The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader Part 21

"If such is the case, we will make their acquaintance," observed the doctor, and they descended into the bay. They hurried towards the hut.

On reaching the entrance, even the doctor started back. Part of the roof had been blown off, allowing the light to strike down into the interior. On a rude bed, raised a couple of feet from the ground, lay the body of a man. He was fully clothed, but the eyeless skull and parchment-like cheeks showed that he had been long dead. He was dressed as a seaman. A sou'-wester was on his head, and a woollen m.u.f.fler round his neck, while a blue serge vest and a dark jacket and trousers clothed his body. Several pairs of woollen socks and stockings were on his feet, one of which was tied up with rags, as if it had received some injury. His legs were crossed, and the arms and fingers stretched out straight on either side. Had it not been for the light which struck down on the head, the body lay in so natural a position that the man might have been supposed to be asleep. Close by was a small heap of limpet and mussel sh.e.l.ls, and within his reach were two bottles--one was empty, but the other was full of water. Another object attracted their attention. It was a piece of slate, on which were scratched several zigzag marks, which had apparently been formed by the hand of the dying man, who had probably in his last moments attempted to write his name and give some account of his sad history.

The doctor, after examining the body for some minutes, observed, "He has died of hunger, poor fellow. Probably he belonged to the crew of some hapless vessel wrecked near this, the survivors of whom were taken off by the ship we saw this morning. Poor fellow, we must come back and bury him another day, but we must delay no longer."

The sad spectacle they had just witnessed made the explorers turn their thoughts from themselves.

They pushed on as fast as they could go, but were often nearly dropping with fatigue. Marshes had to be pa.s.sed, and frequently they were plunging across boggy ground, running the risk every instant of sticking or sinking beneath it; several streams were forded, and rugged heights climbed similar to those they had traversed on the previous day.

Just before sunset they stopped to dig a quant.i.ty of roots, which the doctor was anxious to carry with him, while Captain Twopenny shot several birds. While w.i.l.l.y was hunting about, he heard a low clattering sound. Searching more narrowly, he found in a small bush a large nest with five young birds. "Here, here," he cried to Peter, who ran up.

"Why, I do believe they are parrots. They are nearly fledged. How delighted the Miss Morleys will be to have them."

"But how can we carry them?" said Peter.

"See, I will tie them up in my handkerchief, and sling them round my neck," said w.i.l.l.y, securing the nest as he proposed. The young parrots were, as may be supposed, a constant care to him for the rest of the journey. Peter every now and then looked into the handkerchief as it hung at his back, declaring that the birds were getting on very well, only opening their mouths as if they wanted to be fed. They seemed to like the berries which had been found, and meeting with another bush, Peter collected a supply to feed them with.

At length it grew so dark that they could with difficulty see their way.

They were about to encamp, when w.i.l.l.y caught sight of the lights in the village, far below them. Just then they got into a seal-track, along which they proceeded.

"Look out, Peter, lest we should find a lion in the path," said w.i.l.l.y.

He had scarcely spoken when a bellow was heard close to them. It was repeated in all directions.

"I don't quite like it," exclaimed Peter. "Can those horrible noises really be made only by seals?"

"No doubt about that," said the doctor. "They are not likely to attack us, and the best thing we can do is to push on."

To those not aware of the cause, the loud bellows which resounded through the woods would have indeed seemed terrific. Once or twice one of the monsters was seen scrambling among the bushes, but was soon out of sight, and none appeared to be combatively disposed.

At length the lower ground was reached, and in a short time they were welcomed by their friends at the village.

Harry Shafto was especially thankful when he received the report of the doctor; and it was arranged that the next morning, as soon as some more spades could be manufactured, a party should set out to dig roots, while Captain Twopenny volunteered to lead another in search of hogs.

"At all events, I trust we need have no fear of dying of starvation,"

Harry remarked in a tone which showed the relief he felt. "Had it not been for you, doctor, however, I confess we should have been badly off."

w.i.l.l.y awoke at early dawn to feed his parrots, which were chattering away at his ear. As soon as breakfast was over, he took them up to the Miss Morleys. "I have brought an addition to your menagerie," he said, exhibiting his prizes; "but as they are nearly fledged, you must find some means of preventing them from flying away."

"Oh, I hope we may tame them sufficiently to make them wish to stay with us," said Emma. "What pretty little lively creatures. We are so much obliged to you, Mr Dicey."

"Perhaps Mrs Twopenny would like to have one," said f.a.n.n.y. "And do you not wish to retain one yourself?"

"I am afraid that I should not have time to attend to it," said w.i.l.l.y.

"But I will take one to Mrs Twopenny; and if you will bring up one for me, I should like to carry it home with me for my sisters." Mrs Morley, who heard the remark, smiled faintly. She was thinking, perhaps, of the little probability there was of their ever returning to the sh.o.r.es of England.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

A SHIP!

THE ISLAND FLAG--EXPEDITION TO ESTABLISH A LOOK-OUT PLACE--CUTTER PROCEEDS DOWN THE HARBOUR--PIERCE ATTACK OF SEALS--TIPPO SAHIB PUT TO FLIGHT--FLAGSTAFF SET UP--LOOKOUT HUT ERECTED--NIGHT IN THE HUT--THE BOATSWAIN'S YARNS--HARRY PUTS OFF TO RETURN--BLOWING HARD--BOAT IN DANGER--RETURN TO LOOKOUT POINT--THE STORM RAGES--PETER WRAPS HIMSELF IN THE FLAG--ANXIETY ABOUT THE BOAT--HUT ON FIRE--ATTEMPTS TO SAVE HUT-- Pa.s.s NIGHT BY THE FIRE--A SHIP SEEN.

