The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader Part 27

THE "YOUNG CRUSADER" SAILS--VOYAGE ALONG THE COAST--A STORM--SCHOONER PUTS INTO HARBOUR--FATE OF THE MUTINEERS--THE "YOUNG CRUSADER" PROCEEDS ON HER VOYAGE--STORMY Pa.s.sAGE--NEW ZEALAND SIGHTED--ENTERS A BEAUTIFUL HARBOUR--HOSTILE APPEARANCE OF NATIVES--MR PAGET ADVISES FLIGHT--THE SCHOONER MAKES SAIL--ESCAPING FROM THE HARBOUR--PURSUED BY CANOES-- MAN-OF-WAR APPEARS--THE CANOES GIVE UP CHASE--ON BOARD THE "RANGER"-- GOOD NEWS FOR THE SETTLEMENT--HOW THE "RANGER" WAS SAVED--RETURN TO THE AUCKLANDS--ALL SAFE ON BOARD "RANGER"--HARRY OBTAINS HIS REWARD--OUR FRIENDS SETTLE IN NEW ZEALAND--CONCLUSION.

The whole of the little community, men, women, and children, collected on the sh.o.r.e of the bay to witness the "Young Crusader" take her departure. Loud cheers burst from their throats as the anchor was tripped, the sails set, and with a fine westerly breeze she glided down the harbour.

Emily and May, with Mrs Clagget, stood at the stern, waving their handkerchiefs, the Miss Morleys returning the salute with tears in their eyes, for they could not help thinking of the dangers to which their friends would be exposed on board the little vessel.

"Good-bye, kind friends, good-bye," cried Mrs Clagget. "We will send you relief; don't be afraid. It won't be our fault if your condition is not made known." She continued, at the top of her voice, uttering these and similar expressions long after it could possibly have been heard by those on sh.o.r.e.

Flagstaff-hill was rounded, and they could look into the small harbour where the schooner had been built. On its sh.o.r.es stood the huts they had occupied, with the reef before them, on which a small remnant of the wreck was still visible. They soon reached the mouth of the sound, the wind enabling them to haul up and stand to the northward, parallel with the coast. They had, however, to keep some distance from it, to avoid the reef which ran out from the sh.o.r.e.

The little schooner had nearly reached the north end of the island when the fickle wind changed, and a heavy gale right ahead sprang up. Though the "Young Crusader" behaved well, the captain was unwilling to expose her, with so many people on board, to its fury; and the mouth of a harbour being clearly made out, he determined to run in and take shelter till the wind had abated. After running up some way, the schooner came to an anchor in a small cove, where the captain hoped she might lie in perfect security. Darkness came on soon afterwards, the sails were furled, and all was made snug.

Though disappointed at being delayed on their pa.s.sage, those on board, as they heard the wind howling above their heads, and the sea roaring in the distance, were thankful that they were safe from the fury of the tempest.

The usual watch was set, and most of the pa.s.sengers retired to their narrow berths. The ladies had a small cabin aft, in which Mrs Clagget declared that there was scarcely room to allow her to move her tongue, an observation which brought a smile on the countenances of her companions.

w.i.l.l.y was walking the deck with Bill Windy, with whom he had become very friendly, when he caught sight of a dark object moving towards the vessel. "There is a boat," he exclaimed; "where can she come from?"

"She is the cutter, depend on it, which those scoundrels ran away with,"

answered Windy. "They may mean mischief. Call the captain and the watch below; it's as well to be prepared for them."

Captain Westerway and all hands were quickly on deck. The boat approached cautiously, as if those in her were doubtful whether or not they were perceived. At length she came alongside. The schooner's crew stood ready for an attack, and it was then seen that she contained but three people.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" asked Bill Windy.

"Oh, take us on board and give us some food," answered a voice. "We are dying of hunger."

"Make fast the boat and lend them a hand," said Captain Westerway, and the three men were helped up the schooner's side.

They were found to be two of the emigrants and one of the seamen who had mutinied. They appeared thoroughly humbled and wretched. As soon as they had taken a little food, they gave an account of their sufferings.

They stated that they were themselves the only survivors of the party-- two having fallen down precipices, one having been killed by a seal which he incautiously approached, another having been drowned when scrambling out on the rocks in search of mussels, and the rest having died of starvation. Job Mawson, they declared, had been their ringleader. They had last seen him lying in a sinking state in the woods.

Although the vessel had already as many on board as could be accommodated, the captain humanely received them, and the next morning the cutter was sent on sh.o.r.e to be hauled up on the beach, as she was too large either to tow or to be taken on board.

The patience of the pa.s.sengers was greatly tried; but at length, after a detention of three days, the weather moderating, the "Young Crusader"

again put to sea. Still she was doomed to experience contrary winds.

Provisions were running short, and all hands, with the exception of the ladies, were put on short allowance. Day after day they beat backwards and forwards, the captain being anxious, if possible, to make the entrance of Cook's Straits, should he be unable to reach the more northern settlement of Auckland. At that time the natives of many parts of New Zealand were in open hostility with the settlers, and he was therefore unwilling to run the risk of landing on any other part of the coast.

The stormy weather still continued, but at length a slant of wind from the westward enabled the schooner to lay her course. Water and provisions were running fearfully short, and her pa.s.sengers and crew were already beginning to feel the effects of their scanty fare. Many anxious eyes kept a lookout for land. The thick weather had prevented an observation from being taken for three days. w.i.l.l.y had the morning watch with Bill Windy. As the day broke, and the sun, rapidly rising above the horizon, shed its beams across the foaming sea, they lighted up the snowy summits of a range of mountains. "Land! land!" he shouted.

