The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader Part 14

"Oh yes, do! do!" exclaimed several of her female companions.

The doctor, who had been perseveringly attending to his still, hurried to the cove as the boat came in with a jug and a little tin canister, which served as a measure. The pale cheeks and cracked lips of those on board the cutter showed how much they had suffered.

"The women first, if you please, sir," said Mr Bollard, as the doctor stepped on board. How thankfully they and the poor children received the few drops of water offered to each of them. One person only looked at him with an angry glance. "Why don't you bring me champagne?"

exclaimed poor Ensign Holt. "That's fit tipple for a gentleman." It was evident, poor fellow, that he was as mad as ever. He did not, however, refuse the water poured into his mouth, declaring as he drank it that it was hock of the first quality. Not till all the others had been served would the brave boatswain accept the water for himself. The doctor then hurried back to get a fresh supply.

"We are truly glad to see you, Bollard," said Harry, "for we believed that you had been overwhelmed by the iceberg."

"So we should have been, sir," was the answer, "but the moment we saw the top of the berg beginning to move we shoved off, and pulled away to the westward. We were not a moment too soon, however; for a ma.s.s of ice rose right up out of the water, directly astern of us. Had we been a moment later, it would have lifted the boat fifty feet in the air, and, for what I know, sent us all flying over the top to the other side of it."

w.i.l.l.y, who had hurried down to the cutter, looked anxiously for Peter Patch. He was in the stern-sheets, his cheeks as pale as death, and his eyes closed. A few drops of water poured down his throat revived him.

"Thank you, Dicey," he whispered, opening his eyes. "I thought it was all up with me."

"You will be soon to rights, Mr Patch," said Bollard, looking kindly at him. "He would not touch a drop of water himself," he added, turning to the doctor, "but gave his share to those two little children crying out for it."

"And you gave yours to their mothers," said Peter, "so you need not talk of what I did."

"The youngster has got a heart after all, in spite of his nonsense,"

muttered the doctor; and Peter was a favourite of his ever afterwards.

It was indeed providential that the launch had arrived at the rock some time before the other boat, and that the firewood and seals had been procured, or probably many of the poor women and children on board her would have perished, however the stronger men might have endured their sufferings.

The doctor hurried back to his still, which he believed no one could superintend so well as himself. It required, indeed, the greatest attention, and three hands were constantly employed in filling up the boiler and supplying the condenser with cold water. Though Harry was anxious to continue the voyage, the doctor begged that they might remain on the rock during the night, that he might the better keep his still at work, and, at the same time, as there was fuel sufficient for their fires, that a good supply of seal-flesh might be cooked. The tent was accordingly carried on sh.o.r.e and considerably enlarged, to afford accommodation for the ladies and other women, while some of the men slept on sh.o.r.e, thus giving ample s.p.a.ce for the remainder to stretch their legs on board the boats. The scene looked wild and strange in the extreme to Harry, as he retired a short distance from the camp to enjoy a few moments of solitude, and seek for that strength he so much needed, with the heavy responsibility thrown upon his young shoulders.

By the side of the small cove on which floated the two boats was the white tent, and at a little distance their camp-fires blazed up brightly; while high above rose the dark, rugged peaks of the weather-worn rock on which, ever and anon, a ruddy glare was cast by the flames at their base, while beyond stretched out into interminable s.p.a.ce the dark, heaving ocean. Across that ocean he was now to go, and guide the course of the two boats towards an inhospitable land, yet the nearest where water and fuel could be found. It could not, however, prove a permanent resting-place, as the winter, he had heard, was severe in the extreme, and provisions for so many mouths it might be impossible to find. Yet could he venture farther on in these open boats? New Zealand lay beyond; but a large portion of that country was but little known; they might reach a part inhabited by savages, who might treat them as foes instead of rendering them a.s.sistance. If so, might it not be safer to stand across from the Aucklands to the distant sh.o.r.es of Australia? Even should the weather favour them, could they carry water and provisions sufficient for so large a party? Could any of their number be left behind? Who, indeed, would consent to stay?

These questions, and many more, crowded on the young officer's mind as he thus sat beneath the rugged cliffs of that wild sea-worn rock. He resolved, at all events, to steer for the Auckland Islands, which had been discovered in 1806 by Captain Bristow, commander of the "Ocean,"

South Sea whaler, and called after Lord Auckland; but with the exception that they contained some good harbours, Harry knew very little more than that fact about them.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS.

