CHAPTER TEN.
A DESERT ISLAND IS REACHED.
As I was washed away from the mainmast a cry from Oliver reached myears. I knew by this that he too had been carried off by the sea. Isprang towards him. "I will save him or perish!" I thought, "as I didonce before." He had not been idle since his first accident, and haddone his best to become a swimmer. He kept up boldly. I urged him totry and recover the mast, but when we looked round we could discover iton neither side. Now I felt myself carried to the summit of a sea, tobe hurled over again on the other side. I had little hope of escape,but still I resolved to struggle to the last. Oliver swam bravely by myside, but I knew from the exertions he was making that he could not longcontinue them.
"Oh, I am sinking! I am sinking!" he cried out suddenly. I caught himby the collar. At that instant, as I put out my hand, I felt it grasp ahard object. It was a large spar. I threw myself on it, draggingOliver with me. With great difficulty I hauled him on to it, but soviolent was the agitation of the sea that we could scarcely retain ourhold. It seemed to me that we were driving onwards, carried perhaps bysome current, but that might have been fancy. Again and again I lookedout, in the hopes of seeing the mast. Every instant I feared thatOliver would again be washed off, but the foaming sea around and thedark sky above was all I could discern. I put out my hand, and caughthold of a rope which was secured to the spar. The end of this I passedround Oliver's body, fastening myself with another portion. Still,though I kept my head well out of water, the sea was so continuallybreaking over us that we were almost drowned, even though clinging tothe spar. I do not pretend that I thought of much at the moment but myown safety and that of my companion, but the thoughts of my old friend,Dick Tarbox, and Roger Trew, as well as indeed of the other men, didcome across my mind. I felt very sad, for I was afraid that they hadbeen washed off, and had not been so fortunate as we were, in gettinghold of a spar. Strange as it may seem, I scarcely for a momentexpected to lose my own life. In a cold climate I do not think I couldhave held on as I did, but the sea was warm, and I did not feel in anyway benumbed.
The previous part of the night had appeared very long; this, however,seemed far longer. I often felt very sleepy, but I was afraid, if Igave way to sleep, that I should lose my hold, and resisted theinfluence. Had I been alone, I felt that I should not have held on,neither perhaps could Oliver Farwell, but we encouraged each other. Wedid not say much, but not a minute during the whole night passed withoutour exchanging a word or two.
At length I began to hope that the sea was going down: indeed, after alittle time it appeared evident that the water was calmer. It did notbreak over our heads so frequently as at first. I thought with what joywe should welcome the first streaks of day. At length, as we rose tothe top of a sea, we caught sight of the sun himself rising above thehorizon. The clouds had cleared away, the wind had almost completelyfallen. How gloriously the sun shot upwards in the clear blue sky.Still the ocean rose and fell considerably. As we again reached the topof a billow, I caught sight of an object at no great distance. At firstI thought it was a rock just above the water, but on looking again, Isaw it was a piece of wreck, and on it was seated a human being. Ilooked again and again, and so did Oliver. We were certain that wecould not be mistaken. We shouted at the top of our voices. We saw theperson look round. Again we shouted. He stood up. He had notdiscovered us. At length I managed to get my knees on the spar, and tokneel and wave my hand above my head, shouting at the same time. He nowsaw us, and waved his hand in return. At first I thought he was one ofthe Lascars, but now I saw that it was Macco. The raft on which hefloated afforded far more security than did our spar, but how to reachit was the question. In smooth water I might have pushed the sparbefore me with the help of Oliver. Presently we saw Macco slip off theraft and strike out towards us. He swam beautifully. I did not think ahuman being could make such rapid way through the water. In a shorttime we saw his dark-skinned face close to us.
"Ah! ah! Bery glad, Massa Walter. Bery glad to see you safe."
"What has become of the other poor fellows, Macco?"
"I not know. Come now, I help you to get on my raft." Saying this heswam round, and began pushing the spar before him, one end first, bywhich means it was easily driven through the water. It took us sometime to reach the piece of wreck, which appeared to be part of thepoop-deck. Getting on it himself, he hauled up Oliver first at myrequest, and then assisted me, making fast the spar to one side. Thedeck, under which were some beams, floated well, and supported uscompletely. We were thankful that our lives had been thus farpreserved; but yet here we were, out in mid-ocean as far as we couldsee, without land in sight, and with no provisions, not even a drop ofwater to support life. We all too well knew that unless help shouldcome, our lives had only been preserved to suffer a more lingering deaththan the one we had escaped. One of my first impulses was to stand upand look round, in the hope of seeing the mast, with some of mycompanions clinging to it, but though several pieces of wreck werevisible, nothing of the mast could we discover. Macco could give verylittle account of the way he had escaped. He had, I found, been in thetop, and a sea striking him had washed him away; but being a goodswimmer, he struggled manfully for life, now floating on his back, nowlooking round in the hopes of seeing something to which he might cling.At last he found himself close to the deck; which, indeed, was on thepoint of being thrown over him, when, had he been struck, his fate wouldhave been sealed. Darting away from it, however, he escaped the danger,and then swimming round, succeeded in placing himself upon it.
