Part 12 (2/2)
The boats were soon alongside each other. Tom said that as soon as he could procure a boat he had shoved off, and that Archy Gordon had done the same--he was at no great distance in another boat.
”You don't expect to find her hereabouts,” said Mr Scrofton. ”She will have been carried according to my calculation, four or it may be five miles more to the southward by this time, and it will take us the best part of an hour before we are up to her. My plan is to run down that distance, or more than that, and then to beat back. It's better to go rather beyond her than a little short, and if she is still floating we shall fall in with her.”
Tom saw the wisdom of this plan, and the two boats stood on in company, a bright look-out being kept on either side. They had run on for some time when Tom thought that they must have gone far enough, but the boatswain persevered. Tom's boat being manned by blacks he had nothing to do but look out. Fully half-an-hour had pa.s.sed, when he thought he saw an object ahead. He hailed Mr Scrofton's boat.
”All right!” was the answer, ”I see her.”
”Let go the halyards,” cried the boatswain, and the sails were lowered, but as they approached great was Tom's sorrow to see only five people clinging to the boat. Mr Houghton and Lieutenant Jennings were among them, but he could not distinguish Gerald Desmond.
”Poor fellow, he must have gone,” he murmured.
”Where are the rest?” asked Mr Scrofton, as the boat ran alongside, and eager hands were stretched out to lift the sufferers on board, for they could with difficulty help themselves. ”We are glad to see you, though.”
”They had not left us five minutes before we saw you,” answered Mr Jennings; ”they cannot as yet be many hundred yards off.”
Tom immediately pulled away towards the sh.o.r.e in the direction the swimmers must have taken. He knew that though the time was short they might have all sunk, or that the ravenous sharks might have got hold of them. Nothing but despair, indeed, would have induced them to make the attempt.
Great was his relief on seeing at length four heads above the surface, with their faces directed landward. So intent were they, indeed, that they were not aware of his approach. Each one had lashed himself to an oar with the faint hope, though they had but little notion, of swimming, of gaining the sh.o.r.e. Tom's shout was the first intimation they had of his escape, for they all had given him and Archy up as lost.
Desmond was the first helped on board, and great was their delight at meeting. Highly satisfied with the success of his expedition, Mr Scrofton received all the party on board, promising the blacks in the sh.o.r.e-boat a further reward if they would tow the pinnace towards the sh.o.r.e. He then, with the rescued party, made the best of his way back to the s.h.i.+p, happily soon afterwards falling in with Archy Gordon; whose boat, while he was taken on board, was sent to a.s.sist the other sh.o.r.e-boat.
Captain Hemming, who felt very anxious on their account, was too glad to get them back to find fault. Tom and Archy received the praise which was their due for their gallant act, while Mr Scrofton was properly complimented by the captain for his sagacity and judgment, and the mids.h.i.+pmen resolved never more to attempt to quiz him about his philosophical notions.
Jack and Terence did not get back till daylight, when they found that Tom and Gerald had been snug in their hammocks for several hours. They felt somewhat inclined to quarrel with them for the trouble they had given, though in reality heartily thankful that they had escaped.
CHAPTER SIX.
THE CRUISE OF THE DROGHER--BARBUDA FIELD-SPORTS--HOSPITABLY ENTERTAINED--SAIL AGAIN--CAPTAIN QUASHO--A DRUNKEN CREW--REACH SABA--THE ISLAND EXPLORED--THE BLACK CREW TAKE FRENCH LEAVE--HIGSON AND OTHERS GO IN SEARCH OF THEM--THE THREE MIDs.h.i.+PMEN AND NEEDHAM DRIVEN OFF THE LAND BY A HURRICANE--THE DROGHER DISAPPEARS IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT.
Although all the gunroom officers who could get leave were anxious to go to the ball, old Higson, who was not a dancing man, and some of the youngsters from both s.h.i.+ps declared that it would be a great bore.
