Part 23 (1/2)
”That I will, with all my heart, though I don't think that Mr Fraser and the other gentlemen are likely to allow themselves to be taken by surprise, or to neglect putting the officers on their guard.”
”They can't protect us; and the men, if they find themselves even suspected, will certainly think that we informed on them.”
Whenever we had the opportunity, Mark and I discussed our plans for escaping. As far as we could judge, the officers and pa.s.sengers were at their ease, and didn't act as if they thought any mutiny would occur.
As the weather was now getting cold, the pa.s.sengers had an excuse for coming on deck in their cloaks; and one day, when Mr Fraser's blew aside, I observed that he had a brace of pistols in his belt. They also brought their rifles on deck, and amused themselves by firing at pa.s.sing birds, sometimes at porpoises, sharks, and other monsters of the deep who showed their backs above water. I guessed at last, by the looks of the men, that they saw that the pa.s.sengers were on their guard. Even the third mate didn't come forward as he had been accustomed to do; and at night, what was very unusual, there were two officers on deck at a time. We had now contrary winds and thick weather, which greatly delayed us for several days. No observations were taken.
One morning land was discovered on the weather bow, which, the captain said, was the coast of South America, and he carefully kept along sh.o.r.e in order to pa.s.s between the Falkland Islands and the main land; but at noon, when a meridian observation had been obtained, he found that what he had at first supposed to be the main land was in reality the Falkland Islands. We had for many days been sailing entirely by dead reckoning, while the current had set us out of our course. As we had not taken a full supply of water on board at Rio, and, owing to the bursting of the b.u.t.t, which had frightened me so much, we had less on board than usual, the captain steered for one of the islands, where he knew that it could be obtained.
We came to an anchor about half a mile from the sh.o.r.e just at sunset.
As it would take the crew the whole day to get water, which had to be rolled down in small casks to the beach and brought on board, the pa.s.sengers expressed their intention of making a shooting excursion on sh.o.r.e to kill some wild cattle--of which there are numbers in the island--or any other animals or birds they might fall in with. As the captain had no objection to having a supply of beef without cost to himself, he agreed to let them have a boat the next morning to take them on sh.o.r.e. They asked for one or two of the men to carry the meat. The captain said that they could not be spared, but finally told them that they could take Mark and me, as we were of little use on board.
”Now,” whispered Mark, ”is our opportunity. If there are cattle, we shall have some meat to live on; and I propose that we hide ourselves away, so that when the gentlemen return on board we shall be missing.”
The captain, we were sure, would not take the trouble to look for us. I agreed, provided that from the appearance of the island we should have the chance of obtaining food and shelter; if not, we might die of starvation, and it would be better to endure our miseries, and the danger we ran of our lives, for a short time longer than to do that.
”Well, as to that we must see about it,” answered Mark.
Soon after, our watch being over, we turned into our respective bunks.
I didn't feel altogether comfortable, not knowing what the men might do to us. For some time I lay awake, for I wanted to be on the watch, lest any trick should be attempted, but at length dropped off to sleep. As we were in harbour, only an anchor watch was kept, and I was allowed to have my night's rest out, from which I rose fresh and ready for anything some time before daybreak. Mark, who had gone aft to call the gentlemen, returned with an order for me to get ready to go in the boat.
Sufficient provisions for the party were put into the boat; and the gentlemen, taking their rifles and pistols with them, and with their swords at their sides, we shoved off, the boat being partly laden with empty water-casks. As there was not room for Mark and me forward, we sat aft with the gentlemen, when Mr Fraser talked in a friendly way to Mark and me. I saw the men eyeing us savagely at this; and I thought to myself at the moment, ”Those villains suspect that we have had something to do in putting the gentlemen on their guard.” I answered Mr Fraser, however, and he went on talking to me. We landed not far from where the casks were to be filled with water. The gentlemen then, taking their guns, divided the provisions between themselves and us, and we set off towards the interior of the island, where we hoped to meet with the wild cattle. There was nothing attractive in its appearance. Here and there were low scrubby woods, and the country generally was covered with thick patches of tussack gra.s.s, which, at a distance, gave it the appearance of being green and fertile. Between the patches, the soil was dry and sandy, so that it cost us much fatigue to make our way over it.
