CHAPTER XX
SPECULATIONS AND RESOLVES--FISHING--INVENTORY OF GOODS ANDCHATTELS--ROASTED FISH--PALMETTO CABBAGE--TOUR--SEA-SHELLS, THEIRUSES--THE PELICAN--NATURE OF THE COUNTRY--STILL HUNTING--WILD TURKEYSAGAIN--WORK ON THE TENT
The little company did not retire early that night. Sorrow kept themawake. They sat for a long time speculating upon the probabledestination of the vessel, and upon their own expectations in the case.To one it seemed probable that their father had obtained the use of thecutter, for the purpose of examining the coast; to another, that he hadbeen brought by it to the place where they had last been seen, and thathe was now not far away; to another, that he would go down as far as theFlorida Keys, and there employ some of the wreckers to join him in thesearch. At any rate they were sure that a search was going on, and thatit would not be long before they were discovered, and taken home.
Ere retiring to rest that night they adopted a series of resolutions,the substance of which was that they should live every day in theexpectation of being taken off, and yet husband their resources, asthough they were to continue there for months.
1st. They were to keep their signal always flying.
2d. To be as much as possible on the lookout.
3d. To have a pile of wood ready for a smoke near the signal.
4th. To keep on hand a store of provisions sufficient for severalweeks.
5th. To examine, and know exactly what stores they possessed.
6th. To use no more of their permanent stock than was absolutelynecessary, but to live upon the resources of the island.
7th. To fit up their habitation more securely, that in case of beingassailed by such another storm as that of Sunday night, they shouldenjoy a more perfect protection.
8th. In every possible way to be ready either for departing home, orcontinuing there an indefinite length of time.
In consequence of these resolutions, the first business to which theyattended on the following morning, was the preparation of the pile ofwood for their signal by smoke; and the next, the provision of a stockof food. As a temporary fulfilment of this last named duty, Harold wentwith Frank to obtain a supply of fish, leaving Robert and Mary at thetent, to make out the proposed inventory of goods. Both partiesfulfilled their contracts, and on coming together, Harold reported eightlarge trout, besides a number of crabs, and a small turtle; and Robertread a list, showing that besides the stores put up by their father forRiley, and those brought by Sam and Riley in their boat, consisting ofbread and bacon, parched corn and dried venison, there were rations fora full fortnight or more.
Of the trout brought by Harold, all except one had been cleaned, andpresented to Mary; the last he reserved for the purpose, he said, ofgiving them another specimen of wild-woods' cookery. Before sittingdown to dinner, he took this one without any preparation whatever ofscaling or cleansing, and wrapping it in green leaves, laid it in theashes to roast. It was soon done. Then peeling off the skin, he helpedeach to the pure white meat in such a way as to leave the skeleton andits contents untouched. Mary's taste was offended by the sight of adish so rudely prepared; but hearing the others speak in surprise of itspeculiarly delicate flavour, she also was tempted to try, and thenpartook of it as heartily as any one else.
While Harold was absent on his fishing excursion, Robert, havingcompleted his inventory, had obtained another stick of palmetto cabbage.By Sam's instruction, this was freed from every particle of the greenand hard covering, boiled in three separate waters, in the last of whichwas put a little salt. When thoroughly done, it was laid in a dish, andseasoned with butter. Prepared thus it was a real delicacy, partaking ofthe combined flavours of the cauliflower and the artichoke.
Bent resolutely upon living as real "marooners" on the productions ofthe island, the boys felt that it was necessary for them first to knowsomething more of the country around. It was therefore agreed that theyshould devote that day to a combined tour of hunting and exploration.To this Mary also consented, for she had now become more accustomed toher situation, and moreover had Sam with her as an adviser.
Taking an early breakfast, and calling Mum, they departed, leavingFidelle as a protector to Mary and Frank. The course which they pursuedwas along the coast. For a mile they walked on the smooth hard beach,and saw it covered with innumerable shells, of all sorts and sizes.Some were most beautifully fluted; others were encircled with spurs orsharp knots; some were tinted with an exquisite rose colour; others weresnowy white, and others of a dark mahogany. Conchs of a large size wereabundant, and there were myriads of little rice-shells.
