Part 26 (1/2)

Meantime, while some of the people were collecting the pieces of timber and planking which were washed on sh.o.r.e, others were engaged in cutting wood for building the huts they required to shelter them from the cold and rain at night.

Towards evening the sea had gone down sufficiently to enable the captain and his first mate, with Mr Bollard, to get alongside the s.h.i.+p. A short inspection soon convinced them that she was a hopeless wreck.

”It cannot be helped, Windy,” said Captain Westerway, with a sigh. ”We must now try to make the best of what remains of her.”

”Cheer up, captain,” answered the mate; ”though the old 'Crusader' will carry us no longer over the ocean, we will have a 'Young Crusader' built before long, and she will do good service if, by her means, we can get away to some Christian land. We might have been much worse off than we are, and, to my mind, we have no cause to grumble. Here's our boat still safe, and, with some tinkering, she may be made to swim and serve us well. We will tow her on sh.o.r.e; but first we will see what provisions we can come at to carry with us.”

Bill and his companions at once set to work. A cask of beef, another of pork, and three of flour were found, besides several articles--among the most valuable was the carpenter's tool chest, and a quant.i.ty of iron.

These were at once lowered into the boat. A number of sails were also got up, and thus laden they returned in her to the sh.o.r.e.

Another trip only could be made that night, when more hands were taken off to a.s.sist in the work.

The various articles brought from the wreck greatly raised the spirits of the party. The sails, stretched on poles they had cut, made comfortable tents, and they had now food in abundance.

”I wish those mutinous chaps had not been such fools,” observed Windy.

”I wonder what has become of them.”

On inquiries being made, it was found that the mutineers, headed by Job Mawson, had been seen making their way across the country in the direction of the settlement.

”I hope they will not have gone to annoy the people there,” observed the boatswain. ”The men are often away hunting or fis.h.i.+ng, and only the ladies and a few other women and children are left at the huts.”

”They are not likely to get there before Mr Shafto, at all events,”

said the captain. ”We need not trouble ourselves about them.”

Still Bill Windy was not quite comfortable in his mind. Three or four of the crew were great scoundrels, and several of the emigrants were ruffianly fellows, ready to engage in any sort of mischief.

The captain and his mates, with Mr Bollard, sat up for several hours arranging the plan of the vessel, which they proposed commencing as soon as the timber could be got from the wreck. By daybreak they commenced repairing the boat, and she being put to rights, they were able to proceed more rapidly in getting the stores and provisions on sh.o.r.e. A raft was also formed to facilitate the operation.

So hard did they work--the weather still continuing favourable--that before many days had pa.s.sed the keel of the ”Young Crusader” was laid, the old s.h.i.+p disappearing by the efforts of those who a short time before were so anxious for her preservation.

Nothing had been seen of the mutineers. ”They must take the consequences of their foolishness,” observed Bill Windy, ”and, the chances are, will have to spend the best part of their days on this island.”

Meantime, Captain Westerway had not forgotten the party at the settlement, and sent up Mr Bollard in the cutter, laden with some of the provisions which had been saved.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

THE CUTTER IS CARRIED OFF.

JOURNEY OF EMIGRANTS TO VILLAGE--ROUGH TRAVELLING--PURSUED BY MUTINEERS--TIPPO COMES TO THE RESCUE--WELCOME AT THE VILLAGE--ARRIVAL OF PROVISIONS--ARRANGEMENTS FOR VICTUALLING THE SETTLEMENT--MUTINEERS SEEN WATCHING VILLAGE--THE CUTTER CARRIED OFF--THE ”YOUNG CRUSADER”

COMPLETED--MRS MORLEY RESOLVES TO REMAIN--MRS RUMBELOW STAYS WITH HER CHARGES--PREPARATIONS FOR EMBARKING--THE ”YOUNG CRUSADER” AT THE SETTLEMENT.

Ensign Holt and the party of emigrants he was leading made very good progress on their journey towards the settlement. The only grumbler was Mrs Clagget, as she trudged on with a long stick in her hand, sometimes by the side of the Diceys, and at others addressing her remarks to Mrs Jones. However, as it was so evident that she talked for the sake of keeping her tongue in motion, no one minded her. She regained her good humour when, soon after mid-day, the party halting for dinner, fires were lighted, and steaks frizzling before them. They had had woods to cut through, boggy ground to cross, and rugged stony hills to climb.

She, however, got along as well as any one, and her example encouraged the other women who had to travel on foot. Their spirits were revived when their young leader told them that they were within a mile of the settlement.

The last of the party were climbing the ledge of rocks which formed one side of the sandy bay when, on looking back, they saw several men following.

”Why, I do believe they are those fellows who would not work yesterday,”