THE BOATS LEAVE THE ROCK--STEER FOR THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS--SCARCITY OF FRESH WATER--MRS RUMBELOW PUTS THE MEN TO SHAME--CLOUDS GATHER IN THE SKY--PREPARATIONS FOR CATCHING RAIN-WATER--RAIN COMES AT LAST--LAND IN SIGHT--THREATENINGS OF A STORM--THE AUCKLANDS APPROACHED--OFF A HARBOUR--RISK OF RUNNING IN--THE STORM BURSTS--THE BOATS STAND TOWARDS THE HARBOUR--DANGEROUS Pa.s.sAGE--ANXIETY FOR THE CUTTER--BOATS RUN UP THE HARBOUR--A LANDING-PLACE FOUND--SAFE ON Sh.o.r.e.

The whole of the next day was pa.s.sed on the island. Among its various productions, scanty though they seemed at first, was a supply of salt, found in the hollows of the rocks. This, in addition to the salt produced by the still, gave the party enough to preserve a considerable number of the birds they had killed, as well as some seals' flesh.

Under Mrs Rumbelow's direction, the former were plucked and split open; and while some were salted, others were hung up in the smoke of the fires to dry. Every one during the day was so busily employed that it seemed to pa.s.s rapidly away. Though Harry, afraid of a change of weather, had intended putting to sea in the evening, he consented, at the entreaties of most of the party, to remain till the following morning. Being the first on foot, at early dawn the following morning he called up w.i.l.l.y, and the little camp was soon astir. While Mrs Rumbelow and her willing a.s.sistants were busily cooking the last meal they could hope to enjoy on sh.o.r.e for many days, the men were engaged in stowing the boats with their fresh provisions, and as large a supply of fuel as they could carry. Prayer was offered up, Mrs Morley reading a chapter in the Bible, and then the whole party embarked. The short stay on the rock had greatly revived them, and even poor Ensign Holt seemed much more tranquil and contented.

"It won't do to trust him, though," said Peter Patch to w.i.l.l.y, as they were embarking. "I have to keep my eye on him, and I am afraid, even now, he will play some trick."

The little baby, in spite of the cold to which it had been exposed, seemed to flourish, still affording a great amount of interest to its nurses as at first, young Broke occasionally begging that he might have it in his arms; and it was pleasant to see the tender care he took of the little girl. She was called Bessy, and was supposed to be the child of a Sergeant Leslie, whose wife had accompanied him; but as there were two or three babies of the same age on board, there appeared to be some doubt about the matter. Young Broke evidently considered himself the rightful guardian of little Bessy, and would have again risked his young life, if necessary, for the sake of preserving hers.

The sea continued smooth and the wind fair, and the boats ran swiftly across the ocean. Twice a-day the cutter came up alongside for her supply of water. It was a small quant.i.ty, little more than sufficient to moisten the throats of the voyagers after each meal; still they were thankful to obtain even that. Frequently, as they saw the clouds gathering in the sky, they longed for rain, that they might obtain a larger amount of the necessary fluid. Though the rain might wet them to the skin, and chill their bodies, they could endure anything, they thought, for the sake of more water.

w.i.l.l.y often dreamed he was on sh.o.r.e, wandering near sparkling cascades and clear running streams, but that somehow or other he could never reach the water to obtain a draught. Probably the dreams of others of the parties were of a similar character.

Day after day pa.s.sed by; the wind was very light, and the voyage promised to be longer than Harry had antic.i.p.ated. The doctor looked anxiously at his stock of fuel. "I am afraid our boiler won't hold out much longer," he observed to w.i.l.l.y. "Ask Shafto when he hopes to sight these Auckland Islands he talks of. We have not pa.s.sed them, I hope."

"No fear of that," answered w.i.l.l.y. "Shafto says that we are still nearly two hundred miles from them."

"Two hundred miles!" murmured the doctor. "That is a long distance, should the wind come foul; but we must keep the pot boiling,--there's no doubt about that." The following day, the doctor told Shafto that he thought it would be prudent to reduce the allowance of water. "We can exist with very little, and though that may be painful, it is far better than going without it altogether," he remarked.

Several of the people murmured when they received their reduced allowance; even some of the women declared they must have as much as they had been accustomed to; and two or three of the seamen and soldiers, who had hitherto behaved well, exclaimed that they would not be deprived of their rights. Harry's anxieties were greatly increased.

Mrs Rumbelow, however, came to the rescue.