"I wonder if these shells can be put to no use?" asked Harold.
"Certainly," Robert responded. "If we need lime we can obtain it byburning them. These large round shells may be cut so as to makehandsome cups and vases. The long ones are used by many poor people forspoons. And the conch makes a capital trumpet; our negroes on theseaboard make a hole in the small end for this purpose. We often hearthe boatmen blowing their conchs at night; and when the sound comes tous across the water, as an accompaniment to their boat songs, it isparticularly sweet."
On learning these uses of the conch shell, Harold selected several finespecimens, and threw them higher on the beach, remarking, that in casethey remained upon the island they would need other signals than thoseof the gun or the smoke for calling each other's attention; and that heintended to try his skill in converting some of these shells intotrumpets.
Pocketing some of the most delicate varieties for Mary and Frank, theycontinued down the coast, attracted by a large white object near thewater-side. At first it appeared to be a great heap of foam thrownthere by the sea, but soon they saw it move, and Robert pronounced it tobe a pelican. "It is a pity that it is not eatable," said he, "for onebird would furnish more flesh than a larger gobbler. But it is fishy."
"O, if that be its only fault we can correct it," replied Harold. "Irecollect one day when you were sea-sick, hearing the captain say thathe had eaten every sea-bird that flies, except Mother Cary's chickens;and that he took off the skin as you would that of a deer or rabbit, andsoaked the flesh in strong brine; or if he was on shore he buried it fora day or two in the earth, and that then the flesh was pleasant enough.He said, moreover, that the fishy taste of water-fowl comes mostly fromthe skin. Come, let us get that fellow. I cannot help thinking what anice shawl, in cold or rainy weather, his skin would make for Mary, ifproperly cured with all its feathers on."
The pelican, however, saved them all future trouble on account of eitherits flesh or its skin, for, being a very shy bird, it flew away longbefore they came within gunshot. Having ascended the bluff, they stoodupon a bank of sand, and looking far down the coast saw it curve out ofsight, without offering any inducement to pursue it further.Immediately upon the bluff, and for a quarter of a mile inland, thecountry was bare of trees, except here and there a cluster of dwarfishcedars, overtopped by tall palmettoes; but in the interior the foresttrees appeared rising into loftier magnificence the farther they grewfrom the sea. Striking across this barren strip--which, however, waspleasantly varied by patches of cacti loaded with superb crimson pears,and by little wildernesses of chincopin (dwarf-chestnut) bushes, whoseopen burrs revealed each a shining jet black cone--and entering the kindof forest where game might be expected, Harold gave Mum the order to"Hie on"; and he was soon dashing about in every direction.
"I suppose," said Robert, "that you intend to _still hunt_. But if so,you must remember that I have the art yet to learn; and if you wish notto be interrupted by my blunders, you had better describe now, before wego to work, how it is that still hunters find their game, and then howthey approach it."
"They find their game by various means," Harold replied, acknowledging,at the same time, the justice of Robert's remarks. "Some by their ownkeen eyes alone in watching or in tracking; others by a dog trained forthe purpose, as we expect to do. This last is the easier if the dog isgood. When Mum has discovered
a trail, he will keep directly before us,and as the trail freshens he will grow more cautious, until at last hisstep becomes as stealthy and noiseless as a cat. We must then becautious too. If the woods are close so that we cannot see the deer,nor they see us until we are upon them, our success will depend upon thequickness of our shots, and the certainty of our aim; but if the woodsare open, so that we can see them afar off, we must use the cover of ahill or of a thicket to conceal our approach, or else one of us mustleave the dog with the other, and advance upon them in the open woods."
"But you do not mean to say," Robert argued, in surprise, "that deerwill allow you to come upon them in broad day-light, and shoot themdown?"