"I so glad," he exclaimed, "dat I saved my life, because now I try tohelp save yours."
Oliver and I thanked him very much, though I said that I could notexactly see how that was to be.
"A way will be found," observed Oliver, quietly. "Let us trust in God;he knows how to bring all things about."
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the heat became very great, strikingdown upon our unprotected heads. Fortunately we had all eaten a goodsupper; but after a time we began to feel hungry, and thirst especiallyassailed us. Oh, what would we not have given for a glass of water! Mycompanions were inclined to drink the salt water; but I had heard of thedanger of so doing, and urged them to refrain from the dangerousdraught. Oliver and I had fortunately on our jackets. These were soondried, and covering up our heads with them, we lay down to sleep on theraft. In an instant, it seemed to me, my eyes closed, and I forgot allthat had occurred, and the fearful position in which we were stillplaced. I suspect that Macco must have slept too, though when we laydown he said that he should keep on the watch. I was still dreaming,with my head covered up, thinking that I was seated at dinner at my oldschool, and that a number of fellows suddenly burst in, shouting outthat it was to be a half-holiday. The noises grew louder and louder;and presently a voice shouted close to me. It sounded strangely likethat of Macco; but how he came to be at school I could not tell.Throwing the jacket off my head, I started up, and there I saw close tous a large native prow. She was full of fierce-looking people, whosevoices I had at first heard. Macco, who had been asleep, had not tilljust before perceived them. Oliver rose at the same time that I did.
"If they are human beings, they will treat us kindly," he observed,standing up, and waving his hand.
Macco seemed far from satisfied with their appearance. "Me no like demfellows," he said; "dey cut t'roat--eat! eat!"
"No fear of that," I observed. "She looks to me like a trading prow,though her men certainly would suit the deck of a pirate."
However, we had no choice. It was now perfectly calm, and the prowrowed up to the raft, the men in her making signs to us to come onboard. As the vessel's side touched the raft, ropes were thrown to us,and we soon clambered up on her deck. The people began to shout to us,evidently asking us questions; which, of course, we were not able toanswer, not understanding a word that was said. The vessel was astrange-looking craft, with large mat-sails
, her deck sloping from thestern down to the bows, which were by far the lowest part. In theafter-part was a poop-deck; under which there was a sort of cabin, whilea small house of bamboo in front of it formed another cabin. She wassteered by two rudders, one on either quarter, the tiller ropes comingin through ports in the sides, and being worked by men who sat on thedeck under the poop. Her crew were brown-skinned men, in the usualdress of Malay seamen; that is to say, a pair of trousers fastened roundthe waist, a handkerchief encircling the head, and a thin cotton jacket,which, however, was thrown off when they were at work. Their captain,however, wore a handsome costume. He was seated on a cushion justbefore the poop, enjoying the luxury of an evening smoke, a long pipewith a bowl being in his hand. We were now taken up before him; and heagain put questions to us, which of course, as before, we were unable toanswer. At length we heard him shouting out to the men forward. One ofthem came aft, and the chief said a few words to him. On this he turnedround to us, and said, "Talky Inglis?" I nodded. "Where you comefrom?" he asked, pretty quickly. I told him we had been wrecked at nogreat distance, and had been floated away from the place. After I hadput my explanation in several different ways, he seemed to understandme. He explained what I had said to the chief, who seemed greatlydelighted, and immediately issued some orders to his men. Theyforthwith got out their sweeps, and began pulling away in the direction,we supposed, of the wreck. I was very glad of this, as I thought therewas a possibility, should any of our companions have escaped drowning,of finding them.
I now told our interpreter that we were very hungry and thirsty. Heunderstood me more by the signs I made than the words, I suspect; and,nodding, made me understand that some food would be brought us. "But weare thirsty, thirsty!" I exclaimed. Indeed, my parched tongue made mefeel that without a draught of water I could scarcely swallow food. Onthis our interpreter, going into the hold, brought up a thick cane ofbamboo, and pulling a stopper out of the top, showed us, to our greatsatisfaction, that it was full of water. I never enjoyed a moredelicious draught. I thought of my companions, however, and handed itto Oliver, who passed it on to Macco, after which I took another pull atit; and so we continued passing it round, till we had drained thecontents.
We were ready by this time for dinner, and were thankful to see severaldishes brought out of the little building which formed the cook-house ondeck. The chief signed to us to sit down and fall to. One was rice; ofthat there was no doubt. Another, too, I soon discovered to be thatmost valuable production of the East, the bread-fruit: this was cut inslices and fried. The third, however, puzzled me excessively, and itsappearance was far from attractive. There was, besides, a little saucerwith red pepper. Oliver and I at once attacked the bread-fruit, whenMacco pointed to the other dish.
