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Mother Carey's Chicken: Her Voyage to the Unknown Isle, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 41. How There Was No Peace On The Beautiful Isle |
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_ CHAPTER FORTY ONE. HOW THERE WAS NO PEACE ON THE BEAUTIFUL ISLE Three months glided happily away, during which time there was no renewal of the earthquake, the lightning ceased to play about the cone of the beautiful mountain, and the roar from the lion's mouth, as Mark and Mary christened it, grew gradually less and less audible till it finally died away. It was a busy time, and seemed to pass like magic in that wonderful clime of sunshine, verdure, and brightly winged bird and insect. There were occasional showers, such as fall with terrible violence in the tropics, but the mornings after were so delicious that the rains were welcomed. There was shooting, and fishing, and fruit gathering, climbing for cocoa-nuts, work in abundance, which seemed almost like play; but the main task was the journey round to the ship to bring stores, of which there were ample, and to commence building a small sailing vessel, which would easily convey them all to Singapore. But this part of the daily work was the only one which was distasteful to the men. "You see, Mr Mark, sir, it's like this here," said Billy. "Me and my monkey's as happy here as the day's long, and so's my mates; for now, as Mr Morgan and Stowaway Jimpny and t'other chap's strong as horses again, what we says is this here, what call is there for us to want to get back to London town?" "Ah, what, indeed, Billy!" said Mark. "To smoke and fog and blacks, and black-beadles, and blackguards, and colds and coughs, and no sun never shining. Let's stop here, I says." "To be sure, Billy!" "I'm glad you think so, sir. Jack does, and so does old Bruff; and as for David Jimpny, 'Let me live and die here,' he says, 'for I didn't know as there was such places in the world.' But Mr Small says 'No,' he says, 'We've got to make that there boat,' he says, and he's a nigger-driving all day long. Blow the boat! I wish as it had never been begun, and the gig was burned." But the making of the boat progressed, and at the end of six months from their landing she was finished, fitted with stores, and lay in Crater Bay ready for the projected voyage. This readiness was welcome and unwelcome, for though the idea of getting back to civilisation was gladdening for some reasons, and the captain longed to give an account to the owners of the _Petrel_ of his misfortune, and to get a vessel and men from Singapore to try and save all possible of her lading, there was something painful in the idea of giving up their deliciously calm and peaceful life. "I shall never get such shooting again," said the major. "But duty, duty. 'Tention!" "It has been a pleasant life," said Morgan thoughtfully. "I don't think I could have recovered from that wound any where else so soon." "Yes, it's pleasant," said Mr Gregory, "but one can't study oneself. I've got a wife at home, who must think me dead." "And I have someone waiting who is to be my wife," said Morgan, "and she must think me dead." The men could not hear these words, or several of them could have spoken similarly; and somehow, in spite of the beauty of the place and the abundance, with the sun shining constantly, England mentally seen from a distance began to appear more and more attractive, and the time was coming when the place would be wearisome. One day, while they were still halting before making a start, the captain wishing to make a few more additions to their vessel and then take her on a trial trip before venturing with all on board so far, the signal for starting came in a very unexpected manner. David Jimpny, who had grown to be one of the strongest and healthiest looking of the men there, proved still to be one of the most useless as far as helping in matters nautical. But in anything relating to trips inland he was invaluable. There was so much of the vagabond spirit in him that he liked nothing better than being sent off inland to collect palm tops or shoots for cooking like vegetables. These he would get and bring into camp, and, what was more, try experiments on other promising things. He would come back hot and scratched, but generally with an eager look in his eyes as he had to announce the discovery of some fruit-tree of which there was an abundance, but almost invariably hidden in the depths of the jungle. Off these trees he would bring in a splendid supply of fruit of strange look, but often delicious quality, and nothing delighted Mark more than a journey to one or other of these sylvan stores. Upon this special day Mark had to take charge of the camp, for a rule was made never to leave the ladies