"Yes, I do," he replied; "and it is easy enough if you will pursue theright plan. When a deer feeds, he directs his eyes to the ground; andduring that time he sees nothing except what is just at his nose. Thatis the opportunity you must take to advance. The moment he lifts hishead you must stand stock still; and if you can manage to be of thecolour of a stump, he will be apt to take you for one."
"But can you stop soon enough to imitate a stump!"
"Of course you must be quick; but this brings me to speak of anotherfact. A deer never puts down nor raises his head without first shakinghis tail. Keep your eye therefore steadily fixed upon him, and guideyour motions by his signs. Old Torgah used to give me an amusingaccount of the difference between deer and turkeys in this respect; for,with all their sagacity, in some things deer are very simple, while theturkey is so keen and watchful as to be called by hunters 'the wit ofthe woods.' Old Torgah's account, given in his broken English is this:''Ingin,' said he, 'see deer feed, and creep on him when his head down.Deer shake 'ee tail; Injin stop still. Deer look hard at him, and say"stump! stump! nothing but stump!" Presently Injin creep close, andshoot him down. But Injin see turkey feed, and creep on him. Turkeyraise 'ee long neck to look, and Injin stand still like a stump; butturkey never say "stump!" once; he say, "dat old Injin now!" and hegone.' But see, Mum has struck the trail of something. Notice howeager he is, yet how patiently he waits for us. Come, let us follow."
In Robert's opinion, Mum's reputation for patience was, on the presentoccasion, not deserved; for his pace was so rapid that it was difficultfor them to keep within sight, and moreover he soon sprang ahead, andburst into a full loud cry. "I thought you said that he hunted insilence," he remarked, almost out of breath with running.
"I said he was silent on the trail of _deer_," replied Harold, "butthese are turkeys. Do you not see the deep print of their toes inrunning! Mum knows what he is about. His racing after them will causethem to fly into the trees; and then as he stands below and barks, theywill keep their eyes fixed on him, and never notice us. There they are!See in that oak! Robert, do you advance behind the cover of yondermossy tree. I will find some other place. But as my rifle will carryfarther than your smooth bore, do not mind me, except to await mysignal. As soon as you are ready to fire, let me know by a whistle; ifI am ready, I will answer you; and then do you fire about a second afteryou hear me. I will take the highest turkey."
They advanced silently but rapidly. Each came within a fair distance.Mum kept up a furious barking as the hunters approached. One whistlewas heard, then another; three reports followed in quick succession; andfour turkeys, two of them magnificent gobblers, tumbled heavily from thetree.
"Well done for us! Hurra!" shouted the boys, rushing upon their prey.
It was indeed good shooting, although part of it was accidental. Robertfairly won the credit of his two shots, having brought down the birds heaimed at; but the ball from Harold's rifle had passed through the eye ofthe one which he had selected, and broken the legs of another unseen byhim beyond, and it now lay floundering upon the ground unhurt, except inits fractured limbs, but unable to rise.
The young hunters swung their prizes over a pole, of which each took anend, and then turned their faces homewards. The distance was not morethan two miles, but burdened as they were with guns and game, andcompelled to cut their way through frequent network of the grape-vineand yellow jessamine, and dense masses of undergrowth, they were nearlytwo hours in making it. Frank spied them from afar, and giving Mary acall, bounded to meet them. "Whew!" he whistled, on seeing their load,"what a bundle of turkeys!" He offered to help them carry a part of theload, but they were too weary to stop and untie. They preferred thatMary and Frank should show their kindness, by providing them with somecool water. "We will pay you for your trouble," said they, pattingtheir pockets, which were stuffed full of something heavy; "make haste,and let us have it."
By the time they had wiped their wet brows, and begun to enjoy theirrest, the water came. The boys first emptied their pockets of theshells and chincopins, found during their ramble, then cooled themselvesby bathing their wrists; after which they drank, and casting themselvesat length upon their couches of moss, they talked across the tent toSam, who seemed to be as much elated as any of them with their success.
It was now past the middle of the day. The afternoon was spent inworking upon their tent. Their object was to make it more impervious torain and drift, in case of another storm; and this they effected byraising the floor, and by spreading the sail of their boat as a sort ofouter awning.