CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND.
"Some savages come on board, sir," I heard the mate sing out to thecaptain, a fine-looking man, who was standing near the wheel; "an oldand a young one."
"No, please you, sir," said Dick, stepping aft. "We are not savages,but unfortunate Englishmen. We have had a hard job to make our escapefrom the savages, though, and if you will take my advice, sir, you willnot go into that harbour; for if you do, you will run a chance of beingtreated as our ship was."
"How is that, my man?" asked the captain; and Dick thereupon told himthe way in which the _Dolphin_ had been cut off, and how all had beenkept prisoners for upwards of two years by the natives.
"I thank you for the warning, my friend," said the captain, "and we willbe on our guard against treachery. I think, however, that if we showthat we are well armed and on the watch, we need not fear them. We arein want of water, wood, and vegetables, and by letting the nativesunderstand that we will pay fairly for them, we shall, I hope, obtainwhat we require."
"As to that, sir, Charley Laurel and I can talk well enough to them; andwe will take good care to tell them that they must play no tricks."
"You may be of much service to me, then," said the captain, "and I shallbe glad to carry you and Charley Laurel, as you call him, to any placewe touch at where you may wish to land."
"Thank you, sir," said Dick; "but we can both work our passage, andthough it is better than two years since I was afloat, I don't think Iam less handy than before."
The ship, which we found to be the _Phoebe_, Captain Renton, havingbrought up in the bay, a number of canoes came off to her. The captaintold me and Dick to say to them that he could allow no one on board.The natives looked much surprised at seeing us on the deck, and they ofcourse guessing that we had told the captain what had happened to the_Dolphin_, some of them paddled back again in a great fright, supposingthat he had come to punish them for what they had done. By thecaptain's directions we told them not to be alarmed; that he wished tobe friends with them; and that if they behaved well, they would betreated as friends.
In a short time Motakee came off. When we told Captain Renton who hewas, he was invited on deck. He seemed greatly concerned at the thoughtof losing me, and asked me reproachfully how, after being treated as ason, I could think of deserting him. I assured him that I was verygrateful for all his kindness, but that I wished to go back to liveamong people of my own colour and habits, and that otherwise I wouldgladly have remained with him. He soon made himself at home on board,and when invited into the cabin behaved with great propriety, and toldme to express to the captain his regret for the massacre of the_Dolphin's_ crew.
He put off his expedition on account of the arrival of the _Phoebe_, andwhile she remained in harbour he was constantly on board, and used everyexertion to obtain what the captain wanted.
I at last parted from him with real regret, though Dick would not let meventure on shore, lest he might show his affection for me by keeping mea prisoner.
Captain Renton was a very different sort of person to poor CaptainPodgers. We had prayers every evening in his cabin, and he would allownone of the officers to use abusive language towards the men, while hemaintained strict discipline on board.
He proposed cruising for some time for whales in those latitudes, andthen sailing south, to touch at one of the Society Islands.
The day after we sailed, the captain called me into his cabin.
"I have heard your history, my lad, from your friend, Dick Driver, and Ifind that you have had no advantages of education, while I am afraidthat you are very ignorant of gospel truth, without which all educationis of no avail in God's sight."
"As I have not seen a book since I was on board the _Dolphin_, I suspectthat I should prove a bad hand at reading, sir," I answered: "but I havenot forgotten what Miss Kitty told me about the love of Jesus to sinfulman; how He willingly offered Himself up to be punished instead of us,that all who believe on Him may be free, and be able to go to God aschildren go to an affectionate father, and ask Him for all they want;and that when we die we may be sure that we shall be taken to live withHim in great joy and happiness for ever and ever."
"Ah, my dear boy," exclaimed the captain, his eye brightening withpleasure, "you already know then the most important truths I can tellyou. And do you indeed believe that Jesus died for you, and is yourSaviour, and loves you, and watches over you, and sends His Holy Spiritto help you to love Him, and serve Him, and to keep you out oftemptation?"
"Yes, indeed I do, sir," I answered. "I pray to God through Him everynight and morning, and I believe that He has preserved me from the manydangers I have gone through."
Though I have not mentioned it, I had often talked with Dick of all MissKitty had taught me, and the knowledge of God's love more than anythingelse had supported us; and I am very sure that Dick felt as I did,though he might not have been able to explain himself so clearly. I hadmade great progress indeed under Miss Kitty's instruction; thus,although for some time I at first found it difficult to read the NewTestament, which the captain put into my hands, I gradually regained theknowledge I had lost.
The kind captain, after the conversation I have mentioned, invited meinto the cabin every day, and took great pains in instructing me inreading and writing. Until I could do so myself, he read a portion ofGod's Word, which he explained to me in a very simple and clear manner.I did my utmost to learn, as I was now of an age to be ashamed of myignorance, especially when I found that the two ship's boys read andwrote far better than I did. Every moment that I was off duty I was atmy studies, and when Dick found what progress I made, he declared hisintention of setting to work to learn to read himself. I did my best tohelp him, and the captain kindly lent him some books that he mightinstruct himself. In about four months I could read with perfect easeand write very fairly, besides having gained some knowledge ofarithmetic and geography. As to history, I found I had a very confusedknowledge, and jumbled events together in a curious way.
I had not forgotten dear Miss Kitty, and I often talked about her, andwondered whether she and the mate had made their escape. Dick alwayssaid that he thought they had, as Mr Falconer was a good navigator, andthat they were very likely to have fallen in with some whaler, as he wassure to have steered his course over the ground most frequented by them.