"Eat, eat; good!" he said.
"Do you take some of it," I observed, unwilling to begin.
He immediately did so, swallowing a good portion.
"What is it?" I asked.
"You know; what sailor call `squid,'" he answered. "Dem very good."
I now guessed that it was octopus, or ink-fish, the favourite food ofthe sperm whale. I would rather have kept to the bread-fruit and rice;but Oliver was not so particular, and took a little with some redpepper. On his pronouncing it very good, I followed his example, andfound it far more palatable than I had expected, and I doubt not verynutritious. I remembered having heard that it was dangerous, after along fast, to eat much, and I therefore took but little. Oliver alsowas equally abstemious. Macco, however, laughed at my warning, and verysoon finished off the contents of the dishes.
We hoped, from the hospitable way we were entertained, that we shouldcontinue to be treated equally well. After we had finished our repast,Oliver and I felt very sleepy. The chief seeing this, made signs to usthat we might go into the bamboo house and rest. It was very clean andneat; a sort of sofa being on one side, on which there was room forOliver and me to lie down, one at one end, and one at the other--withour legs somewhat drawn up, to be sure, as the whole length was not morethan six feet. We must have slept there the whole night; for when wegot up we found the sun just rising, while the chief and his crew wereturning their faces towards Mecca--or where they supposed it to be--andoffering up their morning prayers. By this we knew that they wereMohammedans: such, indeed, is the religion of a large number of thepeople of the archipelago inhabiting the sea-coasts.
We had time to look about us, and examine the strange craft we had goton board. She had no masts, but the sails were hoisted on hugetriangles, which could be lowered at pleasure. Her anchor, too, was ofcurious construction: it consisted of a tough, hooked piece of timber,which served as the fluke or hook, being strengthened by twisted ratans,which bound it to the shank; while the stock was formed of a large flatstone, also secured by ratans to the shank. I observed that all thecrew were armed; and on a small piece of timber in the bows a smallswivel gun was placed, a similar piece being fixed in the after-part ofthe vessel. The cable also was formed of ratan, which, though strong,could easily, I suspected, be cut by rocks.
We found, on seeing Macco, that the vessel had made but little progressduring the night, having anchored near a reef in order not to pass thespot where the wreck was supposed to have occurred. Little notice of uswas taken by the chief or his men: they all seemed eagerly looking outfor the expected wreck. We also kept our eyes about us in everydirection, earnestly hoping that she might appear; but not a sign of herwas visible. I thought I saw a sail in the far distance. I pointed itout to Oliver. He was of the same opinion; so was Macco: but whetherthe natives saw it or not, we could not tell.
We continued our course, the breeze being light. After a time the prowwas steered first to the right, then to the left. Then she made atraverse to the south as near to the wind as she could lay (which,by-the-by, was not very near, even with the aid of her oars); but thoughseveral reefs were seen, on one of which probably the ship had struck,she was nowhere to be discovered. We saw, however, pieces of timber andvarious articles floating about. At length we caught sight of a longobject in the water. We steered towards it. Yes; it was the very mastto which we had clung! So it seemed to me, and so Oliver thought. Ifso, what had become of our unfortunate companions? Shortly afterwardsanother mast was seen. A human form was entangled in the rigging. Weeagerly looked down on it as we passed. The dark skin showed that itwas the body of one of the Lascars. The mast was undoubtedly theforemast to which they had clung. A light boat was launched from thedeck of the prow, and three hands went into it to the mast. I saw thatthey were taking off the girdle of the dead man. As they lifted him upI distinguished the features--so I thought--of Ali Tomba, who had beenthe cause of the destruction of the _Bussorah Merchant_. Leaving thebody, the men returned with the sash and clothes. They were examined,and found to contain a considerable number of coins, at which thenatives gazed with eager eyes.
Their whole conduct now changed towards us. The chief had seatedhimself in his usual place on the deck, when we were dragged up to him,and he made signs to us to empty our pockets. Oliver and Macco had, ofcourse, but a few small coins: I had rather more, but no great sum, inDutch money, which Captain Davenport had given me to make some purchasesin the town of Ternate. I suppose they had treated us with civility atfirst, not understanding that our ship was entirely lost, and perhapsexpecting that our countrymen would have punished them had they behavedill to us. The chief seemed very angry at finding we had so little ofvalue about us. He now made us a sign that we were to be gone from hispresence. We sat down in the shade before the house, in the centre ofthe deck, where Macco began to bewail our hard fate, observing that hewas sure the natives would kill and eat us. I endeavoured to comforthim by saying, that as they were Mohammedans they certainly would noteat us, though I could not be answerable for their not taking our lives;and, as far as I could, I endeavoured to persuade him to be prepared forwhatever might happen.