Notwithstanding the fearful danger so many of them had lately escaped, they took it into their heads that it would be far pleasanter to make a trip somewhere by sea. After due discussion they hired a drogher, a country vessel employed in running between the surrounding islands and islets. She was sloop-rigged, of about thirty tons, with a small cabin aft, a capacious hold, and a forecastle for the black crew--honest fellows, but not pleasant neighbours in a close atmosphere. Higson went in command. Tom, and Gerald, and Norris, with Archy Gordon, and another mids.h.i.+pman, and a master's-a.s.sistant from the corvette, with d.i.c.k Needham, formed the party, including, of course, Master Spider, who was taken to make fun. The mids also had their doubts as to the treatment he might receive from Mr Scrofton during their absence.
It was settled that they should first steer for Barbuda, where snipes were to be shot, fish caught, and deer hunted, and that then, wind and weather permitting, they should visit other islands in the neighbourhood. Provisions enough to last them twice the time they were likely to be away were s.h.i.+pped, and liquors in proportion. They fully expected to enjoy themselves amazingly.
After beating out of the harbour, and rounding the east end of the island, under the pilotage of the regular skipper, Captain Quasho, they had a fair wind for Barbuda, where they arrived early in the day, and cast anchor in a small harbour. They were cordially received by the overseer, who happened to be close at hand, and who, with one a.s.sistant, const.i.tuted the white population of the island. He gave them leave to kill as many birds as they could hit, promised them horses to ride in chase of deer, and, what was more to the purpose, invited them to dinner at his residence, the castle, an ancient fortalice on the sh.o.r.es of a lagoon some distance off. They agreed to shoot till the arrival of the steeds, which the overseer rode back to order.
After a considerable expenditure of powder to little purpose, for Tom, the best shot among them, had only killed one snipe, a troop of horses, led by several black cavaliers, dressed in leathern caps and high hoots, with belts round their waists, and duck-guns slung over their shoulders, and followed by a pack of hounds, made their appearance. Their leader announced that they were the huntsmen, and invited the officers to mount the steeds they had brought. Tom inspected the horses with no favourable eye. They were sorry animals, but the rest of the party were not particular, and all were soon mounted. As to going, that was another thing--four miles an hour was the utmost their riders were likely to get out of them. The mids.h.i.+pmen kicked their heels with might and main, and whacked the poor beasts' backs till their arms ached, but not a foot faster would they move.
”I say, Sambo, how shall we ever run down the deer with these brutes?”
asked Higson, perspiring at every pore from his exertions. The black huntsman grinned at the notion of overtaking the deer.
”No, no, ma.s.sa, we get round dem, and shoot with guns. Surer way to kill dem.”
”At all events let's go and see the style of sport,” said Higson, and the party set forward. The island is mostly flat, and so covered with high bushes that they could see neither to the right hand nor to the left. They reached a forest of considerable extent, when, after some time, the dogs started a deer, which Sambo's huge duck-gun, loaded with slugs, brought to the ground. Scarcely was the venison bagged than down came such torrents of rain that the party were speedily wet to the skin, and were glad to make the best of their way towards the castle, keeping close together not to lose each other. The wardrobe of their host furnished them with dry clothing--the elders with s.h.i.+rts and trousers, the younger having to dispense with the latter garments, and in somewhat masquerading guise her Majesty's officers sat down to a sumptuous repast of turtle and venison, several varieties of fish, and land-crabs of exquisite flavour. Bottled beer and wine in abundance made them all very jolly, but there was a drawback. Flights of mosquitoes came buzzing and biting them, unmercifully revelling in the youngster's fresh blood, till some oak.u.m set on fire, with fresh leaves thrown on it, put the miscreant insects to the rout. Cigars and pipes were produced, and the mids.h.i.+pmen thought not of troubles, past or future. Sofas and chairs served them for couches. Old Higson sat up l.u.s.tily puffing away at his pipe, and thereby escaped the countless punctures and furious itching, of which every one else complained when they got up in the morning. After breakfast their host sent them across the lagoon in two clumsy fis.h.i.+ng-boats to see a seine drawn.
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