Fire Island Part 30

Oliver gave his lead a swing and brought it heavily in contact with Smith's head.

"That aren't fish, sir, that's foul," grumbled the man.

"I beg your pardon, Smith," cried Oliver, confusedly.

"My fault p'raps, sir. Try again. All right: line's laid in rings so that it'll run out."

Oliver gave the lead another swing and loosed it with so good an aim that it fell twenty yards away right in the swift current rushing through the opening in the reef.

"First in," he cried. "Look sharp, you two."

"Mind, sir, quick!" cried Smith, as the line began to run out rapidly, and the man seized the end so as to check it.

"Precious deep," said Oliver, catching at the line in turn, and in an instant feeling a ring tighten round and cut into his wrist. "Why I've hooked one already--a monster. Here, Smith, come and pull."

"Quick! all of you: lie down!" shouted the mate, excitedly, and he set the example.

"What is it, what's the matter?" cried Panton.

"You're to hold me," said Oliver. "I've got hold of a whale, and it will tug me off the rock. Help, please, it's cutting into my arm."

"Never mind the fish," cried the mate, angrily. "Don't you see? Lie close all of you and they may pa.s.s us."

He pointed as he spoke, and the little party now saw the cause of his excitement, for half a mile away, just coming round a point masked by a clump of cocoa palms, was a large canoe with outrigger, upon which three or four men were perched so as to help balance their vessel, which, crowded with blacks, was literally racing along a short distance from the reef, impelled by its wide-spreading matting sail.

"Friends," said Panton, excitedly.

"If we were on board our brig and at sea," said the mate, "but as a shipwrecked party they are foes."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

STRANGE SPORT.

Those were exciting moments, especially for Oliver Lane, who, as he lay there with arm outstretched, was very slowly and painfully dragged over the coral rock toward the sea. Every one's attention was so taken up by the great canoe, that for the moment he was forgotten, and, in spite of his suffering, he felt that he must not yell out for help, for fear of being heard. But just as his position was growing dangerous as well as exciting, Smith saw his peril, and throwing out one hand, took a grip of the line.

"Hadn't I better cut him adrift, sir?" he whispered, huskily.

"No, no, hold on fast," replied Oliver. "That's better. I'll hold, as well."

For the help relieved his wrist from the strain that was cutting into the flesh.

"Don't you leave go, sir," said Smith, hoa.r.s.ely. "I can't hold him all alone."

"Silence there!" said the mate. "Sound travels across the water."

"I don't see that it matters much," said Panton, softly. "They must see us, for they're evidently coming straight for this opening into the lagoon."

"I don't know," replied the mate. "If they are, they may be friendly, but if they are not, we haven't so much as a gun with us, and these mop-headed beggars are a terribly bloodthirsty lot. They think nothing of knocking a man on the head, and eating him."

"Raw?" said Panton.

"No, no, they make a kind of stone oven, and roast him first."

"Oh, murder!" sighed Wriggs. "Just as if a man was a pig."

"Will you be silent, sir, and lie still? You too, Mr Lane, and that man with you. What is the matter?"

"We're being dragged overboard, sir," grumbled Smith. "Got a whale, or some'at o' that kind;" for Oliver was silent, his teeth were set, and he had all his work to do holding on to the line.

"Don't speak and don't move more than you can help," whispered the mate.

"I want you all to lie here as if you were so much of the coral reef.

Now then, Smith, get your knife out and cut the line."

"What, and let that there critter go, sir? He's a fine 'un, maybe it's salmon."

"Silence. Out with your knife."

"Can't, sir. If I let's go with one hand, it'll take Mr Lane out to sea. It's all we can do to hold on."

"Mr Drew, you're nearest. Keep flat down and crawl to where you can reach the line and cut it through."

Drew made no reply, but as he lay there flat on his face, he took out his knife, opened it, and began to creep along the dozen yards or so toward where Lane and Smith lay perspiring in the sunshine, now getting a few moments' rest, now fighting hard to hold the great fish as it tugged and dragged vigorously in its efforts to escape.

"Sims a pity, sims a pity," muttered Smith. "Better take a hold, too.

Phew! Look at that!"

For there was a tremendous whirlpool-like swirl in the disturbed water, and a jerk that promised to dislocate their arms.

At the same moment Drew was reaching out to cut the line, but, just as his blade touched the stout cord in front of Lane's hand, the tension ceased.

"He's coming in sh.o.r.e to see who it is has got hold of the line,"

whispered Smith.

"No: gone. Broke away," said Lane, huskily, and then they lay motionless, watching the on-coming canoe, as it rushed over the sea a couple of hundred yards or so from where the great billows curled over upon the coral reef. Now it would be plainly visible with the dancing outrigger, upon which the nearly naked blacks were seated, riding up and down as if upon a see-saw, now it would be hidden by a crest of sparkling spray, which flew up as a larger wave than ordinary struck the reef. The speed at which it was going was tremendous, and so clear was the view at times that the little party on the rocks could make out the great gummed heads of the savages, and see the water glance from the paddles of those who steered.

Freed entirely from the strain of the fish dragging at the line, Oliver Lane now had leisure to watch the great canoe, and he at once began to count the number of the enemy, making them to be either thirty-nine or forty powerful-looking blacks, several of whom had ugly-looking clubs, while others bore spears or bows and arrows.

On they came toward the opening in the great reef; and as they approached, the canoe was steered farther out, evidently so that she could be headed for the pa.s.sage and sail through. And as Oliver Lane watched he began to wonder what would be his next adventure--whether the savages would be friendly, or if they would attack the small party who were unarmed.

They were not long in doubt, for at the speed at which the canoe sailed, she was soon in a position for heading in, and all the time the party on the rock lay wondering that the savages made no sign. Some of them, if they had seen the party, would certainly have gesticulated, pointed, or made some show of being surprised, but they sailed on just at the edge of the troubled water, made a sweep round, and then, just as Lane felt sure that the enemy would come rushing through the opening with the fierce tide, and float on into the calm water of the lagoon, the mate exclaimed,--

"It was to keep from being swept in by the rush of water. They're going right on south."

"Hooroar!" muttered Wriggs. "I sha'n't be meat to-day."

"They wouldn't ha' touched you, Billy," whispered Smith, softly. "Too tough."