entirely alone. The island, as far as they could make out, was uninhabited, the strange noises heard occasionally being invariably attributed to the volcano; but there was the possibility of danger coming from without, and it was considered advisable that someone should always stay to be on the watch. Mark had been wandering listlessly about for some time wishing he could fish, or shoot, or collect insects--though he might easily have done the latter, for an abundance of beautiful butterflies came from the forest to settle wherever the skins of fruit were thrown. But he wanted to be free, and it was tiresome, he thought, to be so useless and do nothing better than to idle about the camp and watch the cooking--a tantalising matter when you could not eat. It was getting toward afternoon when Bruff, who was with him, lying on the sand with his eyes shut and shaking his ears to keep out the flies, suddenly sprang up and uttered a low growl. "What is it, old boy?" cried Mark. Another growl, and a short snapping bark, which was answered by a chattering noise, told that the monkey was coming, and he appeared soon after followed by the stowaway. Something was evidently wrong, for the man was waving his hand wildly, and beckoning to him to come. Mark ran to meet him, to see, as he drew nearer, that Jimpny's face and hands were bleeding and his shirt hanging in strips from his shoulders, while his staring eyes and open mouth showed him to be suffering from excess of terror. "Why, David, what's the matter?" cried Mark as he ran up to him, the stowaway sinking down upon the sand unable to answer, and his breath coming and going with a hoarse roaring noise that was terrible. "Can't you speak?" cried Mark. "What is the matter?" The stowaway uttered a few words hoarsely, but nothing was comprehensible but "quick!" and "run." He pointed seaward, though in the direction opposite to that which the party had taken that morning on their way round to Crater Bay, a journey which familiarity had made appear now comparatively short. Mark looked in the direction in which he pointed, and could see the blue water of the lagoon, with to his left the long line of creamy surf and to his right the fringe of cocoa-nut trees just beyond the sand. Jimpny pointed again, and on once more looking searchingly Mark made out a flock of the beautiful long-tailed parroquets which haunted the island groves, but nothing more. "Have you seen anything--has anyone touched you? Oh, I say, David, do speak! What is the matter?" The stowaway made signs again and pointed, striving once more to rise, but sinking back from utter exhaustion. "Point, then, if you can't speak," cried Mark. "If the ladies see you like this they will be frightened to death." The man pointed again toward where a long low point ran out into the lagoon, fringed with luxuriant growth, but nothing more was visible. "There, I thought as much!" cried Mark as he saw his mother coming up, followed by Mrs O'Halloran, and Mary with them, the latter running on in advance. "What's the matter, Mark?" she cried as she came up--and then, "Oh, Mr Jimpny, how you have got scratched!" "There's nothing the matter, I think," said Mark laughing, for the stowaway's face was comical with terror. "I think David has seen another noise, or found a steam snake, like I did." "No, no," panted the stowaway. "Boats! pirates! coming!" "What! where?" cried Mark excitedly, as he looked in the direction pointed out; and as he did so Bruff set up the hair about his neck, and uttered a fierce and prolonged bark. For there, just coming into sight beyond the point, was one of the long, low, peculiar-looking boats which the Malays call praus, boats which have been famous for ages as the means by which the fierce tribesmen made their way from place to place, killing and destroying ship and town wherever plunder was to be had. "Down, Bruff! quiet, sir!" cried Mark. "Quick, every one! In amongst the trees!" Mrs Strong and the major's wife had hardly comprehended what was wrong before they were hurried in among the trees, Jimpny following, limping and still breathing hoarsely. "I was up--up the side of the mountain," he panted, "when I--I saw them coming. There's three boats." "Three!" cried Mark, peering out from among the trees; and as he looked it was to see one prau clear of the point, and another coming slowly out into view. "Do you think they saw us?" said Mary in a frightened whisper. "No; not they," said Mark. "They could not, unless they had telescopes and were watching; but ah! they'll see that. Come along, quick!" He led the way, taking upon himself the guidance of the little party in his charge, and together they hurried on through the trees to where the huts were erected among the trunks of the cocoa grove. "They could not see these places unless they