The Island of Gold Part 45

"We'll come again, lad," replied his father.

They then made their way to the outer opening, and back once more to the inner, where they had left the boat.

It was noticed that James Malone was somewhat silent all the way back to the wreck. And so he continued during breakfast. After this he slowly arose. "Brother," he said, laying his hand on Halcott's shoulder, "I have something strange to tell you. Come to the cliff-top, and you too, Tandy, and bring your pipes."

Book 3--CHAPTER EIGHT.

ENTOMBED ALIVE.

It was a very lovely day now. The sea all round towards the eastern side of the island was deep and blue; but the waters to the west were here and there more shallow, so that the ocean here was patched with splendid colouring--tints of opal, tender green, and crimson were set off by the deep dark-brown of a rocky bottom, whereon ma.s.ses of sea-weed waved with the ebb or the flow of the tide.

There was not a breath of wind to-day, not a whisper in the woodlands; scarce a sound was to be heard, save the drowsy hum of the waves as they broke far below on the beach of snow-white sand, or the occasional screaming of the sea-birds sailing round and round the beetling crags where their nests were.

In very joy they seemed to scream to-day. Happy birds! There was no one to molest them on this far-off beautiful isle of the ocean. No gun was ever levelled at them, not a pebble ever thrown even by Fitz; and so tame were they that they often ran about the cliff-top, or even alighted on the ship itself.

But slowly indeed to-day does James Malone walk towards the cliff. Out through the inner, out through the great outer gate; for he will not feel comfortable until he is clear of the encampment, and seated near to the very brink of that great wall of rocks.

"Gentlemen," he said, when at last he had filled and lit his pipe with all the coolness of a North American Indian--"gentlemen, hitherto all our efforts to find the gold mine have been in vain, but mere chance has revealed to us the secret that has been hidden from us so long--"

"James," said Tandy, excitedly, "you don't mean to say--"

"But," interrupted James, "I do mean to say it, Tandy. Halcott there knows that I seldom make an a.s.sertion till I have well-considered the matter on all sides."

"You never do, brother."

"That cave, gentlemen, which in so strange a way the children have found, is a gold mine--_the_ gold mine!

"The land entrance I can now remember, although it is somewhat changed.

Show me the map of the island, brother."

Halcott spread it out before him.

He pointed out Fire Hill, then drew his finger along until it rested on the spot where the cave was.

"The fault has been all mine, gentlemen; I alone led you astray, for appearances deceived me. But it is not yet too late.

"And so you see, Tandy, that, after all, Providence has changed our mourning into joy. I do not now despair of anything. G.o.d moves in a mysterious way, brothers, and you may rest a.s.sured we shall yet return in peace to enjoy the fruits of our labours in the land of our birth."

Halcott was silent; so too was Tandy for a time.

Need I tell you what they were thinking about? If they could but return with enough gold to give them an independence, how pleasant would be their prospects for the future!

Well, this world is not all sorrow, and it is only right we should enjoy it. I think I can honestly go further, reader, and say it is a sin not to make the best of the beautiful world we live in, a sin to look always at the darkest side when clouds surround us. Let us not believe in the pessimism of Burns when he wrote his dirge "Man was made to mourn," a verse or two of which run as follows:--

"Look not alone on youthful prime, Or manhood's active might; Man then is useful to his kind, Supported is his right: But see him on the edge of life, With cares and sorrows worn; Then age and want--oh! ill-matched pair!-- Show man was made to mourn.

"A few seem favourites of fate, In pleasure's lap carest; Yet think not all the rich and great Are likewise truly blest.

But, oh! what crowds in every land Are wretched and forlorn!

Through weary life this lesson learn-- that man was made to mourn."

Tandy had risen to his feet, and was looking somewhat anxiously towards Observatory Hill.

The seaman who took day and day about with Fitz in watching was at this moment signalling.

"He wants us to come up," said Tandy.

"Who knows," said James, with far more cheerfulness in his voice than usual--"who knows but that our deliverance is already at hand? The man may have seen a ship!"

Halcott and Tandy, about an hour after this, stood beside the man on the brow of the hill, with their gla.s.ses turned towards the far-off island.

They could see the beach with far greater clearness than usual to-day.

It was crowded with savages running to and fro, into the bush and out of it, in a state apparently of great excitement.

At this distance they resembled nothing more than a hive of bees about to swarm.

Independent of innumerable dug-outs drawn up here and there were no less than five huge war-canoes.

Tandy turned away with a slight sigh.

"Just as the cup of joy," he said, "was being held to our lips, ill-fortune seems to have s.n.a.t.c.hed it away."

"Heigho!" sighed Halcott, "how I envy honest James for the hopefulness that he never appears to lose, even in the very darkest hours, the hours of what we should call despair.

"But look," he continued, pointing towards Fire Hill. "Not a cloud to be seen!"

"The volcano is dead!" said Tandy, with knitted brows; "and now, indeed, we shall have to fight."

Halcott took Tandy's hand, while he looked calmly into his face.

"My friend," he said, "we have come through many and many a danger side by side, and here we are alive and well to tell it. If fighting it must be with these savages, neither you nor I shall be afraid to face them.

But we may succeed in making peace."

"Ah, Halcott, I fear their friendship even more than their enmity. But for my dear boy and my little girl, I should care for neither."

And now all haste back to the camp was made.

All hands were summoned, and the case laid plainly before them.

The story of the cave was told to them also, and it did Halcott's heart good to hear the ringing cheer with which their words were received.

The next thing Halcott ordered was a survey of stores. Alas! this did not take long; and afterwards the defences were most carefully inspected.

On the whole, the outlook was a hopeful one, even if the savages did come in force and place the strange little encampment in a state of siege. Their provisions and even their ammunition would last for three weeks at least.

And--and then?

Ah! no one thought of an answer to that question. They meant to do their best, and trust in Providence for everything else.