Part 26 (1/2)

”I was dreaming, dear Mark, that we had arrived at a green and beautiful country, and that you told me it was England, and that all our dangers were over.”

I by degrees informed her of the true state of the case.

”You are with me, dear Mark, and all will be well,” she answered, as, supporting her in my arms, and followed by Nutmeg, I carried her to the upper cabin. Having deposited her there, I rushed back to learn what progress the water had made. It had already reached the floor of the cabin, and I fancied that I could even see it rising during the few minutes I stood there. At first I thought we might keep the vessel afloat by bailing. As two of us only could be spared for the work, I soon saw how futile such an attempt must prove. With a sad heart I returned on deck. I told Blount the state of affairs, and we agreed that our only chance of being preserved was to form a raft, and to lash ourselves to it, so that, when the junk went down, we might have something to keep us afloat. Not a moment was to be lost; so he and Ha.s.san, as the most expert, set to work, while Kalong and I went to the helm. Neither of us could be spared, for, as it was, we had the greatest difficulty in steering. A couple of hatchets had been discovered, and with these they cut away all the planking most easily got at, and lashed it to a few spars remaining on deck. I could now feel the difference perceptibly in the motion of the junk; and as she sank lower in the water, I feared that the waves would leap over the decks, and thus more speedily bring on the catastrophe we expected. The time appeared very long, though Blount and Ha.s.san worked as hard as they could.

I was hoping that the raft was finished, when Blount sprang up the ladder to me. ”We have not a moment to lose,” he exclaimed; ”the water is almost awash with the deck, and the junk cannot swim a minute longer.”

”Take the helm, then, while I bring out my sister,” I answered. Eva was prepared, and I was about to descend with her to the deck, where we expected to find the yet unfinished raft, when a huge wave, rising alongside, swept over the vessel, and I saw a large object carried away on its crest.

”There goes the raft!” cried Blount, with almost a shriek of despair.

Another huge wave followed, and the whole centre of the junk seemed to be under water.

”She is sinking!--she is sinking!” burst from the lips of all; ”Heaven have mercy on us!”

I clasped Eva in my arms, and fully expected that our last moment had arrived.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

At the very moment that I had given up all hope of preservation, as if to confirm our worst antic.i.p.ations, a huge wave came rolling up alongside. The junk rushed onward--a tremendous blow was felt--again she lifted, and was dashed forward--the rudder was knocked away, and the jury-mast fell overboard. Instantly the junk broached to. On a sudden, almost as rapidly as I take to tell it, the violent motion ceased, and a grating sound was heard, as if she had run upon a sandy beach. The seas struck her, but their force was evidently broken by some reef outside, though it continued too dark to enable us to discover where we were.

The junk held together; and as the cabin on the p.o.o.p for the present seemed a place of safety, we agreed to remain there till the return of day. The light at length came; and as I looked out from the cabin door, I found that we were in a small bay, with a sandy sh.o.r.e, and rich tropical vegetation beyond it, while what was my surprise to see directly outside of us, fast stuck on a reef of rocks, another vessel severely shattered by the waves!

My exclamation of surprise called the rest of the party from the cabins.

No sooner did Eva see the vessel, than, pressing my arm, she observed, with a voice full of agitation:

”That vessel, Mark, is the _Emu_! I am certain of it; and if the dreadful men who form the crew are here, it were better that the sea had engulfed us.”

I could say nothing, for I could not help entering into her fears. It was high water when we were driven on sh.o.r.e; and as the tide had now fallen, we found that we could without difficulty lower ourselves on to the sand. In case the pirates should be wandering about the island, (for we concluded we had been driven on one), Blount offered to go and explore, and to try to enter into terms with them, while Ha.s.san and Kalong remained with me to guard Eva. In about an hour he returned, and reported that he had seen no human beings.