Part 21 (2/2)

The cutter had been thoroughly repaired, and Harry resolved at once to go down the harbour and fix on a look-out place whence a signal could be made to any s.h.i.+p approaching the southern end of the island. A flagstaff had been constructed out of the spars of the launch, and some of the straightest trees which could be found. The boatswain had rigged it completely, so that it was ready at once to set up. w.i.l.l.y and Peter laughed heartily when they saw the flag which had been formed. It consisted of two boats' ensigns, increased in size by a petticoat and part of a seaman's s.h.i.+rt.

”If its materials can be distinguished, it will tell pretty plainly the character of our party,” remarked Harry.

Harry took the boatswain, with Peter and w.i.l.l.y and four other seamen, one of whom was Paul Lizard, and another Tom Wall. As the excursion might prove a long one, and as in that uncertain climate they might be detained by bad weather, they carried provisions for a couple of days, hoping, should they be kept out longer, to be able to kill some seals or wild-fowl for their support. The rest of the party were to search for roots and berries, from the latter of which Mrs Rumbelow announced that she could make an excellent preserve, could sugar be manufactured. The doctor promised to exert his scientific knowledge to the best of his power for the public good.

The wind being light, Harry and his party had to keep close in-sh.o.r.e, to avoid the tide which was still running up the harbour. Just as they got off the bay, where Paul and Tom had the adventure with the old sea-lion, several seals were seen swimming about, apparently fis.h.i.+ng, darting rapidly to and fro in various directions in chase of their prey.

Presently there was a great commotion in the water ahead, and two huge animals appeared struggling together. ”Why, they are fighting,” cried w.i.l.l.y. ”What tremendous digs they give into each other's necks with their sharp tusks.”

One was a tiger and the other a black seal. Now they separated, now they dashed at each other, just like savage dogs, not uttering the slightest sound all the time. Now they sank below the surface, now rose again, tearing away at each other as before.

”I shouldn't be surprised that one of them was the big fellow you called Tippo Sahib, who attacked you the other day, Paul,” said w.i.l.l.y.

”May be, sir,” answered Lizard. ”But see, there's another on the rocks.

That's master Tippo, I suspect. He looks as if he was watching for us, and I shouldn't be surprised if he was to give chase.”

w.i.l.l.y laughed at the notion; but directly afterwards the old lion plunged into the water, and his snout was seen within a few seconds rising close to the oars. Harry ordered the men to pull on, as he did not wish to expend any shot on the animal. Tippo, however, seizing the blade of Paul's oar, held it so tightly that he nearly hauled it out of his hands. Not till he had received several blows on the nose from the other oars would he let go.

”Why, he has nearly bitten my oar in two,” cried Paul.

”Better that than your leg,” observed w.i.l.l.y.

”That's Tippo; I have no doubt about him,” cried Paul. ”He means mischief.”

The sea-lion, however, was kept at bay by the oars, while the boatswain stood up in the stern with a club, ready to give him a blow should he come nearer. After swimming round the boat for some time, he seemed to consider that he could gain nothing by a battle with the four-legged strange creature, as he doubtless considered the boat, and so leisurely swam back to the rocks he had left, up which he scrambled, and sat watching the cutter as she continued her course along the sh.o.r.e.

A breeze at last sprang up, and sail being set she ran down to the mouth of the harbour. On the northern sh.o.r.e, near the eastern entrance, was a point rising for a hundred feet or more above the water. Here the party landed, and Harry and the boatswain agreed that it was the best station on which their flagstaff could be planted. From its summit they could look over the whole of the southern island; while the flag would be visible far out at sea, beyond the western entrance of the harbour. The flagstaff was accordingly landed, and as all hands were required to set it up, and the boat could not be left alone, she was hauled up on the beach. But as they had only wooden spades to work with, some time was occupied in digging the hole in which to plant the flagstaff. It was at length got up, and stayed by four shrouds. The flag was hoisted and flew out to the breeze.

”That will show that some one is not far off,” observed Mr Bollard.

”But should a vessel send her boat on sh.o.r.e, the people may not know where to find us.”

”I have been thinking of that,” said Harry, ”and will leave a bottle with a paper in it directing them to the settlement.”

”But if another gale was to spring up, and there is every chance of that, the flag might be blown to pieces, or the flagstaff itself carried away,” observed the boatswain. ”If you think fit, therefore, Mr Shafto, I'll remain here with one or two of the men; and, depend on it, we will keep a bright look-out for pa.s.sing vessels, so that we need only hoist our flag should one come near enough to see it.”

”We can ill spare you at the camp, Bollard,” said Harry; ”and if you remain here you will require shelter and food. This hill is a bleak place, and if we could not get to you with a supply of provisions, you would run the risk of starving.”

”As to shelter, we have our axes, and we might easily put up a hut; and for the matter of food, if we are hard-pressed, we can make our way overland to the settlement; it cannot be much more than five or six miles.”

As the boatswain was so anxious to remain, Harry at last consented to his proposal.

”We must put you up a hut, however, before we return to the settlement,”

he observed; ”and after we have had dinner we will set to work about it.”

There was a wood at some little distance; and, as soon as the meal was over, all hands repaired there to cut timber for the proposed hut. They worked away very hard, Harry and the mids.h.i.+pmen labouring as well as the rest. As soon as several trees were felled, Harry, leaving Bollard and two of the men to cut more, with the rest of the party carried them up the hill. They had then to dig the foundation of the hut. While this was doing, w.i.l.l.y and Peter collected a supply of gra.s.s from the hillside.

So busily were they all employed that evening arrived before they thought the day was half spent. Dark clouds had been gathering, and the wind increasing, and they had the prospect of a stormy night. The hut, however, was roofed in, and they were able to take shelter from the torrents of rain which now came down. Fuel having been collected, they lighted a fire in the front of the hut, but the wind blew the flames about so furiously that there was a risk of the walls, and a still greater one of the roof, catching fire. No one, therefore, ventured to go to sleep; indeed, there was not room for all the party to stretch their legs.

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