"What is that you say, men?" she exclaimed. "Are you not able to go through what these poor ladies--who have been accustomed to gentle nurture all their lives--endure without complaining? You should be ashamed of yourselves. I'll soon show the next man I hear talking in that way that I have not been in the regiment for thirty years without learning my duty; so look out. But I think better of you, boys. If I was to ask you now, you would, I am sure, be ready to give up half your allowance to any of the poor women who might require it more than you do!"

Not another word was said. Little Broke, it was observed, as soon as he got his allowance of water, always crept near little Bessy, and poured a few drops down her throat before he would take any to quench his own burning thirst. The seal blubber was at length expended, and but a small quant.i.ty of wood remained to keep the stove alive. The anxiety of all naturally increased as the prospect of obtaining more lessened.

Some, indeed, were beginning to despair.

Before long, however, dark clouds were seen gathering in the sky, hanging low down above their heads, the breeze freshened, the air felt heavy and damp.

"What do you think of the weather?" asked Harry of the boatswain, the cutter being within hailing distance.

"We shall have the rain, sir, and I am getting a sail ready to catch it.

I'd advise you to do the same," was the answer.

The canvas which formed the ladies' cabin was immediately stretched out between the masts, and triced up at the corners; the women held out their shawls, and every arrangement was made to catch the hoped-for shower; while the casks and cans, and all the articles capable of holding water, were got ready.

"There it is! there it is!" cried several voices, as the rain was seen descending some hundred fathoms from the boat in a thick shower; but it was to leeward of them. Then it suddenly stopped. Soon another heavy fall of rain came down at a considerable distance astern. How tantalising it was to the thirsty throats of those who watched it! Now another shower appeared ahead, but not a drop descended where the boats lay.

"Oh, Mr Shafto, is the rain not coming near us?" inquired several of the poor women, as they turned their flushed faces towards him, and hugged their children closer to their bosoms. He could not bring himself to say that he thought so, as he observed their cracked lips, their l.u.s.treless eyes, and anxious looks.

"We must hope for the best," he replied. "See the showers are falling all around us, and we may hope that one will visit us ere long."

The men proposed getting out their oars, and pulling in the direction the next shower might appear.

"We might be too late to reach it, and miss another by so doing," he answered. "Ten minutes of one of those showers will be sufficient to supply all our wants."

Still the rain continued falling, and the thirsty voyagers fancied they could hear the splash in the water, so near did one or two showers come to them. Now the heavy clouds seemed to be rolling away, but others came up in their stead.

"There's a drop! I felt it on my face," cried w.i.l.l.y. "Another, and another. It rains! it rains!" In an instant all in the boats were lifting up their faces to the sky, the poor little children opening wide their mouths to catch a few drops of the refreshing liquid. There was no mistake about it now. Down came the welcome rain in thick heavy drops. The sails were hauled down, for fear of pa.s.sing through the shower. Not a drop, if they could help it, would have been lost. As the water fell it was drained off into the casks and buckets; the women rung out their shawls; every bit of rag that could be wetted was eagerly sucked. Still the rain continuing to fall, every can, and even the smallest cup that could be found, was filled. They had learned the true value of water. Scarcely had all their measures been filled when the rain ceased, the clouds rolled away. The sun shining forth a.s.sisted to dry their saturated garments. A brisk breeze soon after sprang up, and the boats danced gaily over the now laughing water. The hearts of the voyagers were inclined to laugh too, many lifting them up to heaven to express their grat.i.tude for the relief afforded them. There was now water enough, they hoped, to last them till they could reach the wished-for land. Notwithstanding this, the doctor kept his precious still going, when the stove was not required for cooking, carefully husbanding the small remains of fuel.

A strong northerly breeze was blowing, the boats continuing their course to the eastward, the launch leading. All night long they had stood on, the dark foam-topped seas rising up around them. Harry feared that he should be compelled to heave to should the wind increase. He had been at the helm during the middle and morning watch. w.i.l.l.y was on the look-out forward.

"Land! land!" he shouted. Daylight had just broke. "There are cliffs ahead, with high lands rising beyond them," he added. Paul Lizard was awake in a moment, looking out with him.

"You are right, Mr Dicey."

"Do you see a high point to the south'ard?" asked Harry.

"Yes, sir," answered Paul. "And it seems to me that there's an opening in the cliffs."

"That must be the west entrance to the southern harbour of the Auckland Islands," said Harry. "I little expected to make such a run.

Providence has guided us, not my navigation."