We had seen plenty of wild cattle, but the gentlemen had not yet succeeded in killing any. They winded us on all occasions on our approach, and scampered off beyond the limit of rifle range. At last the gentlemen agreed to separate by going in small parties, and thus hoped to get nearer to the creatures. Mr Fraser invited Mark to go with him, and Mr McTavish took me; the other two gentlemen went together. Before starting they deposited their provisions inside of a hollow in a high bank, which, from its position, was easily to be found, and they agreed to return to dinner. If any one of the party killed an animal, he was to summon the rest to carry the meat. The object of the gentlemen was to kill as many animals as they could; for, as the weather was cool, it was hoped that the meat would last until we were well round Cape Horn. The island was of good size, but still there did not appear to be much risk of our losing our way. Mr Fraser, who was the most active of the party, said that he should go to the further end of the island and work his way back; that he was determined to kill some birds, if he couldn't knock over a cow.
”Remember,” whispered Mark to me, ”that I shall slip away; and you do the same, and come and join me.”
To this I agreed. Mr McTavish and I went away to the right. We had been looking out for cattle for some time when we heard two shots, and from the top of a hill we saw the two other gentlemen, standing by a couple of cattle they had shot.
”Come, d.i.c.k,” said Mr McTavish; ”though we cannot boast of killing a beast ourselves, we must go and help them.”
I thought that this would be a good opportunity to escape, and while he went down one side of the hill I proposed running down the other. I was just going when he caught sight of me.
”Hillo, youngster, where are you going to?” he cried out; and he came after me evidently with no intention of letting me escape. On getting up with me, he inquired, ”What made you try to run off? Come, tell me as we go along.” He spoke very kindly.
At last I confessed that I had determined to run away from the s.h.i.+p in consequence of the ill-treatment I had received.
”You would have been starved to death in the midst of plenty,” he said in a kind tone. ”Had the island been fertile, and you could have supported yourself, I, for one, would never have hindered you, for I have observed the way the officers and men behave to you. But for the future I think we can prevent that. I have a notion that we owe our lives to you and your messmate, and we're grateful to you for it; so come along, and don't again attempt to run away.”
He spoke so kindly that at last I promised to follow his advice, hoping that Mr Fraser would also have prevented Mark from hiding himself, and would induce him to come back likewise. The gentlemen fired several shots to attract Mr Fraser's attention, but none were heard in return.
They, in the meantime, cut up the animals and loaded themselves with as much as they could stagger under. The rest they covered up closely with the hides so as to keep the flies off, proposing to send some of the men for it. With our loads we returned to the place where we had left our dinner. As we were all very hungry we didn't wait for Mr Fraser, but set to at once, expecting that he and Mark would appear before we had finished. We waited, however, for some time, the gentlemen lighting their pipes to enjoy a smoke.
”I'm afraid that young companion of yours has bolted, and that Fraser is delayed by looking for him,” observed Mr McTavish. ”We can't delay much longer if we're to save the flesh,” said Mr McDonald. ”Fraser knows what he's about; he will easily make his way down to the beach by the landing-place in the morning, and we must send a boat on sh.o.r.e for him.” As the day was advancing the others agreed to this proposal; and, leaving the remainder of our provisions for Mr Fraser and Mark, we set off. It was almost dark as we approached the harbour, and I began to fear that the crew would have taken the opportunity of attacking the officers--perhaps would have got the s.h.i.+p under weigh, and left us to our fate. I didn't, however, mention my fears to any one. I was greatly relieved when I made out through the gloom the s.h.i.+p at anchor, and soon after, the boat close to the beach.
Old Growles answered Mr McDonald's hail. I observed that my companions had examined their pistols and reloaded their rifles, so that they would be on their guard should any treachery be attempted.
On arriving on board, the captain received the gentlemen in a somewhat surly way, and inquired why Mr Fraser had not returned.
Mr McDonald replied, that we had waited for him, and that he had not appeared; but they expected that he would turn up on the beach on the following morning; if not, they proposed going in search of him.
”There won't be time for that,” said Captain Longfleet. ”We have got all the water we require on board to-night. If pa.s.sengers choose to go on sh.o.r.e and not return at the time they are told to do, they must take the consequences.”