landed," said Mark, looking sharply about him, "and there is no boat nor anything that would take their attention, only that." "Only what, my boy?" said Mrs Strong eagerly. "That," said Mark--"the fire. Jimpny, hold Bruff and don't let him come after me. Lie down, sir. Let no one else show outside the trees." "What are you going to do, Mark?" cried Mary. "Put out the fire," he said quickly. "It will betray where we are." He did not hesitate, but going down upon hands and knees crept down the sand toward where, in the midst of the coral rocks, the fire was burning in what they had called the kitchen. Fortunately it was clear and glowing, the smoke having given way to clear flame, but there was still a faint thread rising, and unless the Malays took it for steam from one of the hot springs they might land there to see, and if they did, though nothing was visible from a distance, the trampled sand and litter of the camp, as well as the tracks left by the keel of the boat, would show plainly enough that there were inhabitants in the isle. Those within shelter watched intently as Mark got over the intervening space and disappeared behind the rocks, where, using his hands as shovels, he rapidly threw on quantities of sand till the fire was completely smothered out, and the birds roasting for their dinners destroyed. This task accomplished, Mark crept back, satisfied that if seen by the Malays he would be taken for some animal, and as soon as he reached the shelter of the trees, rising upright and gazing between the trunks out to sea. The stowaway was right; there were three praus now visible, and Bruff was growling angrily, as if he recognised enemies in every long low boat. "What are you going to do?" said Mrs Strong. "Keep in hiding and let them pass?" "No," said Mark. "I must get round to Crater Bay and warn them there." "Yes," said Mrs Strong, "that is right." "How unfortunate that every one should have gone and left us this morning!" said the major's wife. Mark hesitated for a moment as if making his plans. "I can't leave you all and go," he said at last. "You must come with me. It will be a long hot walk; but you must come." "I'm afraid the pirates have been round there, Mr Mark," said the stowaway hoarsely. "No, no," cried Mrs Strong. "Which, begging your pardon, ma'am, they seemed to come from that way as if they'd been round there." "You've no business to say that," cried Mark excitedly. "It is only guesswork, mother--Mrs O'Halloran. Come along, and keep well in among the trees. Bruff, to heel, sir! You, Jimpny, lead the monkey." "Yes, Mr Mark, sir; but hadn't I better get a gun?" "Yes, of course," cried Mark eagerly, and together they ran into the officers' quarters, to come forth again, armed to the teeth, to where the ladies were waiting on the sand. "Where is Mrs O'Halloran?" cried Mark, for she had disappeared. "She ran into the hut," said his mother. As the captain's wife spoke Mrs O'Halloran reappeared, laden with a bag and a couple of bottles. "You must help me carry all this," she said. "We may be obliged to take to the jungle, and this will keep us from starving." Mark saw the wisdom of the proceeding, and the load was shared as they went on through the loose sand, the lad's heart sinking at the thought of Jimpny's words, and he wondered what would be the result if it should prove to be true that the pirates had landed and attacked the party in Crater Bay. He kept his thoughts to himself as he pressed on through the loose sand, giving an occasional glance through the trees to see what course the Malays were pursuing, and seeing clearly that their vessels were coming steadily along, evidently with a pleasant wind, while among the trees there was not a breath of air, and as they tramped on through the loose sand he could see that his companions were beginning to suffer. There was nothing to be done, however, but to keep on and try to get round to Crater Bay. The stowaway began once about it being impossible that day, and Mark felt that it would be a tremendous task; but even if they did not, there was the prospect of their getting on past several of the points and well out of the sight of the Malays, so that if they only got far enough to encounter the boat returning to camp they could warn the occupants and then take to the woods. Mark explained all this to comfort his companions as they tramped wearily on, and he had been successful in his efforts, giving comfort to his own mind as well, when it was swept away at a stroke, for Jimpny crept close up to him and laid his hand upon his arm. "I say, Mr Mark, sir," he said in a whisper, "do you expect to meet them all as they comes back?" "Yes." "But Billy Widgeon told me this morning when they started as they was coming back t'other way." _ |
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