Bevis Part 46

"What?"

"We have not got enough ballast," said Mark. "That's it--I'm sure that's it. Don't you remember how the boat kept drifting?"

"Very likely," said Bevis. "Yes, that's it; how stupid we were. Let's get some more directly. I know; I'll ask the governor for a bag of shot."

The governor allowed them to take the bag, which weighed twenty-eight pounds, on condition that they put it inside a small sack, so as to look like sand, else some one might steal it. They also found two pieces of iron, sc.r.a.ps, which made up the fresh ballast to about forty pounds.

The wind had now gone down as it did soon after midday, and they could do nothing.

But next morning it blew again from the south, and they were afloat directly after breakfast. The effect of the ballast was as Mark had antic.i.p.ated; the boat did not drift so much, she made less leeway, and she was stiffer, that is, she stood up to the wind better. They did not lose so much quite, but still they did not gain, nor would she come round without using a scull; indeed, she was even worse in this respect, and more obstinate, she would not come up into the wind, the weight seemed to hold her back.

After two hours they were obliged to give it up for the third time. The following day there was no wind. "Let's make the anchor," said Mark, "and while we're making the anchor perhaps we shall think of something about tacking."

So they began to make the anchor, after the picture of one in the old folio. They found a square piece of deal, it was six inches by four, and sawed off about two feet. In the middle they cut a long hole right through, and after much trouble found a flat stone to fit it. This was wedged in tight, and further fastened with tar-cord. Near one end a small square hole was cut, and through this they put a square rod of iron, which the blacksmith sold them for a s.h.i.+lling--about three times its value.

The rod was eighteen inches long, and when it was through it was bent up, or curved, and the ends filed to a blunt point. It fitted tight, but they wedged it still firmer with nails, and it was put the opposite way to the stone, so that when the stone tried to sink flat on the bottom, one or other of the points of the bar would stick in the ground.

Mark thought there ought to be a cross-piece of wood or iron as there is in proper anchors, but so far as they could make out, this was not attached to the ancient stone-weighted ones, and so they did not put it.

Lastly, a hole was bored at the other end of the shaft, and the rope or cable (a stout cord) inserted and fastened. Looking eagerly out of window in the morning to see if there was a wind they were delighted to see the clouds drifting from the north-north-west. This was a capital wind for them as they could not tack. It was about the same that had been blowing the first day when they sailed into Fir-Tree Gulf and could not get out, but it would have taken them to the very end of the New Sea had they not considered it proper to coast round. This time they meant to sail straight up the centre and straight back.

Volume Two, Chapter VIII.

SAILING CONTINUED--VOYAGE TO THE UNKNOWN ISLAND.

After breakfast they got afloat, and when away from the trees the boat began to sail fast, and every now and then the bubbles rushed from under the bow. Mark sat on the ballast, or rather reclined, and Bevis steered. The anchor was upon the forecastle, as they called it, with twenty-five feet of cable. Sailing by the bluff covered with furze, by the oak where the council was held, past the muddy sh.o.r.e lined with weeds where the cattle came down to drink, past the hollow oak and the battlefield, they saw the quarry and Fir-Tree Gulf, but did not enter it. As they reached the broader water the wind came fresher over the wide surface, and the boat careening a little hastened on. They were now a long way from either sh.o.r.e in the centre of the widest part.

"This is the best sail we've had," said Mark, putting his legs out as far as he could, leaning his back against the seat and his head against the mast. "It's jolly."

Bevis got off the stern-sheets and sat down on the bottom so that he too could recline, he had nothing to do but just keep the tiller steady and watch the mainsail, the wind set the course for them. They could feel the breeze pulling at the sails, and the boat drawn along.

"Is it rough?" said Mark.

"Shall we take in a reef?" said Bevis.

"No," said Mark. "Let's capsize."

"Right," said Bevis. "It doesn't matter."

"Not a bit. Isn't she slipping along?"

"Gurgling and guggling."

"Bubbling and smacking. That was spray."

"There's a puff. How many knots are we going?"

"Ten."

"Pooh! twenty. No chance of a pirate catching us."

"In these unknown seas," said Mark, "you can't tell what proas are waiting behind the islands, nor how many Malays with creeses."

"They're crooked the wrong way," said Bevis. "The most curious knives I ever saw."

"Or junks," went on Mark. "Are these the Chinese Seas?"

"Jingalls," said Bevis, "they shoot big bullets, almost cannon-b.a.l.l.s, as big as walnuts. I wish we had one in the forecastle."

"We ought to have a cannon."

"Of course we did."

"As if we couldn't manage a cannon!"

"As if!"

"Or a double-barrel gun."

"Or anything."

"Anything."

"People _are_ stupid."

"Idiotic."

"We must have a gun."

"We must."

They listened again to the gurgling and "guggling," the bubbles, and kiss, kiss of the wavelets.

"We're a long way now," said Mark presently. "Can we see land?"

"See land! We lost sight of land months ago. I should think not. Look up there."

Bevis was watching the top of the mast, tracing its line along the sky, where white filmy clouds were floating slowly. Mark opened his drowsy eyes and looked up too.

"No land in sight," said he. "Nothing but sky and clouds," said Bevis.

"How far are we from sh.o.r.e?"

"Six thousand miles."

"It's the first time anybody has ever sailed out of sight of land in our time," said Mark. "It's very wonderful, and we shall be made a great deal of when we get home."

"Yes, and put in prison afterwards. That's the proper way."

"We shall bring home sandal-wood, and diamonds as big as--as apples--"