At length, after sailing for some time south, and passing severalislands, we sighted one at which the captain said he intended to touch,as the natives were Christians, and they could supply all his wants onequitable terms, without the risk of treachery, which he must run at theheathen islands. As we drew near I recognised the scenery, and onasking Dick, he told me it was the very island at which the _Dolphin_had touched when Miss Kitty and Mr Falconer had gone on shore to thehouse of the missionary.
As soon as the anchor was down, the captain ordered a boat to belowered, and told me that I might accompany him.
Mr Newton, the missionary, who knew Captain Renton, came down to thelanding-place to welcome him, and conduct him up to his house. Ifollowed, but as he did not recognise me, I felt unwilling to addresshim. They entered the house together.
"Come in, my lad," said Mr Newton, seeing me standing outside. "Youare heartily welcome."
I followed the captain into the sitting-room, where I saw two ladies.One, whom I guessed was Mrs Newton, came forward to greet him as an oldacquaintance; the other rose, and as she did so and turned her facetowards me, my heart leaped with joy, for there I saw Miss Kitty,looking as bright and blooming as ever.
"Miss Kitty!" I exclaimed; "is it you? is it you?"
The first moment she did not know me, for I was greatly changed. Shetook both my hands, and looking into my face, she said--
"Charley, Charley Laurel, are you indeed alive and well? I had greatlyfeared that you were lost. And has honest Dick too escaped?"
She made me sit down by her side, and I rapidly told her all that hadoccurred.
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p; "And how did you escape, Miss Kitty?" I asked; "we were fearfullyanxious about you."
"You had reason to be so," she answered. "Mr Falconer had expressedsome fears that the natives might prove treacherous while we were awayin the boats, and, on our return, he was remarking that he must try andinduce the captain to keep a strict watch on board, and to allow only afew natives at a time on deck, when, through his glass, he observed thatthe ship was surrounded by canoes, and that the natives in great numberswere clambering on board. Still we sailed on, when we saw a dreadfulexplosion, and shortly afterwards several canoes came paddling after us.Mr Falconer pointed them out to the men, who agreed with him that theship had been taken by the savages, and that by some accident they hadblown her up. He immediately put the boat about, exclaiming to me, `Foryour sake we will do our best to escape!' The wind increased: we werestanding out into the open ocean. Had it not been on my account MrFalconer would, I am sure, have gone back at all risks to ascertain thefate of those on board. The fact, however, of the canoes following us,showed the hostile intentions of the natives, and the men declared thateven had I not been in the boat they would not have run their heads intodanger for no purpose.
"As the wind increased we lost sight of the canoes, which were unable tocontend with the heavy sea to which the boat was now exposed.
"The prospect before us was a fearful one, but the alternative ofreturning to the shore was worse. Still we could rely on the protectingcare of our heavenly Father, in whom we both trusted. We had but asmall supply of food and water, which, with the greatest economy, couldonly last us three days. Mr Falconer, however, encouraged the men bytelling them that he hoped, before the end of that time, to make anisland, marked as uninhabited on the chart, where we might obtain waterand provisions.
"Happily the wind, though continuing fair, did not increase, and,exactly at the time Mr Falconer expected, the island appeared in sight,when the last drop of water had been exhausted. Coasting around theisland, we found a small harbour, which we entered. A grove ofcocoa-nut trees greeted our sight, fringing the shore, and near them wasa spring of fresh water. Mr Falconer shot several birds, and havingfishing-hooks and lines, the men quickly caught a supply of fish. Theythen put up a hut for me, where I could enjoy that rest I so muchrequired. At night, also, a number of turtle were observed landing onthe sandy beach to lay their eggs, and we thus had no longer any fear ofsuffering from starvation.
"So well satisfied were the men with the island, that they proposedremaining, rather than venture again to sea. Mr Falconer inquired mywishes. I knew that I could implicitly trust him. Months would perhapspass before any ship might appear. I begged that, if the men would bepersuaded to go, we might continue our voyage. They agreed at length todo as he wished.
"Besides the casks, a number of cocoa-nuts were filled with water;birds, and fish, and turtle, were salted, and four live turtle and anumber of cocoa-nuts were taken on board. Thus amply supplied withprovisions, we again set sail.
"We had been a week at sea, when a vessel was seen, hove-to in thedistance. We steered for her. Her boats were away in chase of a whale.We received a kind welcome on board the ship, which was the _Harmony_,from Captain Landon and his wife, who were Christian people. Mysatisfaction was very great when I found that the captain intendedtouching at this island, to refit his ship before proceeding to otherfishing-grounds. The second mate had died, and he offered Mr Falconerthe berth. He gladly accepted it. At the end of three weeks I had thehappiness of finding myself with these kind friends.
"I knew how Mr Falconer felt when he told me that he must continue onboard the _Harmony_, though he trusted on his arrival in England to beable to obtain the command of a ship in which he might return here.Since then no letter from him has reached me, nor have I received anytidings of him. Still I feel perfect confidence that he is faithful andtrue, and that he will return as soon as he can find the means of doingso."
I felt very sorry when I heard the latter part of Miss Kitty'snarrative; for while I fully agreed with her that Mr Falconer wouldreturn if he could, I feared that, had he not lost his life, he mighthave been wrecked or taken prisoner, or detained somewhere by illness.
As Mr Newton afterwards observed to me, he had never seen any woman whowas so thoroughly sustained under a great trial by her confidence in theman to whom she had given her heart, and her perfect trust that all wasordered by God for the best.