Part 21 (1/2)
Rounding Europa Point, the sailor's eyes were fixed on their immediate surroundings, but Iris gazed dreamily ahead. Hence it was that she was the first to cry in amazement--
”A boat! See, there! On the rocks!”
There was no mistake. A s.h.i.+p's boat was perched high and dry on the north side of the cape. Even as they scrambled towards it Jenks understood how it had come there.
When the _Sirdar_ parted amids.h.i.+ps the after section fell back into the depths beyond the reef, and this boat must have broken loose from its davits and been driven ash.o.r.e here by the force of the western current.
Was it intact? Could they escape? Was this ark stranded on the island for their benefit? If it were seaworthy, whither should they steer--to those islands whose blue outlines were visible on the horizon?
These and a hundred other questions coursed through his brain during the race over the rocks, but all such wild speculations were promptly settled when they reached the craft, for the keel and the whole of the lower timbers were smashed into matchwood.
But there were stores on board. Jenks remembered that Captain Ross's foresight had secured the provisioning of all the s.h.i.+p's boats soon after the first wild rush to steady the vessel after the propeller was lost. Masts, sails, oars, seats--all save two water-casks--had gone; but Jenks, with eager hands, unfastened the lockers, and here he found a good supply of tinned meats and biscuits. They had barely recovered from the excitement of this find when the sailor noticed that behind the rocks on which the craft was firmly lodged lay a small natural basin full of salt water, replenished and freshened by the spray of every gale, and completely shut off from all seaward access.
It was not more than four feet deep, beautifully carpeted with sand, and secluded by rocks on all sides. Not the tiniest crab or fish was to be seen. It provided an ideal bath.
Iris was overjoyed. She pointed towards their habitation.
”Mr. Jenks,” she said, ”I will be with you at tea-time.”
He gathered all the tins he was able to carry and strode off, enjoining her to fire her revolver if for the slightest reason she wanted a.s.sistance, and giving a parting warning that if she delayed too long he would come and shout to her.
”I wonder,” said the girl to herself, watching his retreating figure, ”what he is afraid of. Surely by this time we have exhausted the unpleasant surprises of the island. Anyhow, now for a splas.h.!.+”
She was hardly in the water before she began to be afraid on account of Jenks. Suppose anything happened to him whilst she was thoughtlessly enjoying herself here. So strongly did the thought possess her that she hurriedly dressed again and ran off to find him.
He was engaged in fastening a number of bayonets transversely to a long piece of timber.
”What are you doing that for?” she asked.
”Why did you return so soon? Did anything alarm you?”
”I thought you might get into mischief,” she confessed.
”No. On the other hand, I am trying to make trouble for any unwelcome visitors,” he replied. ”This is a _cheval de frise_, which I intend to set up in front of our cave in case we are compelled to defend ourselves against an attack by savages. With this barring the way they cannot rush the position.”
She sighed. Rainbow Island was a wild spot after all. Did not thorns and briers grow very close to the gates of Eden?
On the nineteenth day of their residence on the island the sailor climbed, as was his invariable habit, to the Summit Rock whilst Iris prepared breakfast. At this early hour the horizon was clearly cut as the rim of a sapphire. He examined the whole arc of the sea with his gla.s.ses, but not a sail was in sight. According to his calculations, the growing anxiety as to the fate of the _Sirdar_ must long ere this have culminated in the dispatch from Hong Kong or Singapore of a special search vessel, whilst British wars.h.i.+ps in the China Sea would be warned to keep a close lookout for any traces of the steamer, to visit all islands on their route, and to question fishermen whom they encountered. So help might come any day, or it might be long deferred.
He could not pierce the future, and it was useless to vex his soul with questionings as to what might happen next week. The great certainty of the hour was Iris--the blue-eyed, smiling divinity who had come into his life--waiting for him down there beyond the trees, waiting to welcome him with a sweet-voiced greeting; and he knew, with a fierce devouring joy, that her cheek would not pale nor her lip tremble when he announced that at least another sun must set before the expected relief reached them.
He replaced the gla.s.ses in their case and dived into the wood, giving a pa.s.sing thought to the fact that the wind, after blowing steadily from the south for nearly a week, had veered round to the north-east during the night. Did the change portend a storm? Well, they were now prepared for all such eventualities, and he had not forgotten that they possessed, among other treasures, a box of books for rainy days. And a rainy day with Iris for company! What gale that ever blew could offer such compensation for enforced idleness?
The morning sped in uneventful work. Iris did not neglect her cherished pitcher-plant. After luncheon it was her custom now to carry a dishful of water to its apparently arid roots, and she rose to fulfil her self-imposed task.
”Let me help you,” said Jenks. ”I am not very busy this afternoon.”
”No, thank you. I simply won't allow you to touch that shrub. The dear thing looks quite glad to see me. It drinks up the water as greedily as a thirsty animal.”
”Even a cabbage has a heart, Miss Deane.”
She laughed merrily. ”I do believe you are offering me a compliment,”