"The great thing, Macco," said Oliver,
joining in the conversation, "isto be sure that He who lives up there,"--(and he pointed to the bluesky)--"who made this world, and all those stars we see, loves us, hiscreatures whom he has placed on the earth; and if we trust him, he willdo everything that is best for us."
"But how I know he does love us?" asked Macco. "He let many people die;many be drowned; many be killed with blow up mountain or shake of earth;many die fever, plague; many kill each other."
"Very true," answered Oliver. "Sometimes he lets those who love himbest die. He does not say that he will keep even his friends alive; butif he takes them out of a bad world and puts them into a good one, doesnot that show his love? Some of those who are killed in the terribleway you say, are not his friends; but we know he loves us, because hegave One he loves better than anything else, to die for us, to bepunished instead of us. We deserve punishment; we all feel that. Hehas told us, too, that he loves us; and if we believe the Bible, we mustbelieve that. If man had not sinned, but had always been good andobedient, we might have reason to doubt God's Word; but we are sure thatman has sinned, and continues sinning, and it was sin which brought allthis suffering on man. Besides, again, as I said, we must not look upondeath--the mere death of the body--as a punishment. It may be a greatblessing; it is indeed so to many. But then, again, Macco, we cannotpretend to understand all God's dealings with us."
I listened very attentively to these remarks made by Oliver. A newlight seemed to break on me. God's love! God's love!--oh, how littledo we understand that! It is only a knowledge of that which can enableus in any way to comprehend his dealings with man.
"You see, Macco," continued Oliver, "that God is just as well as loving.He punishes those who continue to refuse his offers of mercy. Withmany he tries loving-kindness first. Sometimes his love makes himafflict people for the sake of bringing them to him, making them feeltheir own helplessness. The great thing of all, however, is to know fora certainty that he loves us, and that whatever he does is for the best.When a man is sure of this, he trusts to God, whatever happens. I havea loving mother, who taught me this. I am very sure it is the mostvaluable knowledge she could have given me. Though we know that we aresinners, and deserve punishment, yet we also know that when God's Sonbecame man and died on the cross, being sacrificed for our sins, he tookaway the sins of all those who trust to him; and so, instead of beingsinners in God's sight, when we thus trust to him we are made pure andholy, and fit to go to heaven--nay, sure of going to heaven when we die.If you believe this, Macco, you will not be afraid even though thepeople round us should suddenly jump up and kill us all, and throw usoverboard."
Macco was silent for some time. At length he looked up, andsaid,--"Bless you, Oliver; you tell me great truth. I no fear to dienow."
I felt indeed grateful to my young companion. His words had given me acourage I could scarcely have expected to possess; and though I did notfeel indifferent as to our fate, yet I was prepared, at all events, farbetter than I should otherwise have been for whatever might happen.
The native seamen sat round in the bow of the vessel, eating from a hugedish of rice, with some dried fish of some sort, seasoned with redpepper. After they had eaten their fill, they put down the remains ofthe dish--into which they had all plunged their unclean fingers--beforeus, much in the way they would have put it before a hungry dog, and madeus a sign to eat it if we chose. At first I could scarcely bring myselfto touch the food; but Macco urged me to do so, and he and Oliver atlength beginning their repast, I could no longer resist the desire toeat.
I could not make out exactly whether we were on board a trader or apirate; perhaps a mixture of both. If she was a trader, I concluded shewas bound to the coast of New Guinea for tripang, or sea-slug--considered a great delicacy by the Chinese and other people to thenorth; perhaps for pearls to the Aru Islands, or for other productionsof the southern part of the archipelago. We found, at all events, thatthey were steering to the south. For several days they stood on, notaltering their course. We were treated in the same manner as we hadbeen since they had failed to discover the wreck of which we had toldthem. They gave us but scanty food, and allowed us but little water.The interpreter no longer came near us, while scowling looks were castat us from every side. At length an island appeared on our port-bow,towards which the prow was steered. It was thickly wooded, down to thevery water's edge. A variety of strange-looking shrubs were seen, withlofty and elegant palms rising above them. What they were going to dowe could not surmise. Having got close in, the sails were lowered, andthe anchor let go. A boat was then launched. As we were standinglooking towards the shore, the chief touched me on the shoulder, andmade signs that I was to get into the boat. I knew that resistancewould be useless. Two men then stepped in. I also did as I wasordered. He then signed to Oliver and Macco to follow; Macco goingforward, and Oliver and I sitting in the stern. We endeavoured toascertain from the chief why we were to be carried to the island; but hedid not answer, making only an impatient gesture to us to be off.Without wasting further words, we took our seats, and the two men beganto pull away towards the shore.