Part 19 (1/2)

While they remained in the neighbourhood Paul, however, could not help looking round every now and then, expecting to see Tippo Sahib charging out of the wood towards him.

On returning to the sh.o.r.e, they found young Broke by the side of the cows. ”Look here,” he exclaimed, ”the creatures have got first-rate milk. If I had a bowl now, I might carry some for little Bessy. I should not be surprised but what it would set her all to rights.”

”Well, then, boy, you run back and get the women to give you a couple of cans, and tell four or five of the men to come along and take the seals'

flesh to the village, while we three remain here fis.h.i.+ng.”

Young Broke ran off in high glee; and as the Miss Morleys came out of their cottage in the morning, he appeared with a bowl of fresh milk in his hands.

”Where have you got that, my boy?” asked f.a.n.n.y.

”Please, miss, we killed some cows this morning, and I have brought it for little Bessy,” answered the boy.

”Some cows!” exclaimed Mrs Twopenny, who had just joined her friends.

”I had no idea there were any on the island. And could the men have been so foolish as to kill them?”

”They are not real cows, please, marm,” answered young Broke, ”but those fish sort of creatures. The doctor has tasted the milk, and he says it is much better than goats' milk, and will do the little girl a great deal of good. There's more than she can want, and I hope that you ladies will take the rest. I must be off again, because I have to bring some fish for Mrs Rumbelow to cook for your breakfast.”

Without waiting to receive the thanks of the ladies, the lad hurried away.

Mrs Rumbelow boiled some of the seals' milk, of which there was a good supply, with sugar, in order to preserve it. So beneficial was its effect on the children, with the a.s.sistance of the fish, that the doctor was now able to commence his proposed exploring expedition. He and Captain Twopenny, carrying their guns, set out at daybreak the next morning, accompanied by w.i.l.l.y and Peter, with axes in their belts, and Tom Wall and d.i.c.k Sharp, the two latter taking their clubs to do battle with any seals they might encounter. The doctor had also a wooden spade with a sharp point which he had manufactured, and carried like a sword by a belt round his waist. w.i.l.l.y had a similar implement, which he had made after the doctor's model.

”If I mistake not, Dicey, we shall find our tools of as much value as our guns,” observed the doctor. ”By their means we may discover the treasures hidden beneath the soil, and which we can at all times obtain; whereas the birds may fly away, and the beasts, if any exist besides seals, may not always be found.”

The explorers soon began to climb the steep sides of a mountain which rose beyond the harbour. ”Why, surely this country must be inhabited,”

exclaimed w.i.l.l.y, as they got into a pathway which led up the mountain.

”It is very evident that such is the case, but we have already made acquaintance with the inhabitants,” said the doctor. ”This is a seals'-track; and, see, there are others leading up from the water. The creatures are fond of travelling inland, though I should not have supposed they would have made their way up the mountains.”

They followed the track for a considerable distance, and still it continued, till they calculated that they were at least four miles from the sh.o.r.e. They were struck by the evergreen appearance of the trees and the herbage generally. Some of the trees were in blossom.

”Here, here,” cried w.i.l.l.y. ”Look at these red berries. They seem quite ripe, and I saw several birds perched on the tree eating them.”

The doctor hastened up, and nibbled one of the berries in a cautious manner, to ascertain its nature.

”Ah, yes, a subacid flavour; they are wholesome, I should think. Peter, just eat a handful, and we will judge whether or not they are poisonous.”

”But suppose they prove the latter?” asked Peter.

”Why, then you will have the honour of suffering for the benefit of science,” answered the doctor, laughing. ”But you need not be alarmed; I will set you an example.”

The doctor tasted another berry. Peter then ate nearly a handful, acknowledging that, though the flavour was pleasant, they were very acid.

”We will mark the spot,” said the doctor, ”and on our way back carry a load down to Mrs Rumbelow to preserve.”

”But where is the sugar to come from, doctor?” asked w.i.l.l.y; ”we have but a small stock remaining.”

”Perhaps we may find some on our journey,” said the doctor. ”Numerous roots possess saccharine qualities, and from the flavour of one I dug up just now I have hopes that we may manufacture sugar from it. At all events, it will form a valuable addition to our daily fare. What do you think of this?” The doctor produced a good-sized root, which resembled, on being cut open, something between a potato and a turnip, but of rather a drier character than either. ”This will serve us for bread, if we cannot find anything better;” and the doctor tasted it two or three times.

”Yes, there is an abundance of saccharine in it,” he observed, ”and I have little doubt also that we can manufacture beer from it, which will suit the tastes of the men better than cold water, and serve instead of tea for all of us when our store runs short. If we find nothing else during our expedition, we should be well satisfied. But remember that, however insignificant a plant may look, we should examine it thoroughly to ascertain its character.”