Part 32 (1/2)

Mary and she returned to the point where the roof sloped, and Elizabeth, slipping to her knees, began to prod at it with the knife.

To her great joy a shower of loose shale fell.

”Help me, Mary; work as hard as you can.”

They plied their knives energetically. The missionary, anxious to learn what they were about, joined them, and, having no other implement, lifted a piece of hard rock and prodded at the roof with that. Soon a considerable heap of earth and shale was piled up on the floor. But their tools were poor subst.i.tutes for pickaxes, and Elizabeth feared that there would not be time to block the tunnel effectively before the savages arrived.

All at once there was a tremendous crash, and the girls started back in alarm, not quickly enough to escape some clods of earth that struck them heavily. The loosening of the under layer of the roof had disturbed the ma.s.s above, and there had now fallen upon the floor an immense quant.i.ty of debris which completely blocked the tunnel, and could only be removed with long labour.

Elizabeth gave a cry of joy.

”We are saved for the present,” she said. ”Come!”

They hurried after the others, whom they overtook just as they reached the opening into the pit.

”We can't stay here,” said Elizabeth; ”they'll know there must be another entrance, and will discover it as soon as it is light. We must get up into the woods and hide.”

”The precipice!” said Mary instantly.

”We could hardly get there in the dark,” replied Elizabeth; ”it's too dangerous. But we must go as near it as possible, and climb to the top when we can see our way.”

They wasted no time, but set up the ladder at once and clambered out of the pit. Their haste was such that none thought of taking with them any of their belongings until Elizabeth, at the last moment, remembered that there were no fruit-trees where they were going. She collected all the food that remained and handed it up to her sisters, together with their kettle and tin cups.

To Fangati was given the task of leading the party through the woods.

Their destination was a little hollow some distance away on the reverse side of the precipice. It was thickly covered with trees, and would afford shelter for the rest of the night. As soon as they dared they would climb to the summit, a feat which in the darkness would be hazardous in the extreme.

Fangati was an unerring guide, and a quarter of an hour's uphill walk brought them to the wooded hollow. Elizabeth and Mary each took an arm of the missionary to a.s.sist him; indeed, Elizabeth felt the need of support herself; her strength was nearly exhausted. Not a word was spoken during the journey. All ears were strained to catch sounds from below. For a time they heard nothing, but presently the cries of the islanders came faintly on the air from afar. These ceased before they reached their shelter, and it seemed that the pursuit was taking another direction.

They sank upon the ground beneath the trees.

”Let us thank G.o.d for all His mercies,” said the missionary, and in tones little above a whisper, he uttered a few simple words of grat.i.tude and of entreaty for protection during the night.

”I am filled with amazement at my marvellous deliverance,” he said to Elizabeth. ”I know Maku and Fangati, but who are you, my dear young ladies, and how came you upon this island? Have you n.o.body else with you? But I am inconsiderate; you must be very weary: doubtless you will tell me all in the morning.”

”I am tired,” Elizabeth confessed; ”but I could not sleep, and the joy of hearing an English voice is greater than I can tell.”

There was a sob in her voice. Mary clasped her hand.

”I will tell our story, Bess dear,” she said; ”lay your head in my lap and rest.”

So Mary quietly began to relate the story of their voyage. As she casually mentioned the name of the vessel the missionary interrupted with an exclamation.

”The _Elizabeth_! Was her skipper Captain Barton?”

”Yes,” said Mary in surprise. ”Did you know Uncle Ben?”

”Know him! He was one of my oldest friends. I met him in London a few days before he sailed; indeed, he offered to bring me back in his own vessel. He mentioned that his nieces were accompanying him. What has happened?”

Mary went on to tell of the wreck, the landing on the island, and the simple outline of their life since.

”Marvellous,” said the old man; ”and my poor old friend!--you saw nothing of the raft?”