"You are right, Mr Dicey; but I am afraid it's a long way from Auckland," observed Bill Windy.

The deck was soon crowded with eager spectators. As the sun rose higher, and the little vessel sailed onwards, the intermediate lower sh.o.r.e could clearly be perceived. The vessel stood on till the mouth of a harbour of sufficient size to admit the schooner appeared ahead. Sail was shortened, that she might approach it cautiously, and a bright look-out kept ahead for sunken reefs. Captain Westerway was in hopes that, by going in, even though no settlers might be there, he would be enabled to obtain a supply of water, as well as wild-fowl or other birds, to support the people till some more hospitable place could be reached. The schooner, under easy sail, sounding as she went, entered the little harbour, and after making several tacks, brought up at no great distance from the sh.o.r.e. It was a lovely spot, and the eyes of all were gladdened by a sparkling stream which ran down the hillside.

The boat was lowered, the empty casks were put into her, and Charles Dicey, with two other gentlemen, carrying their fowling-pieces, went on sh.o.r.e.

How delicious was their first ample draught of water! A cask being filled, they sent back the boat with it to the ship while they filled the others. This done, they proceeded over the hills in search of game.

They had not gone far before they perceived, in a little cove that was not seen from the deck of the vessel, several large canoes drawn up on the beach.

"There must be natives in the neighbourhood, and we may probably obtain provisions from them," observed Charles. "Their village cannot be far off."

"What is that curious-looking stockade on the top of the hill?" asked Jack Ivyleaf.

"A native pah or fort," said Mr Paget. "We must approach it cautiously, for we cannot depend on the friendliness of the inhabitants.

See, there are several men gathering close outside. They have arms in their hands. Their numbers are increasing. Take my advice, and let us make the best of our way to the boat. They may attack us before we can explain that we have no hostile intentions."

As he spoke, the natives were seen running down the hill towards the canoes. Charles urging the party to follow Mr Paget's advice, they hastened to the place where they had landed. The boat had returned and taken on board several of the water-casks.

"Never mind the remainder," cried Mr Paget. "The water will be dearly purchased if we wait to allow these savages to overtake us. Shove off, shove off!"

Captain Westerway was on deck, surprised to see the boat coming back.

w.i.l.l.y was standing near him. They observed Mr Paget making signs to them. "He is telling us to get under way, sir," he observed.

"So I believe he is," exclaimed the captain. "Mr Windy, turn the hands up and make sail."

The people, who were below, jumped on deck, wondering what was the matter. The boat was quickly alongside; those in her leaped on board, and she was hoisted in.

"Shall we weigh the anchor?" asked Windy.

"Not if we wish to escape from the savages' canoes," said Mr Paget.

"Captain Westerway, these people are not to be trifled with."

"We will slip the cable, then," said the captain. "It is better to lose that than be cut off, as several vessels have been, by these people."

The headsails quickly filled, the wind blew out of the harbour; the after-sails were set, and the "Young Crusader" glided rapidly towards the ocean. As she got into the middle of the harbour, the cove in which the canoes lay opened out, and a large number of savages were seen in the act of launching them. They were soon afloat, and, filled with men, made chase after the schooner. Of their hostile intentions there could now be no longer any doubt. On they came, paddling at a rapid rate over the smooth surface of the water. All the sail the schooner could carry was set; but still it was too evident that the canoes, unless the wind freshened greatly, would overtake her. The few fire-arms on board the schooner would avail but little against the vastly superior numbers of the savages. The wind increased; still the canoes were gaining ground.

Had the captain waited to weigh the anchor, the "Young Crusader" would to a certainty have been captured; even now there appeared little probability of her escaping.

"The savages are gaining on us fearfully," observed w.i.l.l.y to his brother. "We shall have to fight for it; at all events, we may kill a few of the savages before we are taken."

"That would be but a small satisfaction," observed Charles. "I little expected such a termination to our adventures."

The breeze continued to freshen. Notwithstanding this, the schooner did not gain on the canoes.

"Captain Westerway," cried w.i.l.l.y, suddenly, "there is a sail to the northward."

"Yes, and she is standing this way," said the captain. "We will haul up for her. Starboard the helm, Windy. Get a pull at the fore and mainsheets."

The savages had probably not seen the stranger, or perhaps they wanted to overtake the schooner, before she could get within signalling distance. The ship was a large one, and under all sail. With the freshening breeze she came on rapidly. A shot was now fired from the leading canoe, another and another followed. The ladies who were on deck were hurried below. Loftus and Ivyleaf were about to discharge their fowling-pieces in return. "Don't fire, my friends," said Mr Paget. "It will be useless. Let us rather trust to the protection of Heaven. When the savages discover that yonder ship is a man-of-war, as I have no doubt they soon will, they will give up the pursuit."

In another minute his words proved true. The canoes were seen to stop, then to sweep round, and to paddle back again at full speed towards the land.

w.i.l.l.y intently watched the ship as she approached. He rubbed his eyes again and again. "What is the matter?" asked Charles, seeing him almost gasping for breath.

"Why, Charles," he exclaimed, "she is the 'Ranger.' Yes, I am as sure of it almost as I am of my own existence."

In a short time the "Young Crusader" was hove to, and the boat, with w.i.l.l.y and Peter Patch in her, was pulling towards the ship, which, it being seen that the schooner wished to speak her, was also brought to the wind. The two midshipmen quickly scrambled up the side. On the quarterdeck stood Commander Newcombe, with Mr Tobin, the first-lieutenant, and several of the other officers.

"Come on board," said w.i.l.l.y and Peter, going aft, and touching their hats.