daughter to be occupied in a menial office,"said Mr. Daniel Meggison stiffly. "After all, there are certaindecencies to be observed, even in this place."
"Not me, sir--nothing to do with me, sir," said Pringle, answeringGilbert Byfield. "I certainly did gather the sticks for the fire--butthat's about all, sir. The cooking idea wasn't mine at all; I doubt ifI could have done it. Miss Meggison, sir, is the lady who's saved ourlives, as you might say, sir, to-night."
"It is certainly well to be experienced in these matters," said Mrs.Ewart-Crane, lowering herself to the ground.
"It was quite easy," said Bessie, busying herself with the pot. "WhenPringle and I came to look into things, we found that there werepreserved meats and preserved vegetables; so it seemed to me that wemight have a sort of stew. It's a little mixed--but I think it's nice.Pringle--the plates, please."
"Certainly, Miss," responded Pringle, and instantly produced, as iffrom the result of a conjuring trick, half a dozen battered old tinplates.
"This is wonderful--and most comfortable," said Mr. Edward Stocker.
"They took a bit of cleanin', sir," explained Pringle. "I found 'emunder some of the rubbish in the hut--likewise a knife and fork and abig spoon. The big spoon's in the pot--and the knife and fork I supposeought to be handed to one of the ladies."
"I have never eaten with my fingers yet--not even in the matter ofasparagus," said Mrs. Ewart-Crane instantly.
"Then it's no use your makin' a start at this time of day--is it,ma'am?" responded Pringle, handing over the knife and fork to her withmuch politeness. "It's a three-pronger, ma'am--but still a fork's afork."
The steaming food was handed out--Pringle deftly holding the batteredtin plates to be filled. The little company was so ravenously hungrythat even with that limited number of plates there was not muchwaiting, nor did it seem to be considered necessary that the platesshould be washed for a newcomer. Mrs. Ewart-Crane ate with someelegance, and in a grim silence; the others used their fingers, andlaughed a little among themselves at the strange meal. Then, when itwas all over, and Pringle had collected the plates, and had taken awaythe cooking-pot, the men gathered about the fire--or what was leftof it--and sat there on the ground, sharing what tobacco they had,contentedly enough. Mr. Tant did not smoke; he sat in a glum silence,staring into the dying fire.
Gradually the fire burnt itself out; but by that time the men had madetheir several arrangements for sleep. Mr. Tant and Daniel Meggison andSimon Quarle lay down near the hut in a sheltered place, and seemed tofall asleep in a few minutes; Gilbert and Stocker and Aubrey remainedby the fire. Presently they too stretched themselves for slumber; atthe last, Gilbert Byfield, hearing the murmur of the waves in thedistance, thought sleepily how strange it was that he should have beenbrought to this place, and in such company; wondered, without any realuneasiness, what was to become of them all. A figure stealing towardshim in the darkness roused him; and he raised himself on one elbow, tofind Pringle bending respectfully over him.
"Anything I can do for you, sir?" asked Pringle, in a whisper.
"Nothing, thank you. Good night."
"Good night to you, sir," responded Pringle. "If I might take theliberty of laying myself down, sir, near to you----"
"By all means," said Gilbert.
"Much obliged, sir," said Pringle, dropping to the ground. "I justgave a last look at the hut as I came past--and everything seemed veryquiet. A snore or two, sir--but that only suggests peace. Good night,sir!"