The cutter had been thoroughly repaired, and Harry resolved at once to go down the harbour and fix on a look-out place whence a signal could be made to any ship approaching the southern end of the island. A flagstaff had been constructed out of the spars of the launch, and some of the straightest trees which could be found. The boatswain had rigged it completely, so that it was ready at once to set up. w.i.l.l.y and Peter laughed heartily when they saw the flag which had been formed. It consisted of two boats' ensigns, increased in size by a petticoat and part of a seaman's shirt.

"If its materials can be distinguished, it will tell pretty plainly the character of our party," remarked Harry.

Harry took the boatswain, with Peter and w.i.l.l.y and four other seamen, one of whom was Paul Lizard, and another Tom Wall. As the excursion might prove a long one, and as in that uncertain climate they might be detained by bad weather, they carried provisions for a couple of days, hoping, should they be kept out longer, to be able to kill some seals or wild-fowl for their support. The rest of the party were to search for roots and berries, from the latter of which Mrs Rumbelow announced that she could make an excellent preserve, could sugar be manufactured. The doctor promised to exert his scientific knowledge to the best of his power for the public good.

The wind being light, Harry and his party had to keep close in-sh.o.r.e, to avoid the tide which was still running up the harbour. Just as they got off the bay, where Paul and Tom had the adventure with the old sea-lion, several seals were seen swimming about, apparently fishing, darting rapidly to and fro in various directions in chase of their prey.

Presently there was a great commotion in the water ahead, and two huge animals appeared struggling together. "Why, they are fighting," cried w.i.l.l.y. "What tremendous digs they give into each other's necks with their sharp tusks."

One was a tiger and the other a black seal. Now they separated, now they dashed at each other, just like savage dogs, not uttering the slightest sound all the time. Now they sank below the surface, now rose again, tearing away at each other as before.

"I shouldn't be surprised that one of them was the big fellow you called Tippo Sahib, who attacked you the other day, Paul," said w.i.l.l.y.

"May be, sir," answered Lizard. "But see, there's another on the rocks.

That's master Tippo, I suspect. He looks as if he was watching for us, and I shouldn't be surprised if he was to give chase."

w.i.l.l.y laughed at the notion; but directly afterwards the old lion plunged into the water, and his snout was seen within a few seconds rising close to the oars. Harry ordered the men to pull on, as he did not wish to expend any shot on the animal. Tippo, however, seizing the blade of Paul's oar, held it so tightly that he nearly hauled it out of his hands. Not till he had received several blows on the nose from the other oars would he let go.

"Why, he has nearly bitten my oar in two," cried Paul.

"Better that than your leg," observed w.i.l.l.y.

"That's Tippo; I have no doubt about him," cried Paul. "He means mischief."

The sea-lion, however, was kept at bay by the oars, while the boatswain stood up in the stern with a club, ready to give him a blow should he come nearer. After swimming round the boat for some time, he seemed to consider that he could gain nothing by a battle with the four-legged strange creature, as he doubtless considered the boat, and so leisurely swam back to the rocks he had left, up which he scrambled, and sat watching the cutter as she continued her course along the sh.o.r.e.

A breeze at last sprang up, and sail being set she ran down to the mouth of the harbour. On the northern sh.o.r.e, near the eastern entrance, was a point rising for a hundred feet or more above the water. Here the party landed, and Harry and the boatswain agreed that it was the best station on which their flagstaff could be planted. From its summit they could look over the whole of the southern island; while the flag would be visible far out at sea, beyond the western entrance of the harbour. The flagstaff was accordingly landed, and as all hands were required to set it up, and the boat could not be left alone, she was hauled up on the beach. But as they had only wooden spades to work with, some time was occupied in digging the hole in which to plant the flagstaff. It was at length got up, and stayed by four shrouds. The flag was hoisted and flew out to the breeze.

"That will show that some one is not far off," observed Mr Bollard.

"But should a vessel send her boat on sh.o.r.e, the people may not know where to find us."

"I have been thinking of that," said Harry, "and will leave a bottle with a paper in it directing them to the settlement."

"But if another gale was to spring up, and there is every chance of that, the flag might be blown to pieces, or the flagstaff itself carried away," observed the boatswain. "If you think fit, therefore, Mr Shafto, I'll remain here with one or two of the men; and, depend on it, we will keep a bright look-out for pa.s.sing vessels, so that we need only hoist our flag should one come near enough to see it."

"We can ill spare you at the camp, Bollard," said Harry; "and if you remain here you will require shelter and food. This hill is a bleak place, and if we could not get to you with a supply of provisions, you would run the risk of starving."

"As to shelter, we have our axes, and we might easily put up a hut; and for the matter of food, if we are hard-pressed, we can make our way overland to the settlement; it cannot be much more than five or six miles."

As the boatswain was so anxious to remain, Harry at last consented to his proposal.

"We must put you up a hut, however, before we return to the settlement,"

he observed; "and after we have had dinner we will set to work about it."

There was a wood at some little distance; and, as soon as the meal was over, all hands repaired there to cut timber for the proposed hut. They worked away very hard, Harry and the midshipmen labouring as well as the rest. As soon as several trees were felled, Harry, leaving Bollard and two of the men to cut more, with the rest of the party carried them up the hill. They had then to dig the foundation of the hut. While this was doing, w.i.l.l.y and Peter collected a supply of gra.s.s from the hillside.

So busily were they all employed that evening arrived before they thought the day was half spent. Dark clouds had been gathering, and the wind increasing, and they had the prospect of a stormy night. The hut, however, was roofed in, and they were able to take shelter from the torrents of rain which now came down. Fuel having been collected, they lighted a fire in the front of the hut, but the wind blew the flames about so furiously that there was a risk of the walls, and a still greater one of the roof, catching fire. No one, therefore, ventured to go to sleep; indeed, there was not room for all